How to Do Self-Screening for Better Health Monitoring

September 4, 2025

Reviewed By: Rebecca Anderson, FNP-BC

When it comes to taking care of your health as a senior, staying on top of your self-screening routine is key. Although healthcare professionals are there to give screening tests and predict which health issues to look out for, you play an equally important role in this process. Self-monitoring and screening don’t replace professional healthcare, but they complement it by giving an extra layer of caution and protection. Don’t know where to start? We’ve got you. In this guide, you’ll learn all about the purpose and process of self-screening, helpful tools to use, and the types of screenings you should do.

Understanding the Purpose and Limitations of Self-Screening

Self-screening, also called self-monitoring or self-testing, is the process of assessing whether you may have signs of a certain condition at home [1]. If you notice any warning signs during a self-screening, bring them to the attention of your healthcare provider for a thorough examination.

Self-screenings help identify areas of concern that you should get checked out by a professional. For example, if someone finds a lump in their breast while doing a breast cancer self-screening exam, that lump signifies that they should get a mammogram or breast ultrasound for further information. Self-screenings cannot provide a definite diagnosis of a disorder or condition without the help of a healthcare professional. Do not self-diagnose; if you discover something concerning while self-screening, see your doctor for a professional opinion [2].

Essential Tools for Effective Self-Screening

The type of tools necessary for effective self-screenings depends on the conditions for which you are screening. Some common self-screening exams and the tools they require include:

Self-screening or monitoring for hypertension (high blood pressure) [3]: If you are at risk for hypertension, using a blood pressure monitor for self-screening or self-monitoring at home can be helpful. Bring results to your doctor for a formal diagnosis, or track your results to provide your doctor more information about an existing diagnosis.
Self-screening or monitoring for chronic conditions affecting weight [3]: Using a digital scale to help track changes to your weight can alert you to warning signs of many chronic conditions, which you should bring up with your healthcare provider.
Self-screening for sleep disorders [4]: Smart watches can capture your sleep patterns, which may provide insight into possible sleep disorders. Track your sleep and consult with your doctor if you have concerns.
Self-screening for skin cancer [5]: You can self-screen for skin cancer by looking for lumps, bumps, discoloration, or other areas of concern using a full-length mirror and a hand-held mirror. Take note of any areas you’d like to discuss with your doctor.

Similar to smart watches, there are other digital tools available for tracking your health metrics and providing more data for screening. Some of these tools include:

Pedometers, which track your steps [6]
Food-tracking apps, which keep track of your meals, hydration, and calories [6]
Electrocardiogram sensors, which track your heart rate and activity [6]
Fall detectors, which detect if you have fallen [6]

With the help of these tools and self-screening exams, you’ll be on top of your health and ready to report any possible issues to your doctor.

Physical Health Self-Screening Techniques

Cardiovascular Health Assessment

When monitoring blood pressure, there are a few best practices to make yourself aware of. First, make sure you have the proper equipment. According to the American Heart Association, using an automatic, cuff-style, upper arm (biceps) monitor is best for this [7]. Next, plan a time to monitor your blood pressure when you haven’t had coffee, alcohol, or exercised within 30 minutes before monitoring. Place the cuff on the bare upper arm at heart level and follow the instructions that come with the monitor to take the measurement. This will also measure pulse rate. It’s best to keep a blood pressure log to assess changes.

To monitor pulse rate and heart rhythm, use a heart rate monitor [8]. Depending on the type of monitor, you’ll wear this either around your wrist, forearm, or finger. Record your results and bring them to your doctor’s appointment.

When monitoring for cardiovascular conditions, certain symptoms should be considered red flags. Contact your doctor right away if you experience: sudden or significant changes in blood pressure or heart rate (very high, very low, or irregular), shortness of breath, especially at rest or when lying down, chest pain or pressure, swelling in the legs, ankles, or feet, unexplained or rapid weight gain (e.g., more than 2–3 pounds in a day or 5 pounds in a week), lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting, or excessive fatigue or sweating without exertion[9]. These symptoms—and others—may be signs of a serious cardiovascular condition.

Skin Health Examination

To self-screen for skin conditions, thoroughly check all areas of your skin for lumps, bumps, discoloration, rashes, itching, and other abnormalities [10] using a hand mirror, full-length mirror, and/or the help of a loved one. Think of the acronym “ABCDE” to know what to look for [10]:

Asymmetry: Is one side of the area of concern shaped differently than the other?
Border: Is the border of the area of concern uneven or jagged? Does it have poorly defined edges?
Color: Are there multiple or uneven colors within the area of concern?
Diameter: Is the area of concern larger than a pencil eraser? Has it grown larger over time?
Evolution: Has the area of concern changed in size, color, or shape?

