MANY serious conditions like heart disease, diabetes, cancers and osteoporosis develop silently for years. Routine screenings for these will help detect risks early, guide lifestyle changes and reduce long-term complications.

“The right tests depend largely on your age, sex, family history and lifestyle,” said medical assistant Shaunja Allen.

“Most chronic diseases develop gradually and without obvious symptoms. By the time symptoms appear, damage may already be significant.”

She said preventive screenings aim to identify early disease, detect risk factors before disease develops, guide lifestyle and medical interventions, and reduce long-term healthcare costs and complications.

Allen said this type of screening, especially by age and sex, is important, especially now at the start of the new year when you can get off to a fresh start.

She outlines the core priorities for adults below.

AGES 18-29: ESTABLISH A HEALTH BASELINE

This phase focuses on identifying inherited risks, lifestyle-related issues and silent early conditions.

Allen said core checks should include blood pressure checks, which detect early hypertension, as even mild elevation increases long-term heart risk.

Also do:

Body composition test (BMI and waist circumference). “Central obesity is a stronger predictor of heart disease and diabetes than weight alone,” Allen said.

Basic blood tests, at least once. “This assess your lipid profile for early cholesterol abnormalities, and a fasting glucose/HbA1c check will test for early insulin resistance,” she said. “A complete blood count will also check for anaemia or infections.”

Mental health screening. “Anxiety and depression often first appear in this age group,” she said. “Early treatment improves long-term outcomes.”

STI screening. “People are often asymptomatic, but sexually transmitted infections can cause infertility and chronic illness if untreated.”

Vision and dental exams. “Early vision correction improves productivity,” Allen said. “For the mouth, gum disease is linked to heart disease and diabetes.”

Female-specific

Pap smear, starting at 21

•This detects precancerous cervical changes and helps prevent cervical cancer rather than just finding it early.

Iron levels

•Heavy menstrual bleeding can cause chronic fatigue and anaemia.

Male-specific

Testicular health awareness

Testicular cancer is most common in young men. Early detection has very high cure rates.

AGES 30–39: DETECTING LIFESTYLE-RELATED RISK

At this stage, stress, poor sleep and metabolic changes begin to show measurable effects, Allen said.

Core checks:

Annual blood pressure

•“Pre-hypertension” often begins here.

Cholesterol

•LDL and triglycerides often rise due to sedentary lifestyle and diet.

Blood sugar

•Early type 2 diabetes may already be developing without symptoms.

Liver function tests

• Detect fatty liver disease which is increasingly common. Alcohol and metabolic syndrome are key contributors.

Kidney function test

•Early kidney disease is silent but progressive.

Skin examination

•This will help with early detection of melanoma and other skin cancers.

Sleep and stress assessment

•Assessment is important because chronic sleep deprivation increases cardiovascular and mental health risk.

Female-specific

Cervical cancer screening

•HPV testing increasingly replaces Pap smears. The tests detect viral cause of cervical cancer earlier.

Thyroid screening (if symptomatic)

•Women are more prone to thyroid disorders.

Male-specific

Hormonal evaluation (if symptomatic only)

• Not routine, but helpful with fatigue, infertility or sexual dysfunction

AGES 40–49: TRANSITION TO EARLY DISEASE DETECTION

“The risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer and metabolic disorders increases noticeably at this stage,” Allen said.

Core checks:

Cardiovascular risk assessment

•Combines blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, smoking, family history, and guides statins and lifestyle interventions.

Eye exams

•Screens for glaucoma, diabetic eye disease and macular degeneration.

Hearing test

•Early hearing loss impacts cognition and work performance.

Cancer risk review

•Skin, thyroid and family-history-based cancers are assessed.

Female-specific

Mammograms

•Detect breast cancer years before it becomes palpable. An earlier start is necessary for high-risk individuals.

Perimenopause evaluation

•Hormonal changes affect mood, sleep, weight and heart health.

Male-specific

Prostate health discussion

•The prostate specific antigen test is controversial but useful for risk stratification, Allen said. It’s particularly relevant for those of African ancestry or those with a family history.

AGES 50-64: MAXIMUM PREVENTIVE IMPACT

“This is the most critical period for screening, and interventions here significantly affect longevity,” Allen said.

Core checks:

Colon cancer screening

•One of the most preventable cancers. Polyps can be removed before becoming cancerous.

Diabetes screening

•Insulin resistance often progresses to diabetes at this age.

Bone health

•Bone loss accelerates due to ageing and hormonal changes.

Vaccinations

•The shingles vaccine prevents long-term nerve pain and the pneumococcal vaccine prevents severe pneumonia.

Cognitive and mood screening

•Depression and early cognitive decline often go unrecognised.

Female-specific

Bone density (DEXA scan)

•Postmenopausal women are at high risk for osteoporosis. Assessments prevent fractures and loss of independence.

Heart disease screening

•A woman’s cardiovascular risk rises sharply after menopause.

Male-specific

Prostate screening

Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening

This is a silent but life-threatening condition, and the test is especially important for smokers.

AGES 65+: PRESERVING INDEPENDENCE & QUALITY OF LIFE

“The focus here shifts from early detection alone to function, safety and medication management,” said Allen.

Core checks:

Fall risk assessment

•Falls are a leading cause of disability and death in older adults.

Cognitive screening

•Early dementia detection allows planning and treatment.

Medication review

•Prevents drug interactions and side effects.

Vision and hearing

•Strongly linked to fall risk and cognitive decline.

Bone density

•Prevents hip and vertebral fractures.

Female-specific

•Continued osteoporosis and breast cancer monitoring

Male-specific

•Individualised prostate and cardiovascular surveillance

“Preventive care is not about finding problems, it’s about staying ahead of them,“ Allen said. ”The most effective health plans combine smart screening, lifestyle optimisation in nutrition, exercise and sleep; as well as mental and emotional well-being, and assessment of your personalised risk.“