General Health Survey Resources

So, what are the risks of drinking too much?

Drinking more than the recommended amount of alcohol increases your risk for many health problems, including serious conditions that can lead to death. Some examples of alcohol-related health problems include:

• Liver disease
• Heart disease
• Depression
• Stroke
• Stomach bleeding
• Some types of cancer

Ready to Take Action? Here are some helpful tips to get started:

• Keep track of your drinking
  - These drinking tracker cards may help‍
• Set goals
  - Decide how many days you'll drink and how much you’ll drink on those days. For men, that's 2 drinks or less per day and for women, that's 1 drink or less per day.
• Plan ahead - think about how to say “no” if someone offers you a drink
  - Learn how to resist social pressure to drink ‍- Practice these strategies to handle an urge to drink‍
• Find healthy ways to manage stress‍
  - Tips to help you manage stress‍
• Avoid places where people drink a lot
• Limit the amount of alcohol you keep at home
• Make a list of reasons not to drink - keep it with you or in a visible place‍.
  - Here is a helpful place to start

Get Help

Under the Affordable Care Act, insurance plans must cover alcohol misuse screening and counseling. Depending on your insurance plan, you may be able to get these services, at no cost to you. Check with your insurance company to find out more. 

Find a doctor or treatment program near you

Or call 1-800-662-HELP (1-800-662-4357) for information about treatment.

Medicare may also cover alcohol-related services at no cost. If you have Medicare, learn more about Medicare coverage for alcohol use screening and counseling

If you don’t have insurance, you may still be able to get free or low-cost help for alcohol misuse. Find a health center near you and ask about alcohol misuses screening and counseling

Did you know?

Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the United States. For example, smoking can cause:

• Lung cancer & many other types of cancer
• Heart disease and stroke
• COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and other lung diseases
• Gum disease
• Vision loss
• Type 2 diabetes
• Rheumatoid arthritis

Learn more about how smoking affects different body parts

Ready to take action? 

Quitting smoking is hard, but millions of people have done it successfully. In fact, more than half of Americans who ever smoked, have quit. You can be one of them!

Here are some tips to help you quit:

• Make a list of reasons you want to quit
• Set a quit date and make a plan to deal with cravings
• Ask your family, friends and coworkers for support
• Talk to your doctor about counseling & medicines that can help you quit
• Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) or visit smokefree.gov for free help
• Download these free apps for 24/7 support & encouragement
• Text QUIT to 47848 or visit SmokeFreeTXT to get daily texts to support you in quitting smoking

What happens when I quit?

• You’ll breathe more easily
• You’ll cough and wheeze less
• Your senses of taste and smell will improve
• You’ll have more energy
• Your risk of heart attack and stroke will go down
• Your risk of getting cancer will go down
• The levels of oxygen and carbon monoxide in your blood return to normal

What about the cost?

Insurance plans must cover lung cancer screening for adults ages 50-80 who are at high risk for lung cancer. That means you may be able to get screened at no cost to you. Talk with your insurance company to find out more.

Under the Affordable Care Act, insurance plans must also cover services to help people quit smoking. Depending on your insurance, you may be able to get these services at no cost to you. Check with your insurance company to find out more.

Medicare may also cover services to help people quit smoking at no cost. If you have Medicare, learn about Medicare coverage for services to quit smoking.

If you don’t have insurance, you may still be able to get free or low-cost services to quit smoking. Find a health center near you and ask about help to quit smoking.

What are the risks of drug misuse?

One of the most serious risks is an overdose, which can lead to death. You don’t have to be addicted to drugs to have an overdose. It can happen from just 1 use with certain drugs like heroin or meth. 

Drug misuse can also increase your risk for heart disease, hepatitis, HIV and other STDs.

Learn more about different drugs and their health risks.

Ready to take action?

