"To your health!" It's a toast you hear on New Year's eve and at birthday, anniversary and retirement celebrations throughout the year. And what a great resolution it would make for 2003 - to do all that you can to stay healthy and fit.

Feel Better, Live Longer
A good way to begin is by getting the recommended medical screenings and immunizations for your age and gender. An ounce of prevention will go a long way in helping you to stay healthy, feel better and live a longer, productive life.

Check It Out
For you convenience, we've compiled a list of medical screenings and immunizations health experts recommend for those who are age 50 and over. Are you doing all you can do to stay healthy? Take a minute to review this checklist and find out...

	Blood Pressure The American Heart Association recommends having your blood pressure checked at least every two years. However, if you're overweight or have a family history of hypertension, you should be tested annually. High blood pressure is a quiet killer. Left untreated, it increases your risk of heart attack and stroke as well as kidney and liver damage.
	Cholesterol The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute recommends everyone 20 and older should have their cholesterol checked at least once every five years. A simple blood test will determine your total cholesterol, your HDL (the "good") cholesterol and your LDL (the "bad") cholesterol levels. So your doctor can assess your risk for heart disease and recommend treatment.
	Diabetes The American Diabetes Association recommends all adults over 45 be tested for Type II diabetes every three years. A silent disorder that affects the body's ability to control blood sugar, diabetes can cause serious problems, including heart and kidney disease, nerve damage, stroke and blindness. However, if monitored and controlled, these risks can be significantly reduced.
	Vision As you advance in age, eye problems such as cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy can develop. So regular eye exams are very important. How often? The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that people, 65 and older, should have their eyes examined every one to two years, even if you have no symptoms.
	Thyroid According to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, women 65 and older should have their thyroid tested every three to five years. The Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) test is a simple blood test that will identify potential thyroid problems, which are common to women 50 years and older.
	Osteoporosis The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends that women 65 and older, regardless of osteoporosis risk factors, get a one-time Bone Mineral Density (BMD) test to determine bone density. The Foundation also recommends that all postmenopausal women who have a fracture, have a family history of osteoporosis or have other risk factors for the disease should have the BMD test.

Cancer Screenings
Below are the cancer screening guidelines offered by the American Cancer Society.

	Colorectal Cancer For men and women, age 50 and over, a colonoscopy is recommended every 10 years. As alternatives, the Society also recommends fecal occult blood test yearly plus a flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years; or, a double contrast barium enema every five years.
	Skin Cancer Everyone over age 40, should exam themselves annually and undergo a clinical skin examination every year.
	Breast Cancer After 50, women should do a self-examination of their breasts monthly in addition to having a clinical breast exam and a mammogram annually.
	Cervical Cancer After 40, women should have both a pap test and a pelvic examination annually.
	Prostate Cancer Men, age 50 and older, should have a Prostate Specific antigen (PSA) test and a rectal examination annually.

Immunizations

	Pneumococcal The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends people age 65 and older get a pneumococcal vaccination one time, with revaccination every five to six years. The shot can be a life-saver, protecting you from pneumonia and many other strains of pneumococcal infection.
	Influenza After age 65, an influenza vaccination is recommended every year.
	Tetanus Booster After age 18, a tetanus booster is recommended every ten years.

Resolve to Be the Best You Can Be
For 2003, resolve to take a more active role in your health and well-being. Review this checklist with your doctor to determine a testing schedule appropriate for you. There's truth in the adage, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!"