The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has recently released two new-evidence-based checklists designed to help men and women understand which medical check-up tests they need to stay healthy at any age.

The pocket-size brochures: the men's and women's versions (available in both English and Spanish) of "Your Checklist for Health" contain bullet recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force of screening tests, preventive medicine and other healthy lifestyle behaviors.

...pocket-size brochure designed to be taken with patients when they visit their health care providers to make it easier to talk about which screening tests they might need.

Unlike diagnostic tests, which clinicians order when they suspect someone has a disease, screening tests help check for problems before they have symptoms.

Both checklists provide tips about other things to do to stay healthy, such as eating a healthy diet and exercising. A chart to record a patient's screening test history and help plan follow-up medical appointments also is included.

The said brochures are available on the AHRQ Web site (click the corresponding links):

• Men: Stay Healthy at Any Age, Your Checklist for Health
• Women: Stay Healthy at Any Age, Your Checklist for Health

You may also call 1-800-358-9295 or send an email to ahrqpubs@ahrq.hhs.gov to get a copy.

Source: AHRQ