You are not alone. Most scientists and medical researchers now consider dependence on alcohol or drugs to be a long-term illness, like asthma, hypertension, or diabetes. Substance use can affect anyone: rich or poor, male or female, employed or unemployed, young or old, and any race or ethnicity. Many of the programs available today are led by counselors who themselves have gone through or are currently going through recovery. 

Here are some resources to help you quit:

• Call 1-800-662-HELP (1-800-662-4357) for free, confidential help from SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
• Find an online treatment center or send your zip code via text to 435748 (HELP4U)

What does recovery look like?

• You’ll experience feelings of joy, hope and possibility again
• Difficult feelings often come up too, but recovery communities and other supports will help you work through them
• You’ll have more energy
• You’re physical and emotional health will improve
• You’ll build stronger relationships with your family and friends
• You’ll make new friends who can support your continued recovery

What about the cost?

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) includes substance use disorders as one of the ten elements of essential health benefits. This means all health insurance on the exchange must provide service coverage for substance use disorders

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) offers their referral services, completely free of charge. If you have no insurance or are underinsured, they will refer you to your state office, which is responsible for state-funded treatment programs. If you are insured, it’s always a good idea to check with your insurance company for a list of participating health care providers and facilities.

Health Benefits of Regular Exercise

• Control your blood pressure, blood sugar, and weight
• Lower your “bad” cholesterol and raise your “good” cholesterol
• Prevent heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some types of cancer
• Boost your mood
• Help you sleep better
• Make your bones, muscles, and joints healthier
• Lower your chances of becoming depressed
• Lower your risk of falls and reduce arthritis pain
• Help you have fun and feel better about yourself

We can all make small changes to get started, are you ready?

Start slowly. If you haven’t been active before, start out slowly and add new activities little by little. After a few weeks or months, do them longer and more often. You can use this tool to help build a weekly plan.

• Choose activities that you enjoy!
  - Go for a brisk walk around the neighborhood
  - Ride a bike to work/school - or just for fun
  - Do push-ups during breaks from TV
  - Get outside bring your family to play sports or go for a hike
• If you can’t get outside, watch this 2-minute video for how you and your family can get active indoors.
• Strengthen your muscles 💪 If you can, try to do muscle-strengthening activities at least 2 days per week
  - Gardening, like digging and shoveling
  - Push-ups on the floor or against the wall
  - Lifting small weights - you can even use bottled water or cans of food as weights
• Track your progress
  - There are tons of choices for fitness apps to help you stay on track, use them!
• Challenge yourself
  - Be active longer each time - if you are walking 3 days a week for 30 minutes, try adding an additional 10 minutes each day
  - Be active more often - if you are taking a neighborhood walk 2 days per week, try doing it 4 days per week.

There are two types of pain, acute pain and chronic pain.

Acute pain begins suddenly, lasts for a short time, and goes away as your body heals. You might feel acute pain after surgery or if you have a broken bone. 

Chronic pain is pain that lasts for 3 months or longer. For some people, chronic pain is caused by a health condition but it may also follow acute pain from an injury, surgery or other health issue that has been treated. A recent National Health Survey, done by the National Center for Health Statistics, showed that, in 2019, 20.4% of adults had chronic pain and 7.4% of adults had chronic pain that frequently limited their life, school or work activities. 

What other treatments help with pain?

In addition to pharmaceutical intervention, there are a variety of complementary and alternative approaches that may provide relief. Talk to your doctor about these options.

• Acupuncture uses hair-thin needles to stimulate points on the body to relieve pain.
• Biofeedback helps you learn to control your heart rate, blood pressure, muscle tension, and other body functions. This may help reduce your pain and stress level.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy is a form of short-term counseling that may reduce your reaction to pain.
• Distraction can help you cope with acute pain, taking your mind off discomfort.
• Electrical nerve stimulation uses electrical impulses to relieve pain.
• Guided imagery uses directed thoughts to create mental pictures that may help you relax, manage stress, sleep better, and have less pain.
• Hypnosis uses focused attention to help manage pain
• Massage therapy can release tension in tight muscles
• Mind-body stress reduction combines mindfulness medication, body awareness, and yoga to increase relaxation and reduce pain.
• Physical therapy uses a variety of techniques to help manage everyday activities with less pain and teaches you ways to improve flexibility and strength.

