Hi everyone! I’m Whitney, a nurse practitioner specializing in family medicine. Before my career as an FNP, I spent over half a decade as an ER nurse where I saw the raw, unfiltered side of health crises. I witnessed heart attacks in young adults who never checked their blood pressure, advanced infections that could have been caught early, and many other emergencies that could have been avoided. Now, as a primary care provider, I get to focus on proactive steps to help patients avoid similar catastrophes. This leads me to talk about something that’s close to my heart, the importance of preventive medical screenings, especially in young adults. It is never too soon to start prioritizing your physical and mental health.

Why Bother with Screenings When You’re Young and“Healthy”?

Working in emergency medicine I’d often see young adult patients come in with issues that started small, but escalated into more severe issues because they were not completing routine health check-ups. A 28-year-old man with undiagnosed high blood pressure leading to a stroke? Heartbreaking and avoidable. A 25-year-old woman discovering advanced cervical changes during an unrelated visit? Changes that a simple Pap test could have flagged years earlier. Preventive screenings aren’t about scaring you, they are about empowerment. Preventative screenings help providers to catch problems early and when they’re usually easier (and cheaper) to fix. The data from these diagnostic tests also provides information to allow for lifestyle changes that may even further prevent future medical problems. Think of preventative medicine like car maintenance: You don’t wait for your engine to blow up before you change the oil. In your 20s and 30s, your body is building habits that last a lifetime. Screenings can help spot risks for chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer before they take hold.

Key Screenings You Shouldn’t Skip

Based on my experience and established guidelines, here’s what I recommend for most 20- to 30-year-olds. Of course, talk to your provider, they’ll tailor this to your personal history, family risks, and lifestyle.

Blood Pressure Checks: High blood pressure is known as the “silent killer” because it often shows no symptoms until it’s causing damage. Routine blood pressure screening should begin at age 20. If you have risk factors like family history, obesity, are a current smoker, or of certain ethnic backgrounds, screening may begin sooner.
Cholesterol and Heart Health: Cholesterol and heart health screenings start at age 20 if you have risks (like smoking, diabetes, or family heart disease); otherwise, it’s often fine to wait until 35 for men or 45 for women. A simple blood test every 5 years can flag high cholesterol early letting you tweak your diet or activity to avoid heart issues down the road. It is common for most providers to check this annually.
Diabetes Screening: Screening for diabetes should start at age 35. Personal risk factors such as unhealthy diet, obesity, or family history of diabetes will warrant screening at an earlier age. Being able to catch an elevated A1C early is key because it can be reversible with lifestyle changes. I’ve counseled countless patients who have turned things around just by knowing their lab results and making lifestyle changes.
Mental Health Screenings: Life in your 20s and 30s can be stressful. Screenings for depression, anxiety, and suicide risk are essential during routine visits. It’s quick, often just a questionnaire, and can connect you to support early. As someone who’s seen the ER fallout from untreated mental health, I can’t stress this enough: It’s okay to seek help.
InfectiousDisease and STI Tests: If you’re sexually active, screen for chlamydia and gonorrhea if under 25 or at higher risk. Everyone should get a one-time HIV test between 15 and 65, and hepatitis C between 18 and 79. These are simple blood or urine tests that prevent long-term complications like infertility or liver disease.
Cancer-Specific Screenings: For women: Start getting tested for cervical cancer at age 21. Breast cancer screenings begin around age 35 if there are pertinent risk factors, but at the latest age 40 if no family history. Colon cancer screenings (yes, the dreaded colonoscopy) start later in life around age 50. If you have family history, though, then chat with your doc.
Lifestyle Counseling: Your provider should also discuss lifestyle habits like tobacco use, alcohol, drugs, diet, exercise, and safe behaviors. Aim for a healthy weight, 150 minutes of activity weekly, and a veggie-packed diet, small changes add up.
Don’t forget dental check-ups (1-2 times a year) and eye exams (every 5-10 years) to round out your preventive routine.

The Payoff: Better Health, LessDrama

Investing in these screenings now means fewer ER visits later. Early detection can turn a potential crisis into a simple fix like medication for blood pressure or lifestyle tweaks for cholesterol. It also saves money because treating advanced disease is way more costly than prevention. From my ER days, I know reactive care is exhausting, for patients and providers. Proactive care? That’s where the wins happen.

Your Next Step

If it’s been a while since your last check-up, schedule one today. Bring questions, share your family history, and be honest about your habits. You’re building a healthier future one screening at a time. Stay well, friends, let’s keep those ER stories to a minimum!

Make an Appointment

Continue Your Wellness Journey with These Articles…

Blood Pressure 101: What “Normal” Means and Why It Matters

In-Person vs. Telehealth Appointments: Pros, Cons & When to Choose Each

Integrative Wellness Related Posts

Featured

Hidden Health Benefits Your Insurance May Already Cover

A lot of people miss out on benefits they already have because they just don’t know what’s covered. It’s a great feeling to realize you can take care of yourself without worrying about surprise costs. Sometimes all it takes is a quick call or checking your benefits online to find out you have more support than you realized.

Yes, You Can Switch Therapists. Here’s How….

I remember the first time a client told me they wanted to switch to a new therapist. I felt different feelings. First and foremost, I thought I had failed as a counselor. That I would never be a good counselor. Once I was able to talk to some of my colleagues, they assured me this is healthy for the therapeutic process. I was relieved and soon began to understand this is about what’s best for the people I counsel. They need to have a safe place, someone they can connect with and overall feel they are making progress.

Preventive Screenings By Decade: What to Ask For in Your 20s, 30s, 40s & Beyond

I spent over half a decade as an ER nurse where I saw the raw, unfiltered side of health crises. I witnessed heart attacks in young adults who never checked their blood pressure, advanced infections that could have been caught early, and many other emergencies that could have been avoided. Now, as a primary care provider, I get to focus on proactive steps to help patients avoid similar catastrophes. This leads me to talk about something that’s close to my heart, the importance of preventive medical screenings, especially in young adults. It is never too soon to start prioritizing your physical and mental health.

About Two Roads Wellness Clinic®

Two Roads Wellness Clinic® is an integrative wellness clinic. We truly believe in whole-person wellness and see more than just a list of symptoms.

At Two Roads Wellness Clinic®, we want you to experience the difference of personalized health care. We’re an integrative health clinic offering a vast array of services including, mental health treatments such as EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing), family therapy, medication management, primary care, integrative nutritional support, personalized health reports and precision medicine with DNA testing, weight management program, life coaching, physical therapy, infrared sauna services, community education and outreach, and more.

The Two Roads Wellness Clinic® team of therapists, medical and nutrition staff, life coaches, physical therapists, and emotional support animals are ready to help you find an integrated approach to your wellness. To schedule an appointment, visit our contact page to get started at one of our convenient locations in Champaign, Danville, Mahomet or Covington, or learn more about Online Therapy and Medical Sessions.

Like the Robert Frost poem our name is based on, we want to help you find the path that makes a difference in YOUR life.

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by.
And that has made all the difference.”
Robert Frost, “The Road Not Taken”

Interested in our services? Click to contact us.

Contact Two Roads Wellness Clinic®