Test your health IQ

Today, older Americans are living longer and enjoying better health than previous generations. Do you know what it takes to stay healthy? Take the following quiz to find out. Contact your doctor if you have questions or concerns.

Q: True or false? To prevent heart disease, try to keep your blood pressure lower than 130/80 mm Hg and your cholesterol lower than 200 mg/dl. 

Answer: True.

Learn more about heart disease risk factors — including the metabolic syndrome — and preventive lifestyle changes, such as eating healthy, exercising and quitting smoking. Also, learn heart attack signs. Most heart attacks usually begin with mild symptoms rather than sudden and intense ones.

Q: True or false? If you have asthma, you should take your long-term-control medicines only when you need them.

Answer: False.

Take your long-termcontrol medicines even when you feel better. Use your quick-relief medicines only as needed. Developing an asthma action plan with your doctor can help you know when to take your medicine and recognize early warning signs of an attack. It also can help you know when to call your doctor or go to the ER for symptoms. (If you visit the ER, be sure to follow up with your doctor.) Also,clean inhalers weekly with warm water to prevent clogging. Learn more.

Q: True or false? You can get breast cancer even if you don’t have a family history of it.

Answer: True.

Mammography can help detect changes in your breasts long before you can see or feel them. Visit priorityhealth.com to find mammography locations near you. Go online to get the facts about reducing breast cancer risk, available tests and treatment options.

Q: True or false? After age 60, women need annual Pap tests.

Answer: False.

Check our Preventive Health Care Guidelines for recommended Pap test frequency. Learn more about cervical cancer risk factors, screenings and treatment. 

Q: True or false? People older than age 50 are most likely to get colon cancer, and 75% won’t have symptoms.

Answer: True.

It's important to get screened for colorectal cancer. If treated early, the survival rate is 90%. Learn more.

Topics: Preventive care, Health disease, Asthma, Seniors care