Preventive Care for Young Adults – Male

The transition to life after high school as a young adult can be a stressful time with many changes. You may start seeing a primary care physician instead of a pediatrician. This is the time when your health care becomes your responsibility.

Preventive care refers to lifestyle choices and visits with your health care provider that can promote health and wellness.

What does preventive care include?

• A yearly physical exam. This is also called an annual wellness visit.
• Dental exams once or twice a year.
• Routine eye exams. Ask your health care provider how often you should have your eyes checked.
• Personal lifestyle choices, including:
  • Daily care of your teeth and gums.
  • Regular physical activity.
  • Eating a healthy diet.
  • Avoiding tobacco and drug use.
  • Avoiding or limiting alcohol use.
  • Practicing safe sex.

What happens during an annual wellness visit?

Preventive care starts with a yearly visit to your primary care physician. The services and screenings done by your health care provider during your annual wellness visit will depend on your overall health, lifestyle risk factors, and family history of disease.

Counseling

Your health care provider may ask you questions about:

• Past medical problems and your family’s medical history.
• Medicines or supplements that you take.
• Health insurance and access to health care.
• Alcohol, tobacco, and drug use, including use of any bodybuilding drugs (anabolic steroids).
• Your safety at home, work, or school.
• Access to firearms.
• Emotional well-being and how you cope with stress.
• Relationship well-being.
• Diet, exercise, and sleep habits.
• Your sexual health and activity.

Screening

You may have the following tests or measurements:

• Height, weight, and BMI.
• Blood pressure.
• Lipid and cholesterol levels.
• Tuberculosis skin test.
• Skin exam.
• Vision and hearing tests.
• Genital exam to check for testicular cancer or hernias.
• Screening test for hepatitis.
• Screening tests for STDs (sexually transmitted diseases), if you are at risk.

Vaccines

Your health care provider may recommend certain vaccines, such as:

• Influenza vaccine. This is recommended every year.
• Tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap, Td) vaccine. You may need a Td booster every 10 years.
• Varicella vaccine. You may need this if you have not been vaccinated.
• HPV vaccine. If you are 26 or younger, you may need three doses over 6 months.
• Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. You may need at least one dose of MMR. You may also need a second dose.
• Pneumococcal 13-valent conjugate (PCV13) vaccine. You may need this if you have certain conditions and have not been vaccinated.
• Pneumococcal polysaccharide (PPSV23) vaccine. You may need one or two doses if you smoke cigarettes or if you have certain conditions.
• Meningococcal vaccine. One dose is recommended if you are age 19–21 years and a first-year college student living in a residence hall, or if you have one of several medical conditions. You may also need additional booster doses.
• Hepatitis A vaccine. You may need this if you have certain conditions or if you travel or work in places where you may be exposed to hepatitis A.
• Hepatitis B vaccine. You may need this if you have certain conditions or if you travel or work in places where you may be exposed to hepatitis B.
• Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine. You may need this if you have certain risk factors.

Talk to your health care provider about which screenings and vaccines you need and how often you need them.

What steps can I take to develop healthy behaviors?

• Have regular preventive health care visits with your primary care physician and dentist.
• Eat a healthy diet.
• Drink enough fluid to keep your urine clear or pale yellow.
• Stay active. Exercise at least 30 minutes 5 or more days of the week.
• Use alcohol responsibly.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Do not use any products that contain nicotine, such as cigarettes, chewing tobacco, and e-cigarettes. If you need help quitting, ask your health care provider.
• Do not use drugs.
• Practice safe sex. This includes using condoms to prevent STDs or an unwanted pregnancy.
• Find healthy ways to manage stress.

How can I protect myself from injury?

Injuries from violence or accidents are the leading cause of death among young adults and can often be prevented. Take these steps to help protect yourself:

• Always wear your seat belt while driving or riding in a vehicle.
• Do not drive if you have been drinking alcohol. Do not ride with someone who has been drinking.
• Do not drive when you are tired or distracted. Do not text while driving.
• Wear a helmet and other protective equipment during sports activities.
• If you have firearms in your house, make sure you follow all gun safety procedures.
• Seek help if you have been bullied, physically abused, or sexually abused.
• Avoid fighting.
• Use the Internet responsibly to avoid dangers such as online bullying.

What can I do to cope with stress?

Young adults may face many new challenges that can be stressful, such as finding a job, going to college, moving away from home, managing money, being in a relationship, getting married, and having children. To manage stress:

• Avoid known stressful situations when you can.
• Exercise regularly.
• Find a stress-reducing activity that works best for you. Examples include meditation, yoga, listening to music, or reading.
• Spend time in nature.
• Keep a journal to write about your stress and how you respond.
• Talk to your health care provider about stress. He or she may suggest counseling.
• Spend time with supportive friends or family.
• Do not cope with stress by:
  • Drinking alcohol or using drugs.
  • Smoking cigarettes.
  • Eating.

Preventive Care for Young Adults – Female

The transition to life after high school as a young adult can be a stressful time with many changes. You may start seeing a primary care physician instead of a pediatrician. This is the time when your health care becomes your responsibility.

Preventive care refers to lifestyle choices and visits with your health care provider that can promote health and wellness.

What does preventive care include?

