Many health conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease, develop over long periods of time. Often, you don’t experience symptoms in the early stages of a disease. Preventive screenings can detect health conditions early, when they’re much easier to treat.

What is done in a health screening?

What to expect during a health screening depends on the screening type. For example, your medical screening may involve a physical exam, a blood test or an imaging test. Your primary care provider will help you understand what to expect before a health screening.

What are the types of health screenings?

There are two categories of health screenings:

• Cancer screenings
• Screenings for other serious diseases

Both screening types increase your chances of early detection. Many of these screenings are routine. Others are recommended based on your risk factors.

Cancer screenings

Your doctor may recommend cancer screenings such as:

• Colonoscopy: Your doctor examines the lining of your large intestine (colon) and rectum using a thin, flexible tube (colonoscope). They look for polyps (growths) and other tissue changes that could point to cancer. Learn more about colonoscopy.
• Lung scan: Current or former smokers ages 55 to 77 may be candidates for a low-dose chest CT scan to screen for lung cancer. Find out more about lung scans.
• Mammogram: Doctors recommend that all women get regular mammograms to screen for breast cancer. These tests use special X-ray machines to examine your breast tissue for solid masses or other changes. Read more about mammograms.
• Pelvic exam: Pelvic exams are routine screenings to evaluate the health of a woman’s reproductive organs. Your doctor may also conduct a Pap smear, taking a small tissue sample from your cervix to check for signs of cervical cancer. Learn more about cervical cancer screening.
• Prostate cancer screening: Doctors recommend prostate cancer screenings for some men ages 50 to 69. The most common prostate cancer screening is a blood test. Find out more about prostate cancer screening.
• Skin cancer screening: Your doctor checks moles and other lesions for early signs of skin cancer. Experts recommend yearly skin checks for all adults. Discover more about skin cancer early detection and diagnosis.

Other preventive screenings

Depending on your risk factors, your doctor may also recommend screening for other diseases. You may have:

• Cholesterol screening: A cholesterol screening uses a blood test to check your cholesterol levels. High cholesterol could be an early sign of heart disease.
• Diabetes screening: You may need a blood test to check for diabetes or prediabetes. Doctors typically recommend these screenings for people with early signs of Type 2 diabetes, such as a slow-healing bladder infection.
• Eye exam: Doctors recommend regular eye exams for all adults. These tests can help detect problems such as cataracts and glaucoma before they seriously damage your vision. If you have other health conditions, an eye exam also helps to spot the earliest signs of eye-related complications.

Convenient ways to get medical screenings

Advocate Health Care providers can make health screening recommendations based on risk factors such as gender, age and health history. Your provider explains how these tests can prevent disease and help you stay healthy.

There are multiple convenient ways to access health screenings, such as:

• During physical exams: Many screenings, such as pelvic exams or prostate cancer screenings, are performed during your annual physical exam with your primary care provider.
• At the Advocate Clinic at Walgreens: Some tests, such as flu and strep throat, are available on a walk-in basis. Find out more about Advocate Clinic at Walgreens.
• In diagnostic facilities: Your doctor may send you to a special outpatient facility for screenings such as mammograms or colonoscopies. With multiple locations throughout the Chicago metro area, we make it easy to get these tests close to home. Find a doctor to learn more about which screenings are right for you.

Screening tests for your optimal health

Caring for yourself means managing your risk for preventable health problems. We can help you find out your risk for serious health conditions and offer tests to detect these problems early.

Highlights of our program include:

• Accurate testing: Our primary care providers perform thousands of screening tests each year. Their experience ensures you receive accurate testing and results you can trust.
• Coordination with specialists: If your test results show early signs of a health problem, we coordinate quickly with Advocate specialists to get you any extra testing or treatment you need.
• Prevention focus: Screening tests are one of many services we offer to keep you in your best health. We also provide vaccinations to protect you against serious illnesses like the flu. And your primary care provider creates a personalized preventive care plan to help you live your best life.