Take note of areas of concern so you can bring them up with your primary care doctor or dermatologist, and/or take photos of the areas for reference (if you are comfortable).

Some skin red flags that require immediate medical attention are bleeding bumps that don’t go away, visible veins or blood vessels, discoloration, changes in nail appearance, and slow-healing wounds [11], to name a few.

Mental Health Self-Assessment Approaches

There are many tools and resources to help you self-assess mental health conditions and concerns at home. Mental Health America (MHA) has screening questionnaires you can fill out before visiting a primary care physician to give you a better idea of your signs and symptoms [12]. You can also track your mental health by writing down any concerning thoughts or feelings each day and bringing them to your doctor.

Sleep is very connected to mental health, and poor sleep quality can exacerbate the symptoms of many mental health disorders [13]. Because of this, you may want to self-screen for sleep disorders if you are struggling with both sleep and mental health.

Self-screening and monitoring cognitive function is also important, especially for older adults, who often experience a natural decline in cognition with age [14]. To assess cognitive functioning, ask your doctor about their recommendations for at-home cognitive tests.

Specialized Self-Screening for Common Health Concerns

Diabetes risk assessment: To monitor your blood sugar levels and self-screen for diabetes, use a blood glucose testing kit from your local pharmacy [15]. The kit should include test strips, lancets (small needles used to prick your finger to draw blood), and a booklet to log your levels. Follow the instructions and bring your results to your next doctor’s appointment.
Breast self-examination: To self-screen for breast cancer, lie down and gently but firmly check the entire breast area (including the armpit) for lumps, knots, or any other abnormalities—even if they aren’t painful [16]. If you find any, notify your doctor and have them do a formal exam.
Testicular self-examination: To check for testicular cancer, in the shower, gently check the surface of the testicles for lumps, bumps, swelling, or any abnormalities—even if they aren’t painful [17]. Discuss any abnormalities with your doctor.
Respiratory health self-assessment: To screen for respiratory conditions, like asthma, ask yourself these self-assessment questions from Mount Sinai [18] about your breathing. If you answer “yes” to any of the questions, alert your doctor at your next appointment.
Digestive health tracking: To screen for digestive health issues, take the World Gastroenterology Organization (WGO) questionnaire [19] and discuss your answers with your doctor.

Creating a Personalized Self-Screening Schedule

You may wonder how often you should self-screen for health conditions. There isn’t one correct answer—the frequency of self-screening depends on your risk for developing certain health conditions. However, as a general rule of thumb, you should self-screen more regularly as you age, since older adults are at higher risk for chronic conditions [20]. Ask your doctor about the specific conditions you should self-screen based on your health history. Certain factors may affect this, like family history, pre-existing conditions, and gender. Some common conditions that older adults should get regular screenings for include, but are not limited to, high blood pressure, vision issues, cancer (breast, cervical, lung, skin, etc.), and high cholesterol [21]. You can self-screen for most of these conditions, but ask your healthcare provider for specific advice and directions.

To make self-screening easier to remember, integrate it into your regular routines. For example, if your doctor recommends a monthly skin check for skin cancer, try associating it with an existing routine or habit. For example, each month when you pay your credit card statement, remember to perform a skin check. If your self-screening schedule isn’t as frequent, associate it with an activity you only do yearly, like filing taxes or spring cleaning your garage. Remember, any concerns you find during self-screening require professional follow-ups. Try scheduling your monthly or yearly appointments in advance. When you receive the reminder that your appointment is approaching, this can also act as a reminder to perform self-screening.

Technology-Enhanced Self-Screening Options

When it comes to technology-based screening tests, it’s important to understand the pros and cons. Technology-enhanced screening options can become popular quickly, but reliability and accuracy must be the top priority—and some of these options may fall short in this department.

Wearable health monitors, like smartwatches and pedometers, give us a hands-free option to easily track health data, such as step count, heart rate, and sleep habits. They are small and convenient, allowing us to transfer data from the device to a smartphone for later reference. However, many of these wearable devices have a short battery life and inaccurate data measurements [22], which is why it’s important to do research, ask for personal recommendations, and read reviews about which wearable device to purchase.

