We recommend that at age 50 most adults think about an initial colonoscopy. If someone has had a colonoscopy when they are 50 and they don't have any polyps or a family history of cancer, then we recommend a colonoscopy every 10 years.

However, after menopause and certainly into the 60s it would appear that doing a Pap smear every year isn't critical -- maybe once every two to three years.

I generally tell my patients that, if you're in good health during the 20s, 30s and 40s, you only need a general checkup once every four to five years. But around age 50 you should start thinking about annual checkups, trying to look for things that are increasing in incidence with age.

Sure. Talk to your doctor about what you can be doing right now to change your lifestyle habits and to be more healthy. Maintain your weight, exercise and eat right -- that's the key.

Some people can even feel physical pain -- problems with indigestion, heartburn or headaches.

We hear a lot about high anxiety today, but I'm not sure we live in a more stressful world. Life has always been stressful.