6 Health Screenings Every Woman Should Have

So you eat right, exercise regularly, ensure your weight is just all right, and take time to relax now and then, but have you been to the doctor lately for health screenings?

Health screenings can detect disease when it’s most treatable, and, in many cases, prevent serious health problems that can develop if a medical condition is left unchecked.

Some basic but important screens for every woman to carry out are:

1. Mammogram: The current recommendation is to get your first mammogram starting at age 40, and to get screened annually after that.
2. Colonoscopy: This test helps find and removes symptom-less polyps that can develop into colon cancer. It is highly recommended to get screened between the ages of 45 to 50. The results will determine when you need your next colonoscopy.
3. Pap and human papillomavirus (HPV) tests: Between ages 20 to 30, you should have a Pap and HPV Screening to look for pre- or early cervical cancer and the HPV virus. It is recommended that “Women ages 30 to 65 who have a normal Pap test and a negative HPV only need to be re-screened every five