When is the last time you had the oil changed in your car? Bet you can remember! But can you remember the last time you had a “human tune-up”, an annual medical check-up? To stay healthy, take care of yourself the way many people take great care of their cars-with regular, preventive maintenance. Taking a proactive approach to your health that includes good nutrition, daily physical activity, a smoke-free lifestyle, and enough sleep, can help you improve your health and well-being and reduce your risk of developing a serious disease.

Why do you need a “human tune-up”?

An annual “human tune-up” can help identify issues early that could become problematic later on. Don’t wait until you feel ill to see your physician. Many conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and many cancers are silent killers. Often, there are no noticeable symptoms until an advanced stage. In general, men and women should have an annual “human tune-up” that includes a health update and information exchange with your doctor. Some of the things that your doctor may want to discuss, or suggest screening for, include:

Men • prostate cancer

Women • breast cancer, cervical cancer, and sexually transmitted infections (e.g. chlamydia, gonorrhea)

Both • hyperlipidemia (i.e. cholesterol, triglycerides), high blood pressure, overweight and obesity, colorectal cancer, diabetes, dental health, eye health, hearing function, immunization status, and osteoporosis