Brigham primary care physician Katherine Rose, MD, shares six essential preventive health screenings to keep up with during the COVID-19 pandemic. For some, you don’t even need to leave home.
- Blood pressure – You can visit your primary care provider to be checked or purchase a blood pressure cuff online for $30.
- A1C (blood sugar) – For diabetes management, you can come in for a blood test or use a glucometer at home and report to your doctor.
- Colon cancer screening – You can do a home-based mail-in test if you’re at average risk for colon cancer and should do a colonoscopy if you’re at high risk.
- Breast cancer screening – A mammogram is recommended for women ages 50 and up every two years if you’re at average risk. Please consult with your doctor.
- Lung cancer screening – If you have smoked for years or have other risk factors, a chest CT scan is recommended annually.
- Cervical cancer screening – You should come in for testing as scheduled, especially if you had a past abnormal pap smear.
“If you are at high risk for COVID-19, consult with your physician about what makes sense for you,” Rose says. “The end of the pandemic is too far off to delay routine care, and our clinics are taking many safety precautions. Masking and physical distancing are measures we know are working.”
