What Medical Tests Do I Need at 70? Your Complete Screening Guide

At 70, you might wonder which medical tests you actually need. The CDC reports that fewer than half of all adults over 65 stay current with preventive screenings. Keep seeing your doctor for regular checkups even when you feel fine. High blood pressure, for instance, often causes no symptoms until it damages your heart or brain.

Health screening matters at this age because serious conditions develop silently. Nearly half of all adults have high blood pressure. One in three American adults has prediabetes, but 84% don't know it because they've never been tested. Bone density scans matter too—3 million older adults end up in the hospital each year after falls that could have been prevented.

This guide covers the screenings that matter at 70: cardiovascular checks, cancer screenings, bone and vision assessments, and mental health evaluations. You'll learn what to discuss with your doctor to keep yourself healthy and independent in your seventies and beyond.

• Cardiovascular and metabolic screenings
  • Blood pressure: the silent risk
  • Cholesterol: understanding your heart health
  • Diabetes and prediabetes: why early detection matters
• Cancer screenings to discuss with your doctor
  • Colorectal cancer: screening options after 70
  • Breast cancer: weighing mammography benefits and risks
  • Lung cancer: targeted screening for high-risk individuals
  • Cervical cancer: when screening can stop
• Sensory and cognitive health checks
  • Eye exams: more than just vision
  • Hearing tests: catching age-related loss early
  • Depression screening: mental health matters too
• Infectious disease screenings and immunizations
  • Hepatitis C and HIV: one-time tests that matter
  • Flu, shingles, and pneumonia vaccines: what's recommended at 70
  • COVID-19: staying up to date
• Other important health screenings at 70
  • Osteoporosis: bone density testing for fracture prevention
  • Fall risk assessment: simple steps to stay safe
  • Skin checks: spotting cancer early
  • Dental exams: oral health and overall wellness
• Bottom line
• Key takeaways
• FAQs

Cardiovascular and metabolic screenings

Regular screenings catch cardiovascular and metabolic problems early, before they cause serious damage. These tests matter more as you age.

Blood pressure: the silent risk

Nearly half of all adults have high blood pressure, according to the American Heart Association. It's called "the silent killer" because it causes no symptoms while increasing your risk of heart attack and stroke.

Age itself is a risk factor. Blood vessels lose elasticity over time, which raises blood pressure. Adults over 40—or those who are Black, obese, or have other risk factors—should get yearly blood pressure checks.

Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) as two numbers:

• Normal: Below 120/80 mm Hg
• Elevated: 120–129/below 80 mm Hg
• Stage 1 hypertension: 130–139/80–89 mm Hg
• Stage 2 hypertension: 140+/90+ mm Hg

A reading of 180/120 mm Hg or higher is a hypertensive emergency and requires immediate care.

Cholesterol: understanding your heart health

A cholesterol test helps assess your risk of heart disease. A complete lipid panel measures:

• Total cholesterol: Below 200 mg/dL is ideal
• LDL ("bad") cholesterol: Below 100 mg/dL is optimal
• HDL ("good") cholesterol: Above 60 mg/dL is better
• Triglycerides: Below 150 mg/dL

There's no one-size-fits-all approach to managing cholesterol in older adults, but these numbers give you important information about heart health. Your doctor might recommend more frequent testing if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, or other risk factors.

Stress, infection, or recent illness can temporarily raise cholesterol, so your doctor may repeat an abnormal test a few weeks later.

Diabetes and prediabetes: why early detection matters

More than 38 million Americans have diabetes, and 1 in 5 don't know it. Over 80% of people with prediabetes don't realize they have it. Regular screening is critical.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes every three years until age 70 if you're overweight or obese. You may need more frequent testing if you have a family history of diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease.

Screening usually involves one of these blood tests:

• Fasting plasma glucose test
• HbA1c test
• Oral glucose tolerance test

A fasting glucose level of 126 mg/dL or higher, an HbA1c of 6.5% or higher, or a 2-hour postload glucose of 200 mg/dL or higher means you have diabetes. Results between normal and diabetic levels indicate prediabetes.

Catching diabetes early lets you prevent or delay progression from prediabetes through lifestyle changes or medication. Controlling diabetes prevents serious complications like kidney failure, vision loss, and heart disease.

Cancer screenings to discuss with your doctor

Cancer screenings remain important as you age, though recommendations often become more personalized. Work with your doctor to decide which tests make sense based on your health history and risk factors.

Colorectal cancer: screening options after 70

Colorectal cancer screening is recommended through age 75. From 76 to 85, screening becomes more individualized. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force suggests doctors should selectively offer screening in this age group based on overall health, prior screening history, and personal preferences.

A recent study found that continuing screening after 75 reduced colorectal cancer incidence by 39% and mortality by 40%. But the risks increase with age. For people 80 and older, colonoscopy complications occur in 35 per 1,000 cases.

If you're over 75, ask your doctor whether continued screening makes sense for you. Consider it especially if you're in excellent health, have never been screened, or have a family history of colon cancer.

