Yet health experts believe that nearly 90 percent
of acquired CVD is preventable. Though people
commonly perceive CVD, also called HEARTdisease,
as a condition affecting older adults, its genesis is
often in ADOLESCENCE. Some research studies have
found early-stage ATHEROSCLEROSISand CORONARY
ARTERY DISEASE(CAD) in teenagers whose lifestyles
are sedentary and feature EATING HABITShigh in fast
foods.
Age and heredity are primary factors in the
development of cardiovascular disease. It is not, at
present, possible to do much to change their
effects on the cardiovascular system. Doctors con-
sider them fixed (immutable) risk factors that
affect every person to some degree. Even in the
presence of these risks, however, cardiovascular
disease remains primarily the evolution of lifestyle
and behavior. These are modifiable (mutable) risk
factors; it is possible to change them and thus the
influences they exert on the development of car-
diovascular disease. Cigarette smoking, OBESITY,
lack of regular physical exercise, and eating habits
are the leading factors that result in acquired
(noncongenital) heart disease. Accordingly, per-
sonal prevention efforts target these habits. Key
among such efforts are- SMOKING CESSATIONprograms
cardiovascular disease prevention 15SCREENING FOR EARLY DETECTION OF CANCERType of Cancer Routine Screening*
BREAST CANCER monthly BREAST SELF-EXAMINATION(BSE)
annual breast examination from health-care provider
annual MAMMOGRAMfor women beginning at age 40 years
CERVICAL CANCER PAP TESTevery one to three years beginning with the start of sexual activity
or at age 18
colorectal CANCER annual FECAL OCCULT BLOOD TEST(FOBT) beginning at age 50 in combination
with one of the following:
- flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years
OR - double-contrast BARIUM ENEMAevery five years
OR - COLONOSCOPYevery 10 years
oral cancer (lips and structures of the MOUTH) annual dental examination
OVARIAN CANCER annual pelvic examination
PROSTATE CANCER annual DIGITAL RECTAL EXAMINATION(DRE) to palpate the PROSTATE GLANDfor
growths beginning at age 45
annual PROSTATE-SPECIFIC ANTIGEN(PSA) blood test beginning at age 50
SKIN CANCER regular self-examination of all SKINsurfaces
skin examination by dermatologist every three to five years after age 40
TESTICULAR CANCER monthly TESTICULAR SELF-EXAMINATION
physician examination with every routine physical for men between the
ages of 15 and 35
*For people who have no greater than normal risk for developing cancer. Those who have increased risk because of personal or family health history
should follow the recommendations of their physicians.