How often should you get a checkup? In Canada, there is no single schedule that is right for everyone. Babies and young children need visits at important developmental stages, while healthy adults may not need a comprehensive physical every year. Older adults and people managing medications or ongoing health conditions may benefit from more frequent appointments.

The right schedule depends on your age, medical history, family history, symptoms, medications and risk factors. It also depends on when specific services, such as immunizations or cancer screening, are due.

Quick answer: Healthy, symptom-free adults do not necessarily need an annual physical. Preventive care should instead be scheduled according to individual health needs and current Canadian or provincial guidance. Children, pregnant patients, older adults and people with chronic conditions often require more frequent care.

Checkup Schedule by Age: A Quick Guide

The following schedule provides general guidance. Your physician may recommend a different interval based on your health.

Age or life stage General checkup schedule Common areas of focus
Newborns and infants Several scheduled visits during the first year Feeding, growth, development, physical examination, safety and immunizations
Ages 1–5 Visits at key developmental and immunization stages Growth, development, behaviour, nutrition, sleep, safety and immunization review
Ages 6–17 Generally every 1–2 years for preventive care Growth, school concerns, mental health, physical activity, puberty, safety and immunizations
Ages 18–39 Based on symptoms, risks and preventive-care needs Blood pressure, mental health, sexual health, lifestyle, medications and appropriate screening
Ages 40–64 Individual schedule based on health and screening needs Cardiovascular risk, diabetes risk, cancer screening, medications and lifestyle
Ages 65 and older Often more regular, depending on health and function Chronic conditions, medications, mobility, falls, memory, hearing, vision and preventive care
Pregnancy Follow a separate prenatal schedule Maternal health, fetal development, testing, medications and pregnancy-related concerns
Chronic condition or new medication As recommended by the treating clinician Symptoms, treatment response, side effects, test results and medication monitoring

This table is educational rather than prescriptive. Screening schedules can differ by province and may change as guidelines are updated.

Do Healthy Adults Need an Annual Physical?

Not necessarily. According to Choosing Wisely Canada, healthy people without symptoms or significant risk factors often do not require a comprehensive physical every year.

Routine annual examinations and blood tests do not automatically improve health. Unnecessary testing may also produce false-positive results, leading to anxiety, repeat tests or procedures that may not be needed.

This does not mean preventive care is unimportant. It means preventive care should be targeted. A family physician can help determine when you are due for:

  • blood pressure measurement;
  • immunizations;
  • cervical, breast or colorectal cancer screening;
  • cholesterol or diabetes assessment;
  • sexual health or STI testing;
  • osteoporosis assessment;
  • medication review; or
  • counselling related to nutrition, physical activity, sleep, smoking or alcohol.

The answer to “how often should you get a checkup?” should therefore come from your health needs, not automatically from the calendar.

Checkups for Babies and Infants

Babies require more frequent care because growth and development happen quickly during the first year.

Well-baby visits may include:

  • weight, length and head-circumference measurements;
  • feeding and nutrition review;
  • developmental monitoring;
  • physical examination;
  • sleep and safety guidance;
  • discussion of caregiver concerns; and
  • immunization review.

In Alberta, public-health well-child services align routine vaccination visits with ages 2, 4, 6, 12 and 18 months. Other medical appointments may be recommended depending on the baby’s age, health, feeding, growth and development.

The Canadian Rourke Baby Record provides age-specific preventive-care guidance for children from one week to five years old. Parents and caregivers should follow the schedule recommended by their child’s physician and public-health team.

Infiniti Medical Clinic provides paediatric care in Calgary focused on growth, development, preventive care and common childhood health concerns.

Checkups for Children Ages 1 to 5

Preschool children continue to need care at important developmental and immunization stages. These visits help health professionals monitor how the child is growing, learning, communicating and moving.

Topics may include:

  • growth and nutrition;
  • speech and language;
  • motor and social development;
  • sleep and behaviour;
  • toilet learning;
  • dental health;
  • hearing or vision concerns;
  • injury prevention; and
  • immunizations.

In Alberta, a routine public-health visit is also scheduled around four years of age for immunization before school entry. Children with developmental concerns, ongoing medical conditions or significant changes in behaviour may need additional appointments.

Parents should not wait for a scheduled checkup if a child has persistent symptoms, difficulty breathing, unexplained weight loss, developmental regression or another concerning change.

Checkups for School-Aged Children

For children ages 6 to 12, the Canadian Paediatric Society’s Greig Health Record supports preventive visits approximately every one to two years. The exact schedule should reflect the child’s health and circumstances.

