All adults should have their blood pressure checked. This can be done during a doctor visit. If it’s under 120/80 mm Hg, you can go 2 years until your next check. If it’s higher, you should be checked yearly.

Cholesterol

A fasting blood cholesterol test measures more than one type. If your levels are too high, you should be checked again within a year.

You can go 2 to 5 years if your levels are in a normal range.

Blood Glucose

The American Diabetes Association says testing should start at age 45 years. If your levels are in a normal range, you can wait 3 years to be tested again.

You can be tested at any age for being overweight with one or more of these:

People in your family have the same problems
Ethnic background or race—Black, or Native or Asian American, Latino, or Pacific Islander
History of diabetes while you were pregnant, or birth of baby weighing over 9 pounds
Women with polycystic ovary syndrome
History of heart problems

People with prediabetes should be tested every year.

References:

Diabetes mellitus type 2 screening. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at: http://www.dynamed... . Accessed May 30, 2018. Accessed August 27, 2018.

Hypertension. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at: http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T115345/Hypertension . Updated August 20, 2018. Accessed August 27, 2018.

Metabolic syndrome. Merck Manual Professional Version website. Available at: https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/nutritional-disorders/obesity-and-the-metabolic-syndrome/metabolic-syndrome. Updated December 2016. August 27, 2018.

Metabolic syndrome. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website. Available at: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/metabolic-syndrome. Accessed August 27, 2018.

Metabolic syndrome in adults. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at: http://www.dynamed... . Updated March 29, 2018. Accessed August 27, 2018.

Obesity in adults. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at: http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T115009/Obesity-in-adults . Updated April 4, 2018. Accessed August 27, 2018.

Prevention and treatment of metabolic syndrome. American Heart Association website. Available at: https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/metabolic-syndrome/prevention-and-treatment-of-metabolic-syndrome. Accessed August 27, 2018.

Last reviewed May 2018 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Marcin Chwistek, MD
Last Updated: 8/27/2018

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