[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/10\/health-screenings-provided-by-your-pcp\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/10\/health-screenings-provided-by-your-pcp\/","headline":"Know the Regular Health Screenings Provided by Your PCP","name":"Know the Regular Health Screenings Provided by Your PCP","description":"Routine screenings can identify many common health problems and chronic conditions. Regular screening with your primary care physician (PCP) may help detect more serious health issues at their earliest stages \u2014 when they are easier to treat. Doctors may have their own protocols, but here are some routine screenings you may undergo at your next […]","datePublished":"2020-10-08","dateModified":"2020-09-03","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/primary-care-regions","name":"Primary Care","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/primary-care-regions","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/primary-care\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/iStock-1213662437.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/iStock-1213662437.jpg","height":325,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/10\/health-screenings-provided-by-your-pcp\/","about":["Family Health","Living and Wellness"],"wordCount":611,"articleBody":"Routine screenings can identify many common health problems and chronic conditions. Regular screening with your primary care physician (PCP) may help detect more serious health issues at their earliest stages \u2014 when they are easier to treat.Doctors may have their own protocols, but here are some routine screenings you may undergo at your next doctor’s appointment:Blood Pressure ScreeningWhat it isA blood pressure screening measures the pressure in your arteries as your heart pumps. This is done by wrapping an inflatable cuff (attached to a dial or digital display) around your upper arm. Your doctor or nurse then places a stethoscope above the elbow and inflates the cuff with a small hand pump. That momentarily stops the blood flow through the artery in your arm. The cuff is then deflated to allow blood to flow again. A stethoscope is used to measure blood flow.What it tells youThe blood pressure test provides two numbers, explains the American Heart Association. The first (or top) number \u2014 systolic blood pressure \u2014 tells how much pressure your blood is exerting against your artery walls when your heart beats. The second (or bottom) number \u2014 diastolic blood pressure \u2014 indicates how much pressure your blood exerts against your artery walls while the heart rests between beats.Next stepsIf you have high blood pressure, your doctor may recommend diet, exercise, or medicine to bring it under control. Proper treatment may help prevent high blood pressure from damaging your heart.Heart ScreeningWhat it isYour doctor will listen to your heart with a stethoscope.What it tells youSigns of heart disease can include an irregular heartbeat or a heart murmur.Next stepsIf your doctor hears anything suspicious, you may need additional testing \u2014 or you may be referred to a specialist for treatment.Lung ScreeningWhat it isYour doctor will use a stethoscope to listen to your lungs while directing you to breathe in and out.What it tells youSigns of lung or heart issues include crackling or wheezing, a decrease in breathing sounds, or fluid in the lungs.Next stepsIf your doctor hears anything suspicious, you may need additional testing \u2014 or you may be referred to a specialist for treatment.Blood ScreeningWhat it isYour doctor may order several blood tests to screen for a variety of conditions.There are two routine blood screenings most patients will receive. The American Heart Association recommends all adults 20 or older have a lipid panel, or cholesterol test, every four to six years. After age 40, your doctor will assess your risk of cardiovascular disease and recommend how often you should get tested.The American Diabetes Association recommends all adults be tested for type 2 diabetes beginning at age 45, and every three years thereafter.Be sure to ask what you should do before the blood test. Some tests require you to fast, which means refraining from eating or drinking for a certain amount of time.What it tells youThe blood test will let your doctor know if you are at risk for developing these conditions. After reviewing the results, your PCP’s office may contact you to discuss the results further.Next stepsDepending on your gender, age, family history, and risk factors, your doctor may do additional screenings at your checkup. “These screening tests are part of why it’s so important to see your doctor at least once a year. A little preventative medicine can save you a lot of trouble later on,\u201d says Shane Eikenberry, MD, of Greater Pittsburgh Medical Associates-UPMC.Routine health screenings are an important part of a healthy future. Contact your PCP today to schedule your annual checkup."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2020","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"10","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/\/10\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Know the Regular Health Screenings Provided by Your PCP","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/10\/health-screenings-provided-by-your-pcp\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]