Control known risks
BP, lipids, diabetes, kidney disease, and smoking history deserve active treatment, not just repeated measurement.
Otherwise healthy around 60
Health checks at 60.
At 60, the goal is not more tests for their own sake. It is keeping cancer screening current, treating BP/diabetes/cholesterol properly, protecting bones, vision, hearing, kidneys, sleep, and function.
Main idea
Do the checks that can change care. Do not collect tests for the sake of collecting tests.
The 60s are when quiet risk can turn into events. A useful review checks whether known problems are actually controlled and whether screening intervals are current.
If high BP, diabetes, kidney disease, cancer history, inflammatory disease, osteoporosis risk, depression, sleep apnea, or alcohol overuse exists, monitoring should be specific and more frequent.
For details on fasting, cost, risks, normal ranges, false abnormal results, and next steps, use 50tests.com.
Suggested focus
A practical checklist for this decade.
These are prompts for a clinician conversation, not a command to get every test.
Cancer screening intervals
FIT/colonoscopy, mammogram, cervical screening, PSA discussion, lung CT for eligible smokers, and skin checks when risk applies.
Bones, eyes, hearing
Falls prevention, DXA when risk applies, glaucoma/retina checks, cataracts, hearing, dental health, and medicines review.
Vaccines
Flu, COVID, shingles, tetanus, pneumococcal by age/risk, RSV by age/risk, and travel vaccines when needed.
Examples
Otherwise healthy example lists.
These change with family history, symptoms, and local guidelines.
Typical male checklist around 60
- BP and cardiovascular risk review
- Diabetes/kidney monitoring if risk
- Colorectal screening
- PSA informed choice and lung CT if eligible
Typical female checklist around 60
- BP and cardiovascular risk review
- Mammogram per local guidance
- Colorectal screening
- Bone-risk review and DXA if indicated