𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗔 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸?

You don’t need to wait until something goes wrong!

A quick reminder: basic medical health monitoring can prevent serious illness. But many of us have no idea what to check or when.

Here’s a quick age-based guide for Australians (based on RACGP & Heart Foundation recommendations):

𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲: 𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗯𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆, 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘆𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀. 𝗔𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗚𝗣 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂.

𝗔𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝟭𝟴–3𝟵

• Blood pressure: every 2 years

• Cholesterol & diabetes risk: start earlier if you have risk factors (e.g., family history, • Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander background)

• Mental health & STI screening: as needed, especially for those who are LGBTQ+ or sexually active

• HPV vaccine (if not already received)

𝗔𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝟰𝟬–4𝟵

• Heart Health Check: from 45 (or from 30 for Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander peoples)

• Diabetes screening: every 3–5 years

• Cervical screening: every 5 years (25–74, even if vaccinated)

• Breast checks: regular clinical checks; mammograms usually start at 50 but discuss earlier if needed

• Vaccinations: annual flu shot, COVID boosters, catch-ups

𝗔𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝟱𝟬–7𝟰

• Bowel cancer test: every 2 years (free kit from age 50)

• BreastScreen mammograms: every 2 years (50–74)

• Bone density scan: especially for postmenopausal women

• Heart, diabetes, blood pressure checks: every 1–2 years

• Shingles vaccine: from age 65 (now free for eligible people)

𝗔𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝟳𝟱+

• Falls & mobility checks

• Medication review

• Cognitive screening

• Vision/hearing checks

• Continued heart, diabetes, cancer screening where appropriate

𝗧𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗬𝗼𝘂

• Men: prostate screening no one-size-fits-all; talk to your GP

• Women & people with a cervix: cervical screening every 5 years

• Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples: earlier heart and diabetes checks; free annual health assessment

• LGBTQ+ and gender-diverse people: speak to inclusive GPs about relevant STI checks, cervical/breast/testicular screening, and mental health support

𝗩𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵-𝗨𝗽𝘀

Keep up to date with:

• Flu shots (annually)

• COVID-19 boosters (especially if 65+ or with chronic illness)

• Shingles & pneumococcal (from 65)

• Travel vaccines if going abroad

𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁

Tests are helpful but lifestyle change is powerful. Movement, connection, good sleep, nutritious food, and emotional wellbeing are your best health allies.