Health maintenance and disease prevention are high priorities at Mills-Peninsula Health Services. Our Health Maintenance Guidelines Task Force, comprised of primary care physicians, specialists, and health educators, reviews new information and regularly updates our recommendations regarding who needs which screening tests and when. We review controversies as they come up, examining the medical literature and the quality of the published evidence.

Mills-Peninsula's Health Maintenance & Disease Prevention Guidelines summarize the tests and evaluations we recommend for healthy individuals and how often they should be completed.

Please review the section relevant for your age and gender.

• Replacing the "Annual Physical"
• Definitions
• Suggestions for Maintaining Your Health

Replacing the "Annual Physical"

One of the most important changes in our recommendations relates to the "annual physical." A top-to-toe physical examination for someone without symptoms has never been proven to extend life or decrease illness or discomfort.

A "health maintenance evaluation" includes:

• identifying risk factors in one's personal and family health history,
• performing a focused exam, as appropriate,
• obtaining needed screening tests at the right intervals, and
• encouraging people to choose healthy lifestyles to maximize their health. This "checkup" can occur during an office visit devoted to health maintenance or may be covered during an office visit for other concerns.

We encourage our patients to ask questions and take a partnership approach with their providers to maximize their health and obtain the preventive screening tests that really matter.


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Definitions

• Bone Density Test: A low dose x-ray to screen for risk of thinning and weakening of bones, which increase the risk of osteoporosis and fracture.
• Chlamydia/GC Screening Test: A screening test for detecting chlamydia and/or gonorrhea. Curable sexually transmitted infections that can cause scarring, infertility and chronic pelvic pain.
• Depression Screening: A formal questionnaire to detect major depression in adolescence and adults. Administer testing if treatment is available for the detection and treatment of major depression.
• Fecal Occult Blood Test: A screening test for hidden blood in the stool, which may be a sign of colon cancer. High sensitivity fecal occult test is preferred.
• HIV Test: A blood test to detect the presence of human immunodeficiency virus – a treatable infectious disease.
• Lipid Screen: A blood test for assessing levels of fats and cholesterol that can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.
• Lower GI Endoscopy:
  Colonoscopy: An internal inspection of the entire colon to screen for cancer and polyps (pre-cancerous growths).
  Sigmoidoscopy: An internal inspection of the lower colon to screen for cancer and polyps (pre-cancerous growths)
• Mammogram: A low dose breast x-ray to screen for breast cancer.
• Pap Test: A test for abnormal cervical cells which can indicate increased risk of cervical cancer. This is not a test for uterine or ovarian cancer. Pap smears are done during an internal pelvic examination.
  
• PSA: (Prostate Specific Antigen) A blood test for measuring a protein produced by the prostate gland. High levels may indicate prostate cancer.

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Suggestions for Maintaining Your Health

1. Make sure your screening tests and immunizations are appropriate are up to date.
2. Complete an Advance Health Care Directive.
3. Exercise "aerobically," enough to raise your heart rate to about (220 - your age) x 70%. Your goal is at least 30 minutes every day.
4. Achieve and maintain normal body weight.
5. Eat foods low in saturated fat and trans fatty acids and high in calcium and fiber, with plenty of fruits and vegetables. Take a calcium supplement, if necessary.
6. Practice safer sex, use condoms as a reliable method of contraception.
7. Do not smoke, and avoid inhaling others' cigarette smoke. If you need help quitting, please ask.
8. "Safety-proof" your home to prevent falls, poisoning, accidental use of firearms and fire.
9. Do not drive or allow others to drive while under the influence of alcohol or other mind-altering substances. Use sport helmets, regardless of your age. Observe safety regulations for automobile airbags, seatbelts and car seats.
10. Seek help early for depression, mood changes, alcohol or drug abuse.
11. Perform regular skin self-examinations. Protect your skin from sun damage with sunblock and clothing.
12. Women should seek medical attention for breast changes.
13. Men should seek medical attention for testicular changes.
14. Find balance in your life between work, home and play time. Include stress reduction activities (fun!) every day.

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