Health needs change with each decade of life, and primary care physicians say staying ahead of those shifts is essential.
Alicia Monroe, MD, with the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), said skipping regular checkups can mean missing key opportunities to advance personal health priorities and manage health risks associated with age, family history, lifestyle, and past health problems or conditions.
20s and 30s: Building a baseline for good health
“If you’re in your 20s or 30s and feel well, it’s still important to see your primary care physician,” Monroe said. “These visits give you a chance to talk through your health concerns, priorities, and history. If you have a family history of certain cancers, like breast or ovarian, or cardiovascular disease in first-degree relatives, your doctor needs to know.”
That information helps guide conversations about prevention and health behaviors. Monroe said these early visits are also a chance to educate patients about risk factors, recommended screenings, and healthy habits, including smoking or vaping cessation.
“We also talk about nutrition and exercise,” she said. “Some patients are mindful of those things, but others benefit from guidance. We discuss healthy fats, lean proteins, fresh vegetables, whole grains, and aiming for at least 150 minutes of physical activity each week.”
Routine screenings should begin early. Patients in their 20s and 30s should have their height, weight, body mass index, and blood pressure checked regularly.
“All of these measures have long-term health implications,” Monroe said. “It’s better to understand them early. Maintaining a healthy weight, for example, can have lasting benefits.”
She also recommends baseline cholesterol testing, annual skin exams with guidance on sun protection, and regular dental care. Even patients who feel healthy may still have underlying concerns.
“There’s no way to know your cholesterol or blood pressure without being screened. There are usually no symptoms early on,” she said. “We sometimes begin monitoring earlier if patients are overweight or have a family history of certain conditions.”
Mental health is another priority.
“We regularly screen for depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts, which have increased significantly in this age group,” Monroe said. “Women in this age group are encouraged to discuss their reproductive priorities, begin having periodic Pap tests, discuss their family history of reproductive cancers, and begin discussions about the appropriate timing of mammograms.”
She also recommends a one-time screening for HIV and hepatitis B, and hepatitis C if not already completed along with diabetes screening by age 35.
40s and 50s: Expanding screenings and monitoring risk factors
As patients enter their 40s, those conversations continue, with added an focus on new screenings.
“At age 40, we recommend breast cancer screening for women, and at 45, we begin recommending colon cancer screening for adults with average risk who do not have symptoms,” Monroe said. “We also continue monitoring for diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol.”
Vision care becomes more important as well.
“We encourage patients to see an eye doctor for exams, discuss age-related vision changes, and understand the importance of screening for glaucoma and other eye diseases,” she said. “We may not perform all of these tests in primary care, but we guide patients and provide referrals. It’s all part of helping them stay proactive.”
50s and 60s: Focus on prevention and screenings
In their 50s and 60s, patients face another set of changes.
For women, that includes evaluating menopausal symptoms, considering hormone replacement therapy, and addressing bone health. These concerns may need to be addressed earlier for some women.
“Most women should have a bone density screening by age 65, sometimes earlier,” Monroe said. “We also recommend additional vaccines, including pneumococcal and shingles vaccines, and discuss hearing tests. For those with a history of smoking, we may recommend an annual low-dose CT scan to screen for lung cancer.”
For men, sexual function and prostate health become key topics.
“The prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, test isn’t automatic, but it’s an important conversation,” she said. “Family history matters, especially for Black men, who may need earlier screening.”
60s and older: Adjusting to a new phase of health
For adults 60 and older, Monroe said care shifts to fully embrace a more holistic approach guided by the Age-Friendly Health System framework, often referred to as the 4Ms: medication, mentation, mobility, and what matters.
“We review medications to simplify regimens and reduce side effects like falls or confusion,” she said. “We also screen for cognitive concerns such as depression, dementia, or delirium using tools like the Montreal Cognitive Assessment.”
Mobility focuses on a patient’s ability to move safely and independently, while “what matters” centers on personal goals and preferences, including end-of-life care decisions.
Regular communication with a primary care provider, even for those who feel healthy, can make a meaningful difference.
“These visits help us catch problems early,” Monroe said. “They also give patients the information they need to make informed decisions and maintain their health at every stage of life.”
Your health changes with every decade. Stay ahead with a primary care visit today.