Boost Long-Term Health: 10 Tests for Women

If you’re a woman, visits to the physician for your annual exam requires going beyond checking of weight and cholesterol screening as you age. The longer you live, the more susceptible you become to conditions and diseases that might have been prevented—or perhaps treated to improve the quality of life—if only common health screenings had been done.

InsidersHealth suggests taking a proactive approach to your health by adding these necessary tests into your daily routine.

So, which tests do you need, and when?

This health information blog discusses the top 10 must-have health tests for women.

These are some good guidelines to follow….

Thyroid Function Test

It is important to momitor thyroid hormone levels in order to detect thyroid disorders. Women should normally have a thyroid function test starting at age 35 and then every 5 years thereafter. Healthcare providers may need to perform more frequent testing depending on symptoms or risk factors. (2)

Eye Exams

Regular eye exams help to detect vision problems and eye diseases like glaucoma and macular degeneration before they become a bigger health problem. Women should have a comprehensive eye exam every 1-2 years. Based on age, risk factors, and vision changes, healthcare providers may need to conduct more frequent exams. (3,4)

Blood sugar test

Pre-diabetes and type-2 diabetes have arrived at near-epidemic levels in America, and people with high insulin levels could be more likely to develop pancreatic, urinary tract and skin cancer, even if diabetes doesn’t exist. Starting at age 45 and every 3 years thereafter , you should get tested. This test screens for diabetes by measuring blood sugar levels. Women with risk factors such as obesity or a family history of unhealthy glucose levels may need more frequent testing. (5,6)

Colonoscopy

Almost 150,000 Americans will be diagnosed with colon cancer this year. The American Cancer Society 2018 guideline for colorectal cancer screening recommends that adults aged 45 years or older should do regular screening with either a high-sensitivity stool-based test or a structural (visual) exam or a colonoscopy, a technique in which a long, lit tube is inserted into the colon which helps your physician find abnormal clusters of cells before they have a chance to turn cancerous. On a positive note, catching colon cancer in the early stages results in a very high chance of survival. Current guidelines require colonoscopies be done every ten years beginning at age 45. If you have risk factors—a history of colon cancer in your family, for example—your doctor may want to start testing you sooner….and possibly more often. (7,8)

Full-body skin exam

If you don’t already see a dermatologist, add one to your list of specialists and schedule regular yearly exams. He or she should examine your entire body for any visible signs of skin cancer. Women should perform monthly self-exams as well. Simply stand undressed in a well-lit room in front of a mirror and check yourself every month.More frequent exams may be needed based on skin type, history of sun exposure, and family history. (9,10)

Mammograms

The American Cancer Society recommends that women start having yearly mammograms at the age of 40 to detect the possibility of breast cancer. Earlier exams may be worthwhile if you have a family history of breast or other types of cancer. (11) Here is the recommended testing frequency for women based on age:

Between 40 and 44 – Start screening every year.

45 to 54 should get mammograms every year.

55 and older test every other year, and continue for as long as a woman is in good health and is expected to live another 10 years or more (11)

According to the American Cancer Society, “Breast cancers found during screening exams are more likely to be smaller and less likely to have spread outside the breast. The size of a breast cancer and how far it has spread are some of the most important factors in predicting the prognosis (outlook) of a woman with this disease.” (11)

Pap smears and HPV tests

It is recommended that women get a Pap smear at their gynecologist’s office yearly before the age of thirty to detect cervical cancer. From that time forward, if three normal tests are given in a row, the Pap smear should then be done every two to three years. (1)

Bone Density Test (DEXA Scan)

Test checks for women experiencing or having a family history of osteoporosis are important so you can monitor bone density. Women aged 65 and older should have a bone density test. Healthcare providers should also test younger women with risk factors for osteoporosis. (12,13)

Cholesterol Test

Cholesterol is a fatty substance present in all body cells . It travels as particles in your blood called lipoproteins. The three most common lipoproteins are low-density lipoproteins (LDL), high-density lipoproteins (HDL), and very low density lipoproteins (VLDL).

Medical studies indicate that elevated levels of LDL cholesterol increase the risk of blockages in coronary arteries. HDL cholesterol helps to reduce that risk. On the other hand, LDL is known as the “bad cholesterol” and needs to be monitored

Cholesterol tests help assess heart disease risk. Women should start testing at age 20 and repeat every 4-6 years. Healthcare providers may need to perform more frequent testing based on risk factors. (15)

Pelvic exam

Your ob-gyn should be doing a pelvic exam at your annual or biannual visit but you should make an appointment to have one right away if you’re experiencing any pelvic pain, extreme bloating, vaginal spotting or bleeding, or an uncontrollable and frequent need to urinate for more than a couple of weeks.

Don’t delay! By getting the appropriate tests and exams, you may possibly prevent a deadly condition down the road. For more information on preventative healthcare and healthy living, check out some helpful healthy lifestyle blogs.

In our opinion, the Mediterranean diet is consistently one of the healthiest diets to maintain long-term health. There is an emphasis on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, and healthy fats ( like olive oil and cocunut oil). It also includes regular servings of amounts of fish ( especially wild salmon and fresh river caught trout). It is important to limit red meat and dairy.

Benefits:

Rich in antioxidants- fights inflammation.
Promotes heart health- helps lower bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol.
helps reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.

References:

(1)https://www.thyroid.org/thyroid-function-tests/

(2)https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/eye-exams-101

(3)https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/ophthalmology/sections/tests-procedures/orc-20518571

(4)https://diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/newly-diagnosed/health-checks-people-with-diabetes

(5)https://www.cancer.org/health-care-professionals/american-cancer-society-prevention-early-detection-guidelines/colorectal-cancer-screening-guidelines.html

(6)https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/colonoscopy/about/pac-20393569

(7)https://www.aad.org/member/career/volunteer/spot

(8)https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/skin-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20377605

(9)https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/breast-cancer/screening-tests-and-early-detection/american-cancer-society-recommendations-for-the-early-detection-of-breast-cancer.html

(10)https://www.bonehealthandosteoporosis.org/patients/diagnosis-information/bone-density-examtesting/

(11)https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/bone-density-test/about/pac-20385273