3. How Much Fat Is in Your Blood?
A lipid panel is a fasting blood test used to assess levels of cholesterol and triglyceride, blood fats that indicate your risk for heart disease or stroke. Total cholesterol is determined by adding the two cholesterol numbers, HDL (the healthier cholesterol) and LDL, along with 20 percent of your triglyceride level, according to the American Heart Association. The group notes that normal ranges are less important than overall cardiovascular risk, in which lipid levels are considered along with factors such as blood pressure and other medical conditions, which can be found on a risk calculator.
If you’re age 20 to 65, you should have your cholesterol measured at least once every five years, says the National Institutes of Health — more often if you are at high risk of heart disease. Those 65 and older should test their cholesterol annually.
4. Pap Smears
You may remember the days when women got annual Pap smears — a test in which a small brush is used to remove cells from around the cervix. But better understanding of how cervical cancer develops and improved testing for the human papillomavirus that causes this cancer mean annual screening is unnecessary now, Duah notes.
Current guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommend that women of average risk get their first screen at 21, with a basic screen every three years until age 30. After that and until age 65, women can continue that schedule.
Or, they can instead have either a standalone test for HPV or a combined HPV and basic cytology test every five years. Women older than 65 who have had prior negative screenings do not need any Pap smear screens.