Screening recommendations, preventive care guidance, and updates from expert panels and agencies.
The American College of Physicians now says routine mammograms can start at 50 for average-risk women, but current federal task force guidance still says start at 40. Here is what changed on April 17, 2026, who is affected, and what questions to ask before your next screening.
Self-collected HPV testing is now an option in U.S. guidance for some average-risk adults ages 30 to 65, but it is not a universal replacement for Pap tests or follow-up care.
ACOG has updated its cervical cancer screening guidance to include a patient-collected sample option for high-risk HPV testing in some average-risk adults ages 30 to 65. The change may help people who have had trouble getting screened, but it does not replace follow-up care or every other screening approach.
New 2026 guidance adds self-collected high-risk HPV testing as a screening option for some average-risk adults ages 30 to 65. The change could make cervical cancer screening easier for people who face time, comfort, or access barriers, but clinics still need the right workflow and follow-up system in place.
CDC guidance now recommends a single RSV vaccine dose for all adults 75 and older and for adults 50 to 74 who are at increased risk of severe RSV illness. For many families, the practical question is whether age and medical history put someone in a group that should ask about vaccination before next winter.
Walking getting slower or more uncomfortable? Peripheral artery disease can limit mobility even without classic calf pain, especially with vascular risks.
Updated CDC pages show fall deaths are still rising in older adults. Here’s how fall prevention, bone health, screening, and Medicare coverage connect.
A new U.S. cholesterol guideline adds more emphasis to one-time lipoprotein(a) testing. Here’s who may want to ask and what the result can mean.
A January 2026 federal update makes HPV-only screening the preferred option for many women 30 to 65 and adds self-collection as a choice.
New U.S. guidance says women 65 and older should be screened for osteoporosis, and some younger postmenopausal women should be screened sooner.
Blood in the urine is not always cancer, but new research suggests delayed follow-up is common. Here’s what hematuria means and when prompt care matters.
An oral cancer screening during a dental visit is usually a simple look-and-feel exam of the mouth, throat area, and neck. It can help spot suspicious changes early, even though current evidence still does not prove that screening symptom-free adults lowers deaths.
A new March 3, 2026 modeling study suggests breast MRI may make the most sense for people with extremely dense breasts plus higher-than-average breast cancer risk. A dense-breast notice alone does not automatically mean you need an MRI.
A new U.S. cholesterol guideline says some adults may need risk discussions earlier, including one-time lipoprotein(a) testing and, in select cases, treatment decisions before age 40.
New 2026 U.S. colorectal cancer statistics show a split trend: rates keep falling in many older adults but are rising in younger adults. Here is what that means for symptoms, screening at 45, family history, and why access still matters.
Osteoporosis is often treated like a women’s issue, but men can develop it too and may be diagnosed only after a serious fracture. Here is who should ask about a DXA bone density scan, how national policy differs from specialty guidance, and what Medicare may or may not cover.
New CDC data show black-lung-associated deaths rose from 2020 to 2023, and NIOSH has announced free 2026 screenings for coal miners. Here’s what the numbers mean, what they do not prove, and what miners and families can do now.
A 2026 Medicare policy update gives eligible beneficiaries more ways to join the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program, including live online and on-demand sessions through December 31, 2029. Here’s who qualifies, what the program includes, what Medicare pays, and why the access change matters for older adults with prediabetes.
A new federal update says self-collected HPV testing should be offered as an option for average-risk women ages 30 to 65. Here’s what changed, what did not, and why many insurance plans may not have to cover the new option with no out-of-pocket costs until plan years that start in 2027.
Blood in the urine can be caused by many conditions, from infections to kidney stones. But painless bleeding is also the most common early sign of bladder cancer. Here’s what U.S. guidelines say about screening, who is at higher risk, and when to seek care.
Federal health experts say routine multivitamins have not been heart disease or cancer in generally healthy adults. Here’s what that means, who still may benefit from supplements, and how to make practical, evidence-based decisions in 2026.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force now recommends that most women start mammograms at age 40 instead of 50. Here’s what changed, what the evidence shows, and what it means for your health and insurance coverage.
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