• A yearly physical exam. This is also called an annual wellness visit.
• Dental exams once or twice a year.
• Routine eye exams. Ask your health care provider how often you should have your eyes checked.
• Personal lifestyle choices, including:
  • Daily care of your teeth and gums.
  • Regular physical activity.
  • Eating a healthy diet.
  • Avoiding tobacco and drug use.
  • Avoiding or limiting alcohol use.
  • Practicing safe sex.
  • Taking vitamin and mineral supplements as recommended by your health care provider.

What happens during an annual wellness visit?

Preventive care starts with a yearly visit to your primary care physician. The services and screenings done by your health care provider during your annual wellness visit will depend on your overall health, lifestyle risk factors, and family history of disease.

Counseling

Your health care provider may ask you questions about:

• Past medical problems and your family’s medical history.
• Medicines or supplements you take.
• Health insurance and access to health care.
• Alcohol, tobacco, and drug use.
• Your safety at home, work, or school.
• Access to firearms.
• Emotional well-being and how you cope with stress.
• Relationship well-being.
• Diet, exercise, and sleep habits.
• Your sexual health and activity.
• Your methods of birth control.
• Your menstrual cycle.
• Your pregnancy history.

Screening

You may have the following tests or measurements:

• Height, weight, and BMI.
• Blood pressure.
• Lipid and cholesterol levels.
• Tuberculosis skin test.
• Skin exam.
• Vision and hearing tests.
• Screening test for hepatitis.
• Screening tests for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), if you are at risk.
• BRCA-related cancer screening. This may be done if you have a family history of breast, ovarian, tubal, or peritoneal cancers.
• Pelvic exam and Pap test. This may be done every 3 years starting at age 21.

Vaccines

Your health care provider may recommend certain vaccines, such as:

• Influenza vaccine. This is recommended every year.
• Tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap, Td) vaccine. You may need a Td booster every 10 years.
• Varicella vaccine. You may need this if you have not been vaccinated.
• HPV vaccine. If you are 26 or younger, you may need three doses over 6 months.
• Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. You may need at least one dose of MMR. You may also need a second dose.
• Pneumococcal 13-valent conjugate (PCV13) vaccine. You may need this if you have certain conditions and were not previously vaccinated.
• Pneumococcal polysaccharide (PPSV23) vaccine. You may need one or two doses if you smoke cigarettes or if you have certain conditions.
• Meningococcal vaccine. One dose is recommended if you are age 19–21 years and a first-year college student living in a residence hall, or if you have one of several medical conditions. You may also need additional booster doses.
• Hepatitis A vaccine. You may need this if you have certain conditions or if you travel or work in places where you may be exposed to hepatitis A.
• Hepatitis B vaccine. You may need this if you have certain conditions or if you travel or work in places where you may be exposed to hepatitis B.
• Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine. You may need this if you have certain risk factors.

Talk to your health care provider about which screenings and vaccines you need and how often you need them.

What steps can I take to develop healthy behaviors?

• Have regular preventive health care visits with your primary care physician and dentist.
• Eat a healthy diet.
• Drink enough fluid to keep your urine pale yellow.
• Stay active. Exercise at least 30 minutes 5 or more days of the week.
• Use alcohol responsibly.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Do not use any products that contain nicotine, such as cigarettes, chewing tobacco, and e-cigarettes. If you need help quitting, ask your health care provider.
• Do not use drugs.
• Practice safe sex.
• Use birth control (contraception) to prevent unwanted pregnancy. If you plan to become pregnant, see your health care provider for a pre-conception visit.
• Find healthy ways to manage stress.

How can I protect myself from injury?

Injuries from violence or accidents are the leading cause of death among young adults and can often be prevented. Take these steps to help protect yourself:

• Always wear your seat belt while driving or riding in a vehicle.
• Do not drive if you have been drinking alcohol. Do not ride with someone who has been drinking.
• Do not drive when you are tired or distracted. Do not text while driving.
• Wear a helmet and other protective equipment during sports activities.
• If you have firearms in your house, make sure you follow all gun safety procedures.
• Seek help if you have been bullied, physically abused, or sexually abused.
• Use the Internet responsibly to avoid dangers such as online bullying and online sexual predators.

What can I do to cope with stress?

Young adults may face many new challenges that can be stressful, such as finding a job, going to college, moving away from home, managing money, being in a relationship, getting married, and having children. To manage stress:

• Avoid known stressful situations when you can.
• Exercise regularly.
• Find a stress-reducing activity that works best for you. Examples include meditation, yoga, listening to music, or reading.
• Spend time in nature.
• Keep a journal to write about your stress and how you respond.
• Talk to your health care provider about stress. He or she may suggest counseling.
• Spend time with supportive friends or family.
• Do not cope with stress by:
  • Drinking alcohol or using drugs.
  • Smoking cigarettes.
  • Eating.

Seek Additional Information

Learn more about preventive care and healthy habits from:

• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: www.acog.org/Patients
• U.S. Preventive Services Task Force: www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/Tools/ConsumerInfo/Index/information-for-consumers
• National Adolescent and Young Adult Health Information Center: http://nahic.ucsf.edu/resource-center/
• American Academy of Pediatrics Bright Futures: https://brightfutures.aap.org
• Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine: www.adolescenthealth.org/Resources/Clinical-Care-Resources/Mental-Health/Mental-Health-Resources-For-Adolesc.aspx
• HealthCare.gov: www.healthcare.gov/young-adults/coverage/