Start Health Way explains adult preventive care in plain language: which checkups and screenings are recommended, who they’re for, what the tests involve and what the results mean. We write for adults in the United States who want to understand their options before they talk with a clinician.
Why preventive care
Many serious conditions, including high blood pressure, prediabetes and several cancers, cause no symptoms early on. Screening can find them while they’re easier to treat or even prevent. The official recommendations are thorough, but they’re written for clinicians and policy makers. We translate them for everyone else.
What we cover
- Your checkup: what a preventive visit includes, blood pressure numbers and cholesterol results.
- Cancer screening: colorectal, breast, cervical and lung cancer screening schedules and tests.
- Other screenings: diabetes, bone density and the tests most adults need only once.
Where our information comes from
Our guides are based on recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and on information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Medicare.gov, the Food and Drug Administration and major U.S. medical societies. We use AI tools to help research and draft, and we check every recommendation, age range and figure against those sources before publishing. When a recommendation changes, we update the guide.
What we are not
We’re not a medical practice, and our guides aren’t reviewed by a clinician. They don’t replace advice from your own doctor, nurse practitioner or pharmacist, who can take your health history into account. We don’t sell tests, run ads or accept payment from healthcare companies.
If you spot something out of date, please let us know.