A school-aged child’s checkup may cover:

  • height, weight and growth pattern;
  • nutrition and physical activity;
  • sleep;
  • learning or school concerns;
  • emotional and social well-being;
  • family medical history;
  • safety;
  • immunization status; and
  • specific physical concerns.

Not every possible test or examination is needed at every visit. A health professional can select the areas that are relevant to the child.

Checkups for Teenagers

Teenagers may also benefit from a preventive visit every one to two years, with more frequent care when symptoms or specific concerns are present.

Adolescent checkups may include confidential discussion of:

  • mood, anxiety and stress;
  • sleep;
  • nutrition and physical activity;
  • puberty and development;
  • school performance;
  • substance use;
  • sexual health and contraception;
  • relationships and personal safety; and
  • immunizations.

Part of an adolescent’s appointment may be conducted privately, depending on age, maturity and the nature of the visit. This gives the teenager an opportunity to ask questions they may not feel comfortable raising in front of a parent or caregiver.

Checkups in Your 20s and 30s

Healthy adults in their 20s and 30s may not require a full physical every year. Choosing Wisely Canada notes that some healthy people in their twenties may go several years without a checkup without putting their health at risk.

However, contact with a primary-care provider may still be helpful when preventive services are due or circumstances change.

Relevant topics may include:

  • blood pressure;
  • immunizations;
  • mental health;
  • contraception and family planning;
  • sexual health and STI testing;
  • cervical cancer screening for eligible patients;
  • pregnancy planning;
  • smoking, vaping, alcohol or substance use;
  • nutrition and physical activity; and
  • family history of early heart disease, diabetes or cancer.

People with symptoms or increased risk should not wait several years for care. For example, persistent pain, unexplained weight changes, new lumps, abnormal bleeding, breathing problems or changes in mental health warrant earlier assessment.

Infiniti Medical Clinic offers women’s health services that include preventive care, sexual health, contraception and cervical screening when appropriate.

Checkups in Your 40s and 50s

Preventive care often becomes more detailed in midlife because certain cardiovascular and cancer-screening considerations become more relevant.

A physician may review:

  • blood pressure;
  • cholesterol and cardiovascular risk;
  • diabetes risk;
  • family history;
  • breast, cervical or colorectal screening eligibility;
  • prostate-health questions;
  • menstrual changes or menopause;
  • bone-health risk;
  • mental health;
  • sleep; and
  • medication use.

This does not mean every person needs every test each year. The timing of screening depends on provincial programs, previous results, personal risk factors and shared decision-making.

Adults with a strong family history of heart disease or cancer may need assessment earlier than someone at average risk. Infiniti Medical Clinic’s men’s health services and women’s health services can support age-appropriate health discussions and screening when clinically indicated.

Checkups in Your 60s

Adults in their 60s may benefit from more regular preventive-care reviews, especially if they take medications or have conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, asthma or arthritis.

A checkup may address:

  • medication effectiveness and side effects;
  • blood pressure and cardiovascular risk;
  • cancer-screening status;
  • bone health;
  • hearing and vision;
  • immunizations;
  • sleep;
  • mood;
  • mobility and balance; and
  • new or changing symptoms.

The interval may range from occasional preventive appointments to several visits per year, depending on the person’s medical needs.

Checkups for Adults 65 and Older

There is no mandatory annual schedule for every adult over 65, but regular follow-up often becomes more useful as health needs become more complex.

Older-adult visits may include:

  • chronic-condition management;
  • review of all prescription and non-prescription medications;
  • falls and balance assessment;
  • mobility and daily functioning;
  • memory or cognitive concerns;
  • hearing and vision;
  • nutrition;
  • bladder or bowel concerns;
  • mood and social connection;
  • advance-care planning; and
  • appropriate screening and immunizations.

Some older adults may need appointments every few months, while healthy seniors may require less frequent care. The schedule should reflect medical conditions, medication risks, frailty, mobility and personal goals.

Infiniti Medical Clinic provides geriatric health services for older adults in Northwest Calgary.

How Often Should You Get a Checkup During Pregnancy?

Pregnancy follows a separate care schedule and generally requires more frequent visits than routine adult preventive care. Appointment timing changes throughout pregnancy and may become more frequent closer to delivery.

Prenatal visits may involve:

  • blood pressure and weight monitoring;
  • review of symptoms and medications;
  • recommended blood and urine tests;
  • fetal growth and development;
  • screening discussions;
  • nutrition and supplement guidance; and
  • planning for delivery and postpartum care.

