A health screening test is a medical test or procedure performed on members of a population who have no symptoms of a disease or population subgroup to assess their likelihood of having a particular disease. We often think of screening for early diagnosis of cancer, such as Pap smears for cervical cancer or colonoscopy for colon cancer, cholesterol level for heart disease, or checking the blood pressure for hypertension. The goal is early detection to reduce the risk of disease, or to detect it early enough to treat it most effectively and offers the best chance of cure. Hence, the early detection and treatment can lead to better treatment outcomes, as the disease may be in its initial stages, making it more responsive to treatment. Further, early detection and treatment can also prevent the disease from progressing, reducing the risk of complications and improving long-term health especially when it comes to cancer. The benefits of ‘Health Screenings’ are:

• Detect diseases early on, even without symptoms.
• Treat diseases before complications and risks arise.
• Identify diseases, risks, and conditions that you may not have known about.
• Receive information for staying healthy now and in the future.
• Reduce the risk of developing some types of cancer.

In addition, can improve the quality of life for individuals living with chronic diseases, such as diabetes, arthritis, and asthma, most important, the early detection and treatment can save lives, particularly in cases of cancer, heart disease, and other life-threatening conditions.

Recommended Health Screening Test according to Age and Sex 

Screenings are tests that look for diseases before you have symptoms. Screening tests can find diseases early when they're easier to treat. You can get some screenings in your doctor's office. Others need special equipment, so you may need to go to a different office or clinic. Which tests you need depends on your age, your sex, your family history, and whether you have risk factors for certain diseases. 

Review Date 8/1/2023

Updated by: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. 

Editorial update 04/18/2023. 

Internal review and update on 08/01/23.