Breast cancer: weighing mammography benefits and risks

Deciding whether to continue mammograms after 70 means weighing benefits against risks. Screening reduces breast cancer deaths in women ages 40 to 75, but overdiagnosis increases substantially with age.

Among women ages 70–74 diagnosed through screening mammography, about 31% had cancer that would never have caused problems in their lifetime. This rises to 47% for women 75 to 84.

The American Cancer Society recommends mammograms every 2 years for women ages 55–74. A recent Medicare study found no survival benefit for women who continued screening after 75. Discuss with your doctor whether the potential harms outweigh the benefits in your case.

Lung cancer: targeted screening for high-risk individuals

Lung cancer screening is for people with a significant smoking history. The median age of lung cancer diagnosis is 70, making this screening relevant at this stage of life.

Annual screening with low-dose CT is recommended if you meet all these criteria:

• Age 50 to 80
• 20 pack-year or more smoking history
• Current smoker or quit within the past 15 years

A pack-year equals smoking 1 pack per day for 1 year. Smoking 1 pack daily for 20 years or 2 packs daily for 10 years both equal 20 pack-years. Stop screening once you've been smoke-free for 15 years or develop a condition that significantly limits life expectancy.

Cervical cancer: when screening can stop

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends against cervical cancer screening in women over 65 who have adequate prior screening and no high-risk factors. "Adequate" means 3 consecutive normal results or 2 consecutive normal co-testing results within 10 years, with the most recent within 5 years.

Some women still need screening despite this. If you haven't been adequately screened or have risk factors like a history of precancerous lesions, screening may continue. Continue screening for at least 20 years after a precancerous lesion, even beyond 65.

Once screening stops, it should not restart, even with a new partner. After 65, the risk of new HPV infection developing into cervical cancer is very low.

Sensory and cognitive health checks

Vision and hearing screenings often get overlooked but play a major role in maintaining independence and quality of life.

Eye exams: more than just vision

Eye disease develops commonly and often causes no symptoms in early stages. A dilated eye exam catches problems when treatment works best. About half of American seniors have glaucoma without knowing it.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends adults 65 and older get thorough eye exams every 1 to 2 years. These exams do more than check your vision. Your eye doctor can spot signs of high blood pressure and diabetes. Recent research links vision loss to increased dementia risk.

Get an immediate eye exam if you see flashes of light, new floaters, vision loss, blurred vision, or experience eye pain.

Hearing tests: catching age-related loss early

Hearing loss affects up to 50% of people 65 and older but remains severely underdiagnosed. Only 4.2% of medical visits included hearing screening according to 2012–2013 data. Hearing loss affects all forms of cognition, which concerns healthcare providers.

Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) typically starts with high-frequency sounds and develops gradually. Since 2017, specialists recommend audiological evaluations every 2 years for people with hearing loss. Your primary care doctor can perform basic screening tests like the whisper test during checkups.

Hearing and cognitive health are connected. Mild hearing loss increases dementia risk. Addressing hearing problems early helps in ways beyond just better communication.

Depression screening: mental health matters too

Mental health deserves the same attention as physical health at 70. Depression affects 10–20% of older adults worldwide, yet remains underdiagnosed and undertreated.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends depression screening for all adults. The Geriatric Depression Scale-15 works well for older adults and takes only 5–10 minutes. This simple self-report tool identifies those who might benefit from treatment.

One quality improvement project found that 29.8% of adults 65 and older scored in the mild-to-severe depression range on the GDS-15. This far exceeds the 5.9% identified without formal screening. Treatment usually includes antidepressant medication, therapy, or both.

Infectious disease screenings and immunizations

Your immune system weakens with age, making protection against infections increasingly important. Several screenings and vaccines are recommended for older adults.

Hepatitis C and HIV: one-time tests that matter

If you were born between 1945 and 1965, hepatitis C testing is crucial. Baby boomers have 5 times higher infection rates. Nearly 1 in 3 people with hepatitis C don't know they have it, and 75–85% have no symptoms. The CDC recommends universal hepatitis C screening, which starts with an antibody test followed by an RNA test if antibodies are found.

HIV testing is recommended at least once for all adults. About 18% of people with HIV in the U.S. don't know they have it. You can get both tests at the same time, which has increased hepatitis C detection by 44.3%.

Flu, shingles, and pneumonia vaccines: what's recommended at 70

Several vaccines are essential at 70:

• Influenza: Get an annual flu shot. Seventy to 85% of seasonal flu deaths occur in people 65 and older. The CDC recommends high-dose or adjuvanted flu vaccines for people 65+.
• Shingles: The CDC recommends two doses of Shingrix 2–6 months apart, even if you've had shingles before. This vaccine prevents shingles and long-term nerve pain with over 90% effectiveness.
• Pneumonia: The CDC now recommends pneumococcal vaccination for all adults 50 and older, updated from the previous age 65 recommendation.

