Women should have mammograms, cholesterol screenings, and Pap smears as part of their regular health care. Are you due for one?
Exercise, stress management, and eating the right foods are all healthy habits every woman should maintain. Among those habits is scheduling routine health screenings, which can detect potential problems early.
You may even save your life by undergoing regular screenings. What screenings should you get? This list highlights the 10 most important ones.
1. Blood Pressure Screening
Speak with your medical doctor, to arrange a blood screening as often as necessary.
2. Cholesterol Check
This check is a tool used to assess your risk for developing heart disease or stroke. If you are at risk for heart disease or stroke, make a plan with your doctor for how often you should have this blood test. You don’t have to be at risk to speak with your doctor about getting a cholesterol check. Depending on your health, they will recommend how often you should go for a cholesterol check.
3. Pap Smears
According to some medical experts, you should have a Pap smear every three years starting at age 21 and continuing until age 65. During the Pap smear, your doctor uses a speculum to widen the vaginal canal, takes cells from the cervix with a small brush, and examines those cells for changes that could lead to cervical cancer. In addition to the test, you can screen for HPV, an STD that can lead to cervical cancer, every five years if you’re 30 or older.
4. Mammograms
In a mammogram, breast tissue is compressed between plates in order to produce X-ray images. Since the risk for breast cancer increases as a woman ages, and false positives from frequent screening are likely to cause more harm than good, there has long been debate over when and how often women should undergo screenings. Starting at age 50, women should have a mammogram every two years, according to some medical guidelines. In contrast, the American Cancer Society recommends women begin annual screenings at age 45, then switch to biannual screenings at age 55. Ask your doctor if you should begin annual screening earlier if you have a family history of the disease.
5. Bone Density Screening
Osteoporosis screening with a bone density test should start at age 65 for women. Fractures and low body weight are risk factors for osteoporosis. Individuals with these risk factors should undergo screening earlier. When you undergo a DEXA scan, a low-dose X-ray machine records images of your bones as you lie on a table. Screening frequency varies depending on bone density and other risk factors.
6. Blood Glucose Tests
Every three years, women should have a blood glucose test to determine if they have diabetes or prediabetes starting around the age of 45. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, a fasting plasma glucose reading of 100 mg/dl or higher indicates that you may be prediabetic, while a reading greater than 126 mg/dl indicates diabetes. You may want to get screened more often if you are obese, have a family history of diabetes, or belong to a race or ethnic group that’s at particular risk. Talk to your health care provider for advice.
7. Colon Cancer Screening
Screening for colon cancer, which can be done at a doctor’s office or hospital, should begin at age 50, according to some medical experts. In either case, a lighted tube and camera will be inserted in the anus to examine the lower colon, or the entire colon will be inspected with a colonoscopy. Every 5 years, a sigmoidoscopy is performed, and a colonoscopy every 10 years, unless there is a problem or you have a greater risk of colon cancer.
8. Body Mass Index
Adults should be screened for obesity starting at 18, which usually involves calculating your body mass index (BMI). This is an important measurement that your doctor should take periodically, although there are no hard and fast rules. If you have a high BMI, you are likely obese, a condition which increases your risk for serious health problems like diabetes and heart disease.
9. Skin Examination
The American Cancer Society advises women to check their skin at home every month. Check all the skin on your body for any new moles or changes to existing moles, which may indicate skin cancer. Consult your doctor or dermatologist about how often you should have an in-office exam if you are at increased risk for skin cancer, or have a family history.
10. Dental Check-up
Every woman needs twice-yearly dental check-ups as soon as her first tooth sprouts, and good dental health starts right away. Checking your teeth regularly, which includes cleaning and examining them along with X-rays, allows you to detect decay and other problems early.
These tests are often covered by insurance plans since they are considered preventive. Even though these tests are vital for your health, they can also be very costly – so check with your insurance company before scheduling an appointment and see if your community offers any for free.
