Screenings can be vitally important to your health and peace of mind. Screenings can reassure you that you show no signs or are at low risk for specific health problems. They can also tell you if you have subclinical or hidden signs of a disease.

"By diagnosing a problem at an early stage, your physician can intervene when your illness is easier and cheaper to treat," Dr. Aaron C. Polk said. "In turn, early diagnosis may increase the likelihood for recovery," he added.

Dr. Polk, who specializes in family medicine, said the health issues we face change over the course of our lives, and to make smart decisions, we need reliable information. Health screenings play an important role in relating that information to the patient. "Health screenings can help your doctor identify risk factors related to certain illnesses. Then, your doctor can give you the counseling, monitoring and (possibly) treatment you need to help you avoid developing those illnesses," Dr. Polk said.

Some of the health conditions that Dr. Polk says patients should be screened for include: Diabetes, hypertension, cancer, heart disease, respiratory conditions, gastrointestinal problems, obesity and related problems, and osteoporosis.

According to Dr. Polk, a blood test can determine whether or not a patient has diabetes. "Diabetes affects so many other organ systems in the body," Dr. Polk said. "Diabetes can lead to problems with the eyes, circulation, obesity and other health concerns. If a patient has a family history of diabetes, they should be screened immediately," Dr. Polk said. Diabetes can also become a problem for many women during pregnancy. "This is called gestational diabetes," Dr. Polk said. "Pregnant women should visit their physician regularly. He or she will routinely check the patient and screen for gestational diabetes."

A screening for hypertension, or high blood pressure, is one of the quickest and easiest screenings for a patient to undergo. It involves simply taking the patient's blood pressure. If hypertension is identified in a patient, it is often treated with medication. "Studies are proving that controlling hypertension reduces heart disease and death from cardiovascular related problems," Dr. Polk said.

Screening for cancer should be part of a patient's regular check up at the doctor's office. Women need a pap smear an annual breast exam performed by their physician, and women should be doing monthly self-breast exams. Women should have a baseline mammogram beginning at age 35, and thereafter, as often as their physician recommends.

Men should have their first prostate exam at age 40 and a prostate specific antigen screen at age 50, earlier for African-American men.

A fecal occult blood test, which can help detect colon cancer, should be done at age 40. A colonoscopy is strongly advised for those with a family history of colon cancer, polyps and/or inflammatory bowel disease. "A colonoscopy is the visual examination of the lining of the large intestine and rectum," Dr. Polk said. "The purpose of the exam is to identify any abnormalities by inserting a thin, flexible tube with a light and tiny video camera into the rectum and colon to allow the doctor to look for cancerous lesions or polyps," Dr. Polk said. "Polyps can often lead to cancer, and if found, should be removed," Dr. Polk added.

Certain respiratory conditions and diseases can be detected through X-ray. Dr. Polk said it is important to know a patient's history in evaluating all health concerns. In screening for respiratory problems, Dr. Polk said a history of smoking and exposure to chemicals must be taken in to consideration and the patient should be screened accordingly.

Osteoporosis is a health concern for women who are post-menopause and not taking estrogen replacement. Women age 50 and older should be evaluated for osteoporosis. It may be done sooner if the patient has a family history of osteoporosis or has already suffered from multiple fractures. If a problem is detected, diet, exercise and medications can help to rebuild the bones.

"I want to stress that if the person is showing symptoms of a disease, it is no longer a screening," Dr. Polk said. "If a patient is already showing symptoms, we certainly need to examine the patient, perform more extensive testing, and evaluate the findings," Dr. Polk said.

"With today's advanced technology, we are able to detect many illnesses and diseases much earlier. As physicians, we are dedicated to our patients and their health. Check ups and screenings are two important ways to protect their health. I would like to encourage anyone that has not had a check up in the past year to make an appointment with their physician today," Dr. Polk said. ""It is vital to their health and their peace of mind."