Preventive screenings are medical tests done before you have symptoms. Their whole purpose is to catch serious problems early — when they're much easier to treat.
Blood pressure should be checked at every routine visit starting in adulthood. High blood pressure causes no symptoms but damages your heart and arteries over time.
Cholesterol and blood sugar should be checked starting in your 20s if you have risk factors, or by your mid-30s to 40s for everyone.
Colorectal cancer screening starts at age 45 for average-risk adults. A colonoscopy checks for precancerous growths that can be removed before they become cancer.
Mammograms are recommended starting at age 40, once a year.
Cervical cancer screenings (Pap smears) should begin at age 21 and continue every 3–5 years depending on your age and test type.
If you're 50–80 years old and smoked heavily (at least a pack a day for 20 years), an annual low-dose CT scan can detect lung cancer early.
For bone density, women 65+ and men 70+ should get a DEXA scan to check for osteoporosis.
HIV and Hepatitis C screenings are recommended at least once for all adults.
All of these screenings are covered at no cost under most insurance plans.