Help yourself

There are things you can do yourself that might help you feel better too. Try to:

• Keep a healthy weight. Putting on extra pounds can slow healing and make some pain worse. A healthy weight might help with pain in the knees, back, hips, or feet.
• Be physically active. Pain might make you inactive, which can lead to more pain and loss of function. Activity can help.
• Get enough sleep. It can reduce pain sensitivity, help healing, and improve your mood.
• Avoid tobacco, caffeine, and alcohol. They can get in the way of treatment and increase pain.
• Join a pain support group. Sometimes, it can help to talk to other people about how they deal with pain. You can share your thoughts while learning from others.

Some facts about pain

• Most people don’t have to live with pain. There are pain treatments. While not all pain can be cured, most pain can be managed. If your doctor has not been able to help you, ask to see a pain specialist.
• The side effects from pain medicine are often manageable. Side effects from pain medicine like constipation, dry mouth, and drowsiness may be a problem when you first begin taking medicine. These problems can often be treated and may go away as your body gets used to the medicine.
• Your doctor will not think you are weak if you talk about your pain. If you’re in pain, tell your doctor so you can get help.
• If you use pain medicine now, it will still work when you need it later. Using medicine at the first sign of pain may help control your pain later.
• Pain is not “all in your head”. No one but you knows how your pain feels. If you're in pain, talk with your doctor.

For more information on pain and managing pain

Eldercare Locator‍

800-677-1116

eldercarelocator@n4a.org 

https://eldercare.acl.gov

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MedlinePlus

NIH National Library of Medicine      

www.medlineplus.gov

‍

National Cancer Institute

800-422-6237

cancergovstaff@mail.nih.gov

www.cancer.gov

‍

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health

888-644-6226

866-464-3615 (TTY)

info@nccih.nih.gov

www.nccih.nih.gov

‍

National Institute on Drug Abuse

301-443-1124

www.drugabuse.gov

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Psychology Today

www.psychologytoday.com/us/groups

Taking the Right Steps to Prevent Falls

If you take care of your overall health, you may be able to lower the chances of falling. Most of the time, falls & accidents don’t “just happen”. Here are some tips to help avoid falls:

• Stay physically active
  - Talk to your provider if it is safe for you to start an exercise program. Exercising regularly can make you stronger, improve muscle tone and help keep your joints, ligaments and tendons flexible. 
• Check your eyes and hearing 
  - Even small changes in sight and hearing can cause you to fall. When you get new eyeglasses or contact lenses, be sure to take time to get used to them. Always wear them when needed and if you have a hearing aid, make sure it fits well (and wear it!)
• Learn more about the side effects of any medicine you take
  - If a drug makes you sleepy or dizzy, be sure to talk to your doctor or pharmacist about that.
• Get enough sleep - if you are sleepy, you are more likely to fall.
• Limit the amount of alcohol you drink 
  - Even a small amount of alcohol can affect balance and reflexes. Studies show that the rate of hip fractures in older adults increases with alcohol use
• Stand up slowly
  - Getting up too can cause your blood pressure to drop, which can make you feel wobbly. Change positions slowly and check your blood pressure in different positions (lying, sitting, standing) if you often feel dizzy when standing. Share this information with your doctor.
• Use an assistive device if you need help feeling steady when you walk
  - Appropriate use of canes and walkers can prevent falls. If your doctor tells you to use a cane or walker, make sure it’s the right size for you and the wheels roll smoothly. A physical therapist or occupational therapist can help you decide what devices might be helpful and teach you to use them safely.
• Be very careful when walking on wet or icy surfaces
  - Remember to have sand or salt spread on icy areas by your front and back door.
• Wear non-skid, rubber-soled, low-heeled shoes to support your feet
  - Don’t walk on stairs or floors in socks or in shoes and slippers with smooth soles.
• Always tell your doctor if you have fallen since your last checkup, even if you aren’t injured from the fall
  - A fall can alert your doctor to a new medical problem or problems with your medications or eyesight that can be corrected. 

