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Re-activateA health center in my area offers a $3,000 "comprehensive physical" with scads of screening tests. Should I do it? —E.K., Suffern, N.Y.
No. A number of health and "longevity" centers offer such packages, which include a battery of tests like whole-body CT scans, sonograms, and extensive blood work. The idea is that you can get a jump on treatment if the tests spot an as-yet-unnoticed disease, and peace of mind if they don't. But more screening isn't always better, and sometimes it's harmful. CT scans expose you to radiation and can yield false-positive results that lead to costly additional tests or biopsies—and a lot of needless worry.
Further, detecting disease early doesn't necessarily lead to better outcomes; it may just expose you sooner to invasive procedures that pose risks of their own. In general, your doctor should order the screening tests for which there's solid evidence that the benefits outweigh the harm.
Find out which tests and procedures you need , and how often, and which ones you should skip .
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