7 Medical Tests and Treatments You Might Be Smart to Skip After 65
Money Talks News • • health
Key Points:
- Many routine tests and treatments commonly given to seniors may be unnecessary or harmful, according to major medical groups like the USPSTF and the American Geriatrics Society, contributing to significant healthcare waste and patient risk.
- Colonoscopies after age 75, prostate cancer screening after 70, and mammograms after 75 often provide limited benefit and carry risks such as hospitalization, false positives, and overtreatment.
- Pap smears can generally be stopped after age 65 if prior screenings were normal, and antibiotics should not be prescribed for asymptomatic urinary tract bacteria in older adults to avoid resistance and side effects.
- Removal of common skin spots (actinic keratoses) in seniors may be unnecessary unless they show signs of progression, and many older adults on thyroid medication for borderline hypothyroidism might safely discontinue it under medical supervision.
- Patients are encouraged to question the necessity and benefits of tests or treatments with their doctors, considering age, health status, and potential risks, to avoid unnecessary procedures and expenses.