Where can I get help?

The U.S. Administration on Aging provides a free public service called, Eldercare Locator, helping to connect you to services for older adults and their families. Click the link to learn more, or call 1-800-677-1116 to be connected with a representative.

The first and most important step in preventing flu is to get your flu vaccine each year (if not contraindicated). Flu vaccine has been shown to reduce flu related illnesses and the risk of serious flu complications that can result in hospitalization or even death.

Influenza (Flu) shots are appropriate for most people:

• Different flu shots are approved for people of different ages. 
• There are standard-dose inactivated flu vaccines that are approved for people as young as 6 months old.
• Pregnant people and people with chronic health conditions can get a flu shot
• People with an egg allergy can get a flu shot

Some people should not get the flu vaccine, so you should always talk to your healthcare provider about whether or not vaccination is right for you.

The CDC recommends that we all get our flu vaccine each year, between early September until the end of October. However, if you aren’t able to get vaccinated until November or later, vaccination is still recommended because flu most commonly peaks in February and can cause significant spread into May.

It’s natural to feel some stress, anxiety, grief, and worry throughout your daily life. However, sometimes, additional follow-up is necessary. We recommend you follow up with your healthcare provider to discuss how you are feeling as soon as you can.

Depression is very common. It is an illness that needs specific treatment just like any other medical illness. A large percentage of people will go through some sort of depression during their lives. It is a very important health problem that often goes unnoticed by others. 

What causes depression?

The exact cause of depression is unknown. It may be caused by a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors. Everyone is different‚ but the following factors may increase a person’s chances of becoming depressed:

• Having blood relatives who have had depression
• Experiencing traumatic or stressful events, such as physical or sexual abuse, the death of a loved one, or financial problems
• Going through a major life change‚ even if it was planned
• Having a medical problem, such as cancer, stroke, or chronic pain
• Taking certain medications. Talk to your doctor if you have questions about whether your medications might be making you feel depressed.
• Using alcohol or drugs

What can I do to feel better?

Many helpful treatments for depression are available. Treatment for depression can help reduce symptoms and shorten how long the depression lasts. Treatment can include getting therapy and/or taking medications. Your doctor or a qualified mental health professional can help you determine what treatment is best for you.

Therapy - Many people benefit from psychotherapy—also called therapy or counseling.7,8 Most therapy lasts for a short time and focuses on thoughts‚ feelings‚ and issues that are happening in your life now. In some cases‚ understanding your past can help‚ but finding ways to address what is happening in your life now can help you cope and prepare you for challenges in the future.With therapy, you’ll work with your therapist to learn skills to help you cope with life, change behaviors that are causing problems‚ and find solutions. Do not feel shy or embarrassed about talking openly and honestly about your feelings and concerns. This is an important part of getting better.Some common goals of therapy include:

• Getting healthier
• Quitting smoking and stopping drug and alcohol use
• Overcoming fears or insecurities
• Coping with stress
• Making sense of past painful events
• Identifying things that worsen your depression
• Having better relationships with family and friends
• Understanding why something bothers you and creating a plan to deal with it

Medication - Many people with depression find that taking prescribed medications called antidepressants can help improve their mood and coping skills. Talk to your doctor about whether they are right for you. If your doctor writes you a prescription for an antidepressant‚ ask exactly how you should take the medication. If you are already using nicotine replacement therapy or another medication to help you quit smoking, be sure to let your doctor know. Several antidepressant medications are available‚ so you and your doctor have options to choose from. Sometimes it takes several tries to find the best medication and the right dose for you, so be patient. Also be aware of the following important information:

• When taking these medications‚ it is important to follow the instructions on how much to take. Some people start to feel better a few days after starting the medication‚ but it can take up to 4 weeks to feel the most benefit. Antidepressants work well and are safe for most people‚ but it is still important to talk with your doctor if you have side effects. Side effects usually do not get in the way of daily life‚ and they often go away as your body adjusts to the medication.
• Don’t stop taking an antidepressant without first talking to your doctor. Stopping your medicine suddenly can cause symptoms or worsen depression. Work with your doctor to safely adjust how much you take.
• Some antidepressants may cause risks during pregnancy. Talk with your doctor if you are pregnant or might be pregnant, or if you are planning to become pregnant.
• Antidepressants cannot solve all of your problems. If you notice that your mood is getting worse or if you have thoughts about hurting yourself, it is important to call your doctor right away.

Shingles is a painful rash that usually develops on one side of the body, often the face or torso. The rash consists of blisters that typically scab over in 7 to 10 days and clears up within 2 to 4 weeks. Some people describe the pain as an intense burning sensation. For some people, the pain can last for months or even years after the rash goes away. This long-lasting pain is called postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), and it is the most common complication of shingles. Your risk of getting shingles and PHN increases as you get older.

Shingles vaccination is the only way to protect against shingles and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), the most common complication from shingles.

Your doctor or pharmacist can give you Shingrix as a shot in your upper arm.

Shingrix provides strong protection against shingles and PHN. In adults 50 years and older who have healthy immune systems, Shingrix is more than 90% effective at preventing shingles and PHN. Immunity stays strong for at least the first 7 years after vaccination. In adults with weakened immune systems, studies show that Shingrix is 68%-91% effective in preventing shingles, depending on the condition that affects the immune system.

How do I pay for this vaccine?

• Medicare Part D plans cover the shingles vaccine, but there may be a cost to you depending on your plan. There may be a copay for the vaccine, or you may need to pay in full then get reimbursed for a certain amount.
• Medicare Part B does not cover the shingles vaccine.
• Medicaid may or may not cover the vaccine. Contact your insurer to find out.
• Many private health insurance plans will cover the vaccine, but there may be a cost to you depending on your plan. Contact your insurer to find out.
• Vaccine assistance programs
  - Some pharmaceutical companies provide vaccines to eligible adults who cannot afford them. You may want to check with the vaccine manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline, about Shingrix.

If you do not currently have health insurance, learn more about affordable health coverage options

What does an advance directive contain?

There are two primary documents typically included within an advance directive, which will help you get the best care even when you are unable to make your own decisions.

Living Will - A living will lets your family and any medical professionals treating you know which life-sustaining or lifesaving medical services you want to receive. It only goes into effect if certain criteria are met. The living will may include details on:

• Receiving CPR
• Being helped with breathing through use of a ventilator
• Receiving nutrition through a tube feeding
• Receiving hydration through intravenous (IV) fluids
• Receiving pain relief and other comfort measures

Healthcare Power of Attorney (POA) - A healthcare POA, sometimes referred to as a healthcare proxy, is a family or trusted person you select to make medical dicisions for you and speak on your behalf. The POA document outlines the authority you give this person and allows you to write out directions. 

How do I set up an advance directive?

Each individual state has its own laws about advance directives. Therefore, it is important that you contact one of the following individuals, to help assist you in creating your advance directive:

• Your primary health care provider
• Your attorney
• Your local area Agency on Aging
• Your state health department

What to do after you set up your advance directive

It’s important that each of the following people have an up-to-date copy of your advance directive:

• Your primary care physician
• The person you appoint as your agent
• Any person you cite as an alternate agent
• Your other healthcare providers (specialists, etc)
• The health care institution (nearby hospital) that provides you care
• Family members, such as a spouse, sibling, or children

Be sure to review your advance care planning decisions from time-to-time, as you may want to revise your preferences for care if your situation or your health changes. 

