Skip to content

Start Health Way

Preventive care and screenings, one step at a time

Based on U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and CDC recommendations
  • Your Checkup
  • Cancer Screening
  • Other Screenings
  • About
  • Contact
  • Menu

Other Screenings

Diabetes, one-time tests and bone density.

An older woman walking along a sunny roadside carrying a shopping bag

Osteoporosis Screening: Bone Density Tests and Who Needs Them

By Start Health Way Writers

Who should have a bone density test under the 2025 Task Force recommendation, what T-scores mean, fracture risk factors and ways to protect bones.

Read the guide→
A rapid diagnostic test cassette on a wooden table

Once-in-a-Lifetime Screenings: Hepatitis C, HIV and Aortic Aneurysm

By Start Health Way Writers

Three screenings most adults need only once or occasionally: hepatitis C from 18 to 79, HIV from 15 to 65, and an aortic aneurysm ultrasound for some older men.

Read the guide→
A cardboard box of fresh produce including avocados, bananas, peppers and eggs

Diabetes Screening: Who Should Be Tested and What Results Mean

By Start Health Way Writers

Who should be screened for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, how the A1C and fasting glucose tests work, what the results mean, and what to do next.

Read the guide→

About Start Health Way

Plain-language guides to adult checkups and screenings in the U.S., based on Task Force and CDC recommendations.

How we work

Screenings by age

  • 18 and up: blood pressure; hepatitis C once (to 79)
  • 15 to 65: HIV at least once
  • 21 to 65: cervical cancer
  • 35 to 70: diabetes, if overweight
  • 40 to 74: mammogram every 2 years
  • 45 to 75: colorectal cancer
  • 50 to 80: lung cancer, with a heavy smoking history
  • 65 and up: bone density for women

For people at average risk. Your clinician may suggest a different schedule.

A few numbers to know

  • Blood pressure: normal is below 120/80
  • Fasting blood sugar: 99 mg/dL or below is normal
  • A1C: below 5.7% is normal

Your clinician can tell you what your own targets should be.

Blood pressure · Diabetes screening

Topics

  • Cancer Screening (4)
  • Other Screenings (3)
  • Your Checkup (4)

Latest guides

  • Preventive Care Coverage: What Health Insurance Must Cover
  • Your Preventive Checkup: What Happens and How to Prepare
  • Colorectal Cancer Screening From 45: Choosing a Test
  • Blood Pressure Numbers: What They Mean and How Often to Check

Start Health Way

Preventive care and screenings, one step at a time. General information only; for personal advice, talk with your clinician.

Site information

  • About
  • Contact
  • Sources and Accuracy
  • Funding Disclosure
  • Privacy and Your Data
  • Terms of Use

Official resources

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Medicare.gov

Find a community health center

© 2026 Start Health Way. General health information, not medical advice.Privacy and Your DataTheme by SiteOrigin