Dallas Preventive Care

Disease prevention & comprehensive wellness are achieved when patients eat well, exercise regularly, and are intentional about their healthcare management. Preventative medicine helps patients enjoy a long, active lifestyle. Dr. Gary Goff and his team of practitioners tailor your wellness program to the unique needs of your body and health history, so the following recommendations serve as general guidelines, only.

Sources for the following guidelines include the American Cancer Society, American College of Physicians, American Academy of Family Physicians, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, and American Board of Internal Medicine.

Immunizations

Immunizations are important to mitigating risk factors and maintaining long-term health. They are also required for certain types of international travel. Recommendations include: 

• Tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis every 10 years
• Influenza annually
• Pneumococcal every 7 years
• Zoster Vaccine for shingles  - Recommended at age 50
• Heptatitis A & B - Recommended for all travellers

Preventative Medicine

Preventative medicine addresses health concerns before they become serious problems. Recommendations include: 

• Cholesterol Testing: frequency depends upon risk factors like family history, etc.
• Blood Pressure: annually or more often, if indicated.
• Weight: annually or more often, depending upon individual needs.
• Hearing & Vision: annually from age 65.
• Stool Sample for Occult Blood: annually from age 50, or sooner if clinically indicated.
• Testicular Self-Exam: annually from ages 18 to 34.
• Clinical Prostate Exam/PSA: annually from age 50.
• Clinical Breast Exam/Self Breast Exam: annually/monthly.
• Mammogram: annually from age 40, or sooner if clinically indicated.
• Pap Smear: annually.
• Bone Mineral Density: for perimenopausal or postmenopausal women.
• Cardiac Stress Testing: annually for patients with history.
• EKG: annually with physical.

At-Risk Intervention

At-risk interventions important for patients with a family disease history or individual factors that put them at risk for a particular condition or disease. Recommendations include:

• Colonoscopy: every give years beginning at age 50. If there is a family history of illness, screening begins at age 40.
• Tuberculosis skin testing: annually/biannually for people at risk of exposure.
• Clinical prostate exam/prostate-specific antigen (PSA): annually at age 40 to 49