Smartphone-based screening tools often rely on wearable device data and self-questionnaires to screen for health conditions. These tools can create detailed, personalized recommendations based on your results. However, because they are based on self-reflection, inaccuracies may be created due to bias or a lack of understanding about your symptoms.

Finally, home test kits are often accessible and affordable, as they can typically be purchased at your local pharmacy without a prescription. These tests tend to be simple, coming with short and easy-to-understand instructions anyone can follow. However, at-home test kits can have inaccurate results, possibly leading to a delay in diagnosis or treatment [23]. This is why you should not rely solely on at-home test kits—always get professionally tested for health conditions by your doctor.

Interpreting Your Results: From Data to Action

To understand your self-screening results, you first must have a general understanding of what is typical vs abnormal for what you’re testing. For example, if you are self-screening for high blood pressure, you should know that a systolic (top number) reading of 120 or higher and a diastolic (bottom number) reading of 80 or higher signifies that you may have elevated or high blood pressure [24]. If you don’t have this prior knowledge, you wouldn’t know exactly what these numbers mean and if they should warrant a conversation with your doctor. This is the same for all self-screening tests—you must first know the warning signs to look out for before starting the test to make the best use of your results.

A pattern of abnormalities should likely strike more alarm than isolated abnormalities. For example, if you experience a headache one day, but it goes away and doesn’t lead to any other symptoms, there is likely no reason to be concerned that it’s a sign of a more serious condition. However, if you experience persistent headaches that do not subside, it may be a sign of a condition, and you should consult a professional. Some isolated instances, though, should be of concern or warrant an examination. These include, but are not limited to, abnormal lumps, bumps, or growths, intense and painful headaches, chest pain that radiates into your jaw or back, anaphylactic allergic reactions, and unusual bleeding without cause [25].

Health professionals base many of their treatment plan decisions on their documentation of your health over the years. This is why it is important to share your documentation from self-screening with them so they can incorporate this data into their consideration. Instead of interpreting your results, bring them to your healthcare provider so they can make more informed and educated decisions about your health.

When to Seek Professional Medical Evaluation

Let’s break down urgent vs non-urgent concerns when it comes to what you find in self-screenings. As mentioned previously, if you find anything that is causing significant pain, alarm, or disruption to your life, alert your healthcare provider immediately. Abnormal symptoms that arise suddenly, like sharp pain, swelling, bleeding, weakness, or numbness, are signs that a serious reaction or medical emergency is occurring [25]—contact 911 immediately. Non-urgent concerns may not be emergencies, but are still important to get checked. Make a prompt appointment with your healthcare provider for a professional examination.

To communicate your self-screening findings, provide your findings in as much detail as possible to your doctor. Describe the area of concern—when you noticed the abnormality, how it feels, how long it has lasted, the frequency of your symptoms, etc. Discuss prior conditions or risks, as well as all medications you are taking, as these may have affected the area of concern. If you have seen a specialist for a health concern, make sure their notes are shared with your primary care physician, as this can help make a more conclusive and detailed diagnosis and treatment plan.

Self-Screening for Special Populations

Certain factors play into the frequency and types of screenings you should receive. Family history of a condition can drastically increase your risk of developing that condition—it can even increase the chances of developing that condition earlier than expected [26]. Alerting your healthcare provider of your family history will help them make better considerations for necessary screenings, assessments, and treatments based on your risk [27]. Make sure you have a decent knowledge of your family history so that you can provide as much information as possible to your doctor. If possible, ask your family members for their health history.

Your background may also play into your risk for certain health conditions. Certain groups of people are more susceptible to specific health conditions than others. For example, studies have shown that Black individuals—Black women, in particular—experience hypertension at significantly higher rates than Caucasian men and women [28]. Research has shown that this is likely due to the detrimental amounts of chronic stress Black individuals have faced over generations of discrimination and structural racism [28]. This is similar for other groups. Hispanic individuals are at a significantly higher risk for obesity, diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, and liver disease than Caucasian individuals, primarily due to social determinants of health [29]. These implications must be taken into account by both the individual and their healthcare provider when screening and treating health conditions.

Building Your Comprehensive Self-Screening System

Understanding your responsibility to self-screen for health conditions—especially those you are at risk for—is a vital step in advocating for your health. With the help of screening tools, your support system, and your healthcare team, you can monitor your health effectively and proactively. Self-screening and professional medical care are a balance, working hand-in-hand to create a screening and care plan fit to your specific needs and risks.

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