Medicare Part B covers flu and pneumococcal vaccines at no out-of-pocket cost, removing financial barriers to these important protections.

COVID-19: staying up to date

The CDC recommends adults 65 and older receive a second dose of 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine 6 months after the first dose. Older adults face higher risk of severe COVID-19. Vaccination protects against acute illness and reduces long COVID symptoms. Staying current with COVID-19 vaccines strengthens protection when combined with other recommended vaccines.

Other important health screenings at 70

Several additional screening tests support your overall wellness at 70.

Osteoporosis: bone density testing for fracture prevention

All women 65 and older should get a bone density test (DEXA scan). Men typically need screening starting at 70. Medicare covers bone density tests every 2 years. Your T-score shows bone strength: –1.0 or above is normal, –1.0 to –2.4 is low bone density (osteopenia), and –2.5 or below is osteoporosis.

Fall risk assessment: simple steps to stay safe

Fall risk assessment matters because 1 in 5 falls causes serious injury. Healthcare providers recommend annual assessments for adults 65 and older. Tests include the 30-Second Chair Stand Test, Four Stage Balance Test, and Timed Up & Go. Risk factors include balance problems, poor vision, and certain medications.

Skin checks: spotting cancer early

Skin cancer is the most common cancer of all, yet only 16% of men and 13% of women reported having a skin exam in the past year. Dermatologists recommend annual full-body skin exams for adults over 65.

Dental exams: oral health and overall wellness

Dental health matters more as you age. Get dental checkups once or twice yearly. About 63.7% of adults 65 and older visited the dentist in the past year. Studies link poor oral health to increased mortality.

Bottom line

Health screenings at 70 are your main defense against serious conditions that develop silently. The list can feel overwhelming, but many screenings happen during your annual physical or can spread throughout the year.

Preventive screenings work when you take charge. Early detection improves outcomes for heart disease, cancer, and bone density problems. Staying current with vaccines protects you against diseases that become more dangerous with age.

Your doctor knows your situation best and can determine which screenings apply to you. Your personal and family health history, lifestyle, and previous screening results all affect which tests you need.

Some older adults assume screenings become unnecessary after a certain age. Health risks actually increase with age, making screenings more important, not less. Medicare covers many of these services at little to no cost.

Think of these screenings as investments in your independence and quality of life. Catching health problems early prevents complications that could limit your activities. Wellness also requires regular physical activity, good nutrition, and social connection.

Staying proactive about your health at 70 and beyond helps you enjoy these years fully. Work with your doctor to create a personalized screening schedule based on your specific needs and health goals.

Key takeaways

Proactive health screening at 70 is your most powerful tool for maintaining independence and catching serious conditions early. Here's what matters most:

• Annual cardiovascular monitoring is essential – Nearly half of adults have high blood pressure without knowing it, making yearly checks critical to prevent heart attacks and strokes.

• Cancer screenings need personalized decisions – Colorectal screening continues through age 75, but mammography and other cancer tests require individual discussions with your doctor about risks and benefits.

• Vision and hearing directly affect thinking – Regular eye and hearing exams do more than preserve your senses; they help prevent dementia and keep your mind sharp.

• Bone density testing prevents fractures – All women 65+ and men 70+ should get DEXA scans, since osteoporosis-related falls cause serious injuries in 1 in 5 cases.

• Vaccines become more critical as you age – Annual flu shots, shingles vaccines, and updated COVID-19 boosters matter more as immune systems weaken.

• Medicare covers most preventive screenings – Take advantage of covered services including bone density tests, heart screenings, and vaccines at little to no out-of-pocket cost.

Work with your doctor to create a personalized screening schedule based on your health history, risk factors, and life expectancy. These screenings are investments in your quality of life and independence.

FAQs

Q1. What are the essential medical tests for a 70-year-old? Key screenings at 70 include blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, colorectal cancer, and bone density tests. Add eye exams, hearing tests, and depression screening. Discuss with your doctor which tests fit your health profile.

Q2. How frequently should a 70-year-old have blood work done? Most adults over 70 need annual blood work, usually including cholesterol, blood sugar, and kidney function tests. Your frequency may differ based on your health conditions. Ask your doctor for personalized guidance.

Q3. What vaccinations are crucial for individuals aged 70 and above? Essential vaccines at 70+ include annual flu shots, pneumococcal vaccines, and shingles vaccine. Stay current with COVID-19 boosters too. Your doctor can recommend the right schedule for you.

Q4. Are cancer screenings still necessary at age 70? Yes, though recommendations change. Colorectal cancer screening is generally recommended through age 75. For breast, prostate, and other cancers, the decision should be individual, considering your overall health and risk factors. Discuss options with your doctor.

Q5. How often should seniors have their vision and hearing checked? Adults over 65 should have comprehensive eye exams every 1–2 years. Hearing tests are recommended every 2 years for people with hearing loss. If you notice changes in vision or hearing, don't wait for your appointment—seek care right away.