Every woman should take good care of her health, but due to a lot of daily tasks, women often neglect it. Regular exercises, healthy food, and stress management are obligatory for every woman in order for her physical and mental health to stay in great shape. However, those three choices are not the only elements of taking care of your health. There are several screening tests that every woman should have at least once a year, and here are some examples.
Blood Pressure
The normal and expected blood pressure in your body should be 120/80 and this is ideal. If you notice that you feel dizziness frequently or any other irregularities, you should check your blood pressure. Women often do have lower blood pressure than men, and than normal, but it still should be checked and regulated properly and frequently. If you don’t go for blood pressure screenings regularly you are risking hypertension, which is higher blood pressure than normal, which can lead to many other health risks, including heart issues.
Cholesterol Check
Cholesterol can lead to developing heart disease or even stroke if it is not regulated and if it gets too high. If you are a woman in her 20s or older, you should check your cholesterol at least every five years. If you are older, then go for annual checkups. The cholesterol levels, ideally, should be less than 200 milligrams per deciliter, and anything above that puts you at risk of a stroke or heart disease. So, visit your doctor, do the blood tests and check your cholesterol, among many other things you can get analyzed with a simple blood sample, such as hormone testing.
Pap Smears
Pap smears are recommended at least once a year. If you are younger than 20, then you can have a Pap smear every three years. These tests are important since they can tell us if we have changes in the vaginal canal and cervix that could lead to cervical cancer. If you are older than 30, you can have the test each year and even combine it with HPV screening. HPV is an STD that can also lead to cervical cancer. So, to be sure, schedule your regular exams with elite gynecology specialists, and rest assured your vaginal health is in great shape.
Mammogram
A mammogram is a screen test for breast cancer. This is an essential test for all women, especially those who have a history of breast cancer in the family. This test involves compressing the breast between two plates for an X-ray image. There is a lot of debate about which age women should go for mammograms, but it is essentially up to you. The official recommendation is starting at 50, as the risk of breast cancer increases with age. However, if you have a family history of the disease or have any concerns, you can talk to your doctor about starting as soon as possible with your annual mammograms.
Skin Examination
All women should examine their skin on their own, at home, every month. This is especially the rule if you have a lot of moles. You can carefully inspect your skin for any new moles, changes to the existing ones, or any other irregularities you find. You should pay special attention to your moles since changes can be an early sign of skin cancer. Additionally, you can make an appointment with your dermatologist and have them inspect your skin, and even provide you with advice on how to take better care of it.
Blood Glucose Test
Checking your blood glucose is essential if you want to make sure you don’t have diabetes or prediabetes. If you have a family history of diabetes, you can start with these tests as soon as you would like, otherwise, you should start at around age 45. Such tests will help you prevent diabetes or help treat it if you do have it. Additionally, glucose tests can prevent obesity or help you get your body in perfect health. Consult your doctor on how frequently you should take a blood test, depending on your family history.
Most women tend to neglect their health and health screening due to daily obligations. However, as all of these tests can help detect any health issues, they are of vital importance for every woman. Plus, they are mostly done once a year and they can greatly help you understand your body better and help you take better care of it. So, if you have realized you haven’t done any of these tests in a while, it’s time to make an appointment.