To help make the most of your visit, it’s a good idea to bring an updated blood pressure log with you to your appointment.

Here are some modifications you can start working on today!

• Heart healthy diet
  - Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, low fat dairy and reduced in fat (often called DASH) 
  - Limit fatty meats, full-fat dairy, sugar sweetened beverages, sweets and sodium intake
• Restrict your sodium intake
  - You’ll want to take in <1500mg of sodium per day
• Physical Activity
  - Aim for at least 90 - 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week
  - Examples include brisk walking, light lifting, cycling, vacuuming, and gardening
• Moderate your alcohol consumption
  - No more than 2 drinks/day for men and 1 drink/day for women
  - Examples of one drink include:
         - Beer: 12 fluid ounces
         - Glass of wine: 5 fluid ounces
         - Hard liquor: 1.5 fluid ounces

What about medications?

Your doctor may recommend a prescription medication to help keep your blood pressure managed. Blood pressure medications work in several different ways, including:

• Causing your body to get rid of water, which decreases the amount of water and salt in your body to a healthy level
• Relaxing your blood vessels
• Making your heart beat with less force
• Blocking nerve activity that can restrict your blood vessels

It is important to take your blood pressure medicine exactly as your doctor tells you to. Do not stop taking your current medicine without talking to your doctor or pharmacist first. Stopping your blood pressure medicine without first talking to your health care team could lead to serious health consequences.

Even if you have been prescribed medication for your blood pressure, exercise and diet modifications are still very important measures to continue.

Managing high cholesterol

Take your medicine as directed - If you take medicine to treat high cholesterol, heart disease, stroke, or diabetes, follow your health care team’s instructions carefully. Always ask questions if you don’t understand something. Never stop taking your medicine without first talking to your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist. 

Make healthy lifestyle changes - You can take steps to lower your high cholesterol levels by making healthy changes to your lifestyle, such as choosing foods lower in saturated and trans fats and maintaining a healthy weight

Talk with your health care team - You and your health care team can work together to prevent or treat diabetes and ensure that it doesn’t lead to high cholesterol. Discuss your treatment plan regularly, and bring a list of questions to your appointments.

‍Check your cholesterol regularly - You may need to have your cholesterol levels checked at least once every 4 to 6 years if you do not have heart disease. Some people need to get their cholesterol checked more often or less often. Talk with your health care team about the timeline that is best for you.

With diabetes, your body doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use it as well as it should. When there isn’t enough insulin or cells stop responding to insulin, too much blood sugar stays in your bloodstream. Over time, that can cause serious health problems, such as heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease.

There are several reasons your blood sugar may rise

• Too much food, like a meal or snack with more carbohydrates than usual 
• Dehydration 
• Not being active 
• Not enough insulin or oral diabetes medications 
• Side effects from other medications, such as steroids or anti-psychotic medications 
• Illness, stress, menstrual periods or short or long-term pain (these all cause your body to release hormones which can raise blood sugar levels)

But, you should know, your blood sugar can also fall too low, due to

• Not enough food, like a meal or snack with fewer carbohydrates than usual, or missing a meal or snack 
• Alcohol, especially on an empty stomach 
• Too much insulin or oral diabetes medications 
• Side effects from other medications 
• More physical activity or exercise than usual 

There isn’t a cure yet for diabetes, but losing weight, eating healthy food, and being active can really help. Other things you can do to help:

• Take medicine as prescribed.
• Get diabetes self-management education and support.
• Make and keep health care appointments.

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Pneumococcal [noo-muh-KOK-uhl] disease is a name for any infection caused by bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae, or pneumococcus. Pneumococcal infections can range from ear and sinus infections to pneumonia and bloodstream infections. But the good news is, there are vaccines to help prevent pneumococcal disease!

