In your 40s? Here are the health screenings experts recommend

So you've reached nan Big 4-0? It's clip to observe — and to make plans for immoderate preventative attraction and screenings to thief support your wellness connected track.

CBS News HealthWatch has compiled a series of guides to thief you cognize which preventative screenings should beryllium connected your list, starting pinch group successful their 20s and successful each decade done your 60s. Compared to those in their 20s and 30s, group successful their 40s person immoderate further recommendations to consider, including mammograms and colon crab screening.

So what should 40-somethings person connected their preventative checklist? Here is simply a look astatine nan guidelines experts urge for group astatine mean risk:

Vaccines successful your 40s

In your 40s, it's important to make judge you're up-to-date connected a fewer vaccines, including nan Td aliases Tdap booster shot, which protects against tetanus and diphtheria, arsenic good arsenic nan COVID-19 vaccine and annual flu shot, which are recommended for group ages 6 months and up.

Colon crab screening successful your 40s

At property 45, group should begin screening for colorectal cancer, according to nan U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an independent sheet of nationalist experts. This tin beryllium done via respective different screening strategies.

"Obviously nan golden modular still remains nan colonoscopy, but Cologuard (a marque of at-home stool tests) is simply a awesome test," says Dr. Robert M. Biernbaum, main aesculapian serviceman for WellNow Urgent Care. The wave of testing will dangle connected nan trial type and an individual's consequence level. 

In 2018, nan recommended age to get a first colonoscopy screening was lowered to 45, from 50, for those astatine mean risk, because rates of colon crab person been increasing successful younger property groups. If you're astatine accrued risk, which includes having a family history aliases inflammatory bowel disease, talk to your expert astir being screened earlier.

Mammograms for women successful their 40s

For women, your 40s is nan property scope erstwhile doctors urge starting mammograms or other exams to screen for bosom cancer, for those astatine mean risk. 

The latest draught guidance from nan USPSTF says breast crab screenings for women astatine mean consequence should beryllium done each different twelvemonth starting astatine property 40. (It antecedently recommended starting astatine property 50.) Other organizations already urge yearly mammograms astatine 40, including the American College of Radiology.

Sexual and reproductive wellness successful your 40s

For women, cervical crab screenings should proceed connected nan aforesaid schedule arsenic successful your 30s, for those astatine mean risk, the USPSTF recommends: "Screening each 3 years pinch cervical cytology alone, each 5 years pinch high-risk quality papillomavirus (hrHPV) testing alone, aliases each 5 years pinch hrHPV testing successful operation pinch cytology (cotesting)." 

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends visiting an OB-GYN, astatine slightest erstwhile a twelvemonth for a well-woman sojourn and deciding pinch your expert really often to do a pelvic exam. 

You whitethorn besides want to talk to your expert about menopause or perimenoupause, which is erstwhile nan assemblage is transitioning to menopause, marking nan extremity of someone's reproductive years. Perimenopause can past anyplace from 7 to 10 years, passim your 40s and early 50s, Dr. Jessica Shepherd, OB-GYN and main aesculapian serviceman of Verywell Health, previously told CBS News.

"The mean property of menopause is 52, truthful during that perimenopausal timeframe is erstwhile you mightiness commencement to person symptoms," Shepherd said, adding immoderate whitethorn announcement changes arsenic early arsenic their mid-30s successful definite cases. 

If you're postmenopausal successful your 40s, inquire your expert astir immoderate further tests you whitethorn want to consider, specified as ovarian screening.

For men, nan USPSTF does not urge regular testicular crab screenings; however, the American Cancer Society recommends testicular exams be incorporated into a antheral patient's yearly beingness exam aliases performed arsenic a self-test astatine home. 

For anyone who is sexually active, nan CDC recommends getting HIV-tested at slightest once. Depending connected consequence factors, it is besides recommends getting tested for other sexually transmitted diseases and infections, including hepatitis B and C. People should besides beryllium screened for whether they are at consequence for HIV and should beryllium connected PrEP, a highly effective HIV prevention drug. See the CDC's website for a breakdown of circumstantial recommendations. 

More screenings to see successful your 40s

Heart health — The American Heart Association recommends getting your blood pressure checked each 2 years if it's beneath 120/80 mm Hg but much often if it's higher. Cholesterol levels should beryllium checked each 4 to 6 years for average-risk adults.

"After property 40, your wellness attraction master will besides want to usage an equation to cipher your 10-year consequence of having a bosom onslaught aliases stroke," nan AHA says connected its website.

Diabetes risk — Beginning astatine property 45, nan AHA recommends testing for prediabetes and consequence for early diabetes. "If tests are normal, it is reasonable to repetition testing astatine a minimum of 3-year intervals," nan AHA notes. The USPSTF also recommends screening for prediabetes successful nan 40s and to measure whether personification should beryllium connected a statin, a cholesterol-lowering drug.

Skin health — To check for tegument cancer, a yearly dermatological exam is recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation. 

Eye health — Chances are you've already had aggregate broad oculus and imagination exams earlier hitting 40, but if not, it's decidedly nan clip to do so, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. "This is erstwhile early signs of illness aliases changes successful imagination whitethorn appear," its website notes. "It is important to find oculus diseases early. Early curen tin thief sphere your vision." The American Optometric Association recommends an oculus exam astatine slightest each 2 years betwixt nan ages of 40 done 64.

Oral health — Oral exams and dental cleanings are besides important to support up with. According to the American Dental Association, group should schedule astatine regular intervals recommended by their dentist. For astir people, this is typically doubly a year.

Mental health — It's important not to neglect intelligence wellness check-ins. Doctors should surface for depression, worry and consequence for termination astatine yearly check-ups. 

The USPSTF besides recommends screenings for friendly partner violence, unhealthy intoxicant and supplier usage arsenic good arsenic baccy use. 

This guideline is based connected guidelines from wellness organizations and experts for group astatine mean risk. Age and wave of screenings whitethorn disagree for individuals based connected family history and individual consequence factors. This does not return nan spot of your individual doctor's recommendations for your health.