Health Tests Women Should Have This Year

With the numerous types of checkups and health tests around it can become very confusing as to which ones are really necessary for women to have.

Top health practitioners and experts have banned together and devised a list of which health exams are actually needed for women.

Mammogram

The new ruling out on mammograms now read that women who are at low risk age 50 and older need a mammogram every two years.

Many health professionals do not agree with this new ruling. If you have an increased risk for breast cancer due to family history or personal, you have them starting at age 40. Let your practitioner know about any risks so they can do an evaluation and do not forget to do a monthly breast self-examination. If you notice anything out of the ordinary contact your health practitioner as soon as possible.

Skin check

Greater than one million Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer this year. Early diagnoses leads to a high percent of curing it. Check yourself once a month for any new or unusual moles. Have a complete body exam done by your practitioner or dermatologist once a year.

Vision

If you wear glasses or contact lenses have an eye exam once a year, if you do not then have an exam every two years. Women have a greater chance for eye problems due to a higher risk for dry-eye syndrome and autoimmune disease which affect the eyes.

Hearing

The usual rule for having an audio-gram is normally once a year starting at age 50. However, if you blast your music loudly through headphones having one sooner may not be a bad idea.

Dental Exam

Once a year your dentist should do an exam in which can be done at one of your twice yearly cleanings. In the exam your gums are checked for inflammation which can add to heart disease and diabetes.

THS Screening

If you're feeling cold, tired, aches and pains, constipation and weight gain, these are all symptoms of hypothyroidism. A deficiency in the thyroid gland that attacks around 10% of women. It is diagnosed through a THS blood test which should be done at your annual health exam starting at age 50. Sooner if you have symptoms.

Blood Tests

A borderline screening for cholesterol levels in your twenties and then one every five years. Age 40 and up have your cholesterol and blood sugar checked once a year due to the fact heart attack and diabetes risk increases with age.

Pap smear

Starts at age 21, regardless of sexual activity. Pap tests should be done once a year to check for signs of cervical cancer. Women aged 30 and older need one every three years if you had three consecutive normal pap smears.

Colonoscopy

The test in which a camera scans the colon for signs of cancerous polyps while you are sedated. Recommendation is 50 years and older should be tested once every ten years. More frequently if polyps are found. If you have a family history of colon cancer or unexplained bleeding or other bowl changes get one earlier.

Depression screening

Basic questions asked by your health practitioner during your yearly physical can rule out depression. Depression affects one in four women in their lifetime but most of the times is undiagnosed. If your concerned about your mood such as irritability and sleep problems, ask your practitioner for a screening.Sources:

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