Where can I find these vaccines?

Speak with your primary care doctor to discuss getting your vaccination. They will be able to administer the vaccine or refer you to another location.

How do I pay for these vaccines?

• Medicare Part B covers 100% of the cost for two different pneumococcal vaccines (when administered at least 12 months apart).
• Most private health insurance plans cover pneumococcal vaccines. Check with your insurance provider for details on whether there is any cost to you. Ask your insurance provider and for a list of in-network vaccine providers.

If your doctor feels that your risk for colon cancer is higher than average, they may recommend more frequent screening through any one of these recommended tests. 

Of cancers that affect both men and women, colorectal cancer is the second leading cancer killer in the United States. It does not have to be! Colorectal cancer screening saves lives. Through screening, precancerous polyps (abnormal growths in the colon or rectum) can be found and removed before they turn into cancer. 

What are the risk factors for Colorectal Cancer?

Your risk increases as you get older, however, some other risk factors include:

• Inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
• Any personal or family history of colorectal cancer or colorectal polyps
• A genetic syndrome such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (Lynch syndrome)

Lifestyle factors can also contribute to an increased risk of colorectal cancer, including:

• Lack of regular physical activity
• A diet low in fruits and vegetables
• A low-fiber and high-fat diet, or diet high in processed meats
• Overweight and obesity
• Alcohol consumption
• Tobacco use

Take Action

If you haven’t had a screening in the last 10 years, contact your healthcare provider to set up an appointment.

Here are some questions you can ask your doctor at your next visit:

• Do I need to get a screening test for colorectal cancer?
• What screening test(s) do you recommend for me? Why?
• How do I prepare? Do I need to change my diet or my usual medication before taking the test?
• What’s involved in the test? Will it be uncomfortable or painful?
• Is there any risk involved?
• When and from whom will I get results?

If you’re having a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy, you will want to know:

• Who will do the exam?
• Will I need someone with me?

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All women are at risk for cervical cancer. It occurs most often in women over the age of 30. Long-lasting infection with certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main cause of cervical cancer. HPV is a common virus that is passed from one person to another during sex. At least half of sexually active people will have HPV at some point in their lives, but few women will get cervical cancer.

Screening tests and the HPV vaccine can help prevent cervical cancer. When cervical cancer is found early, it is highly treatable and associated with long survival and good quality of life.

If You Are 21 to 29 Years Old

You should start getting Pap tests at age 21. If your Pap test result is normal, your doctor may tell you that you can wait three years until your next Pap test.

If You Are 30 to 65 Years Old

Talk to your doctor about which testing option is right for you:

• A Pap test only. If your result is normal, your doctor may tell you that you can wait three years until your next Pap test.
• An HPV test only. This is called primary HPV testing. If your result is normal, your doctor may tell you that you can wait five years until your next screening test.
• An HPV test along with the Pap test. This is called co-testing. If both of your results are normal, your doctor may tell you that you can wait five years until your next screening test.

Most health insurance plans cover the cost of cervical cancer screening, however, if you have a low income or do not have health insurance, you may be able to get a free or low-cost screening test through the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program.

A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast. For many women, mammograms are the best way to find breast cancer early, when it is easier to treat and before it is big enough to feel or cause symptoms. Having regular mammograms can lower the risk of dying from breast cancer. At this time, a mammogram is the best way to find breast cancer for most women of screening age.

Where can I get screened?

You can get screened for breast cancer at a clinic, hospital, or doctor’s office. If you want to be screened for breast cancer, call your doctor’s office. They can help you schedule an appointment.

Most health insurance plans are required to cover screening mammograms every one to two years for women beginning at age 40 with no out-of-pocket cost (like a co-pay, deductible, or co-insurance).

Find a mammography facility near you

‍Are you worried about the cost? CDC offers free or low-cost mammograms. Find out if you qualify.