People with a high-risk pregnancy or new concerning symptoms may require additional care. Infiniti Medical Clinic offers pregnancy and pre/postnatal care for eligible low-risk pregnancies, with referrals when specialized care is medically appropriate.

When Are More Frequent Checkups Needed?

Age is only one factor. You may need more frequent appointments if you:

  • have diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, asthma or another ongoing condition;
  • take medication that requires monitoring;
  • recently started or changed medication;
  • are pregnant or planning a pregnancy;
  • have a strong family history of certain diseases;
  • smoke or use nicotine products;
  • have abnormal test results;
  • recently visited an emergency department or hospital;
  • are recovering from an operation or serious illness;
  • have ongoing mental-health concerns;
  • experience frequent falls or changes in mobility; or
  • develop new or worsening symptoms.

Your clinician should explain why follow-up is recommended and what will be assessed at each appointment.

Do You Need Routine Blood Tests Every Year?

Not always. Choosing Wisely Canada advises against annual screening blood tests unless they are indicated by the patient’s symptoms or risk profile.

A blood test may be appropriate when it is used to:

  • investigate symptoms;
  • monitor an existing health condition;
  • check the effects of medication;
  • follow up an earlier result; or
  • perform evidence-based screening for an eligible patient.

Testing “everything” may seem reassuring, but it can identify minor variations that are not medically important. These findings may lead to unnecessary worry or additional testing.

A physician can explain which tests are relevant and how often they should be repeated.

What Happens During a Medical Checkup?

A checkup should be guided by the purpose of the visit. It may include:

  • review of current symptoms and concerns;
  • medical and family history;
  • medication and allergy review;
  • blood pressure or other measurements;
  • a focused physical examination;
  • mental-health questions;
  • preventive-screening review;
  • immunization review;
  • lifestyle discussion; and
  • planning for tests, treatment or follow-up.

Not every appointment requires a head-to-toe examination, blood tests or diagnostic imaging. Testing should be based on clinical need.

When Should You Book a Checkup Sooner?

Do not wait until your next planned checkup if you develop:

  • persistent or worsening pain;
  • unexplained weight loss or gain;
  • a new or changing lump;
  • abnormal bleeding;
  • ongoing fever;
  • shortness of breath;
  • changes in bowel or bladder habits;
  • a changing mole or sore that does not heal;
  • frequent dizziness or fainting;
  • significant changes in mood, memory or behaviour; or
  • side effects from medication.

Infiniti Medical Clinic’s family practice and walk-in clinic provides assessment for non-emergency medical concerns, subject to physician availability and patient volume.

Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department for severe chest pain, serious breathing difficulty, signs of a stroke, major trauma, severe bleeding or another medical emergency.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should you get a checkup if you are healthy?

Healthy adults without symptoms or significant risk factors may not need a comprehensive physical every year. A clinician can recommend a schedule based on age, medical history, preventive-screening needs and personal risk.

Do children need a checkup every year?

Babies and young children require visits at important growth, developmental and immunization stages. For children and teenagers ages 6 to 17, Canadian paediatric guidance generally supports preventive visits every one to two years, with additional visits when concerns arise.

Should adults over 40 get a checkup every year?

Not necessarily. Adults over 40 may have more preventive-care needs, but the appointment schedule should still be individualized. Blood pressure, cardiovascular risk and screening eligibility may be reviewed at appropriate intervals.

How often should seniors see a doctor?

Some seniors need appointments every few months because of chronic conditions or medications. Healthy older adults may need less frequent care. Mobility, falls, memory, medication safety and preventive-care needs can affect the schedule.

Do I need blood work at every checkup?

No. Blood work should be ordered when it is relevant to symptoms, medical history, medications, previous results or evidence-based screening. Routine annual blood tests are not necessary for every healthy person.

Should I wait for a checkup to discuss a new symptom?

No. New, persistent or worsening symptoms should be assessed without waiting for a routine appointment. Seek emergency care for severe or life-threatening symptoms.

Plan Your Checkup in Northwest Calgary

How often should you get a checkup? The best answer depends on your age, health history, medications, family history and current symptoms. Healthy adults may not need a comprehensive physical every year, but everyone should receive appropriate preventive care and seek assessment when health concerns arise.

Infiniti Medical Clinic provides family medicine, walk-in care and age-appropriate health services for patients in Northwest Calgary. The clinic is located at #10–12432 Symons Valley Road NW, Calgary, Alberta.

Book an appointment or call 403-460-4502 to discuss availability.

This article provides general educational information and does not replace individualized medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Screening and follow-up recommendations may vary based on provincial guidance and individual risk.

Medical Sources