Preventive health and screening supports in British Columbia

Preventive health and screening supports in British Columbia

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Preventive health means taking proactive steps like screening to check for health issues, identifying and treating diseases at an early stage and slowing or stopping the progression of diseases. It’s a good idea to visit your health care provider regularly – even if you are healthy - these visits can help you avoid problems in the future. The purpose of these visits is to:

  • Screen for medical issues
  • Assess your risk for future medical problems
  • Encourage a healthy lifestyle
  • Help you stay up to date on immunizations

The following screenings are currently available in B.C., based on age and sex, and regardless of risk factors. Depending on your health status and risk factors for certain conditions, there may be other recommended screenings available to you that are not listed here. Speak to your health care provider to determine whether you may benefit from additional screenings.

On this page:

Pregnancy and postpartum

When you are pregnant make sure to:

  • Schedule regular check-ups with your health care provider during pregnancy and postpartum

If  you are pregnant, talk to your health care provider about:

There are also many resources available to support pregnancy and postpartum health and well-being.

Newborns (0-12 months)

Preventive care is important for newborns to help protect them from serious illnesses and find any possible problems early when they are easier to treat or manage. 

Talk to your newborn’s health care provider about:

Children and youth (1-15 years of age)

Preventive care plays an important role in helping children to stay healthy. In addition to helping to catch any potential health problems early, many behaviours that can affect health start in adolescence, so regular preventive visits with a health care provider can offer many benefits.

You should talk to your child’s health care provider at least once a year about:

Young adults (15-19 years of age)

Preventive care plays an important role in helping young adults to stay healthy. In addition to helping to catch any potential health problems early, many behaviours that can affect health start in adolescence, so regular preventive visits with a health care provider can offer many benefits.

Talk to your health care provider at least once a year about:

Ask your health care provider whether you need tests this year for:

Healthy living by decade

Healthy living in your 20s

Preventive care plays an important role in helping young adults to stay healthy. Regular preventive visits with a health care provider can offer many benefits.

Talk to your health care provider at least once a year about:

Ask your health care provider whether you need tests for:

Healthy living in your 30s

Preventive care plays an important role in helping young adults to stay healthy. Regular preventive visits with a health care provider can offer many benefits.

Talk to your health care provider at least once a year about:

Ask your health care provider whether you need tests for:

 Healthy living in your 40s

Preventive care plays an important role in helping adults to stay healthy. Regular preventive visits with a health care provider can offer many benefits.

Talk to your health care provider at least once a year about:

Ask your health care provider whether you need tests for:

Healthy living in your 50s

Preventive care provides opportunities for early detection and treatment before health issues become more challenging to manage as you age. Regular preventive visits with a health care provider can offer many benefits.

Talk to your health care provider at least once a year about:

Ask your health care provider whether you need tests for:

Healthy living in your 60s

Preventive care provides opportunities for early detection and treatment before health issues become more challenging to manage as you age. While many of the recommended screenings are the same across adult life, there are some additional things you can do to help yourself stay healthy as you get older. 

Talk to your health care provider at least once a year about:

Ask your health care provider whether you need tests for:

If you were born in the years 1945-1965, talk to your health care provider about one-time screening for:

  • Hepatitis C (HCV) – learn about HCV

Healthy living in your 70s and onward

Preventive care provides opportunities for early detection and treatment before health issues become more challenging to manage as you age. While many of the recommended screenings are the same across adult life, there are some additional things you can do to help yourself stay healthy as you get older. 

Talk to your health care provider at least once a year about:

Ask your health care provider whether you need tests for:

If you were born in the years 1945-1965, talk to your health care provider about one-time screening for:

  • Hepatitis C (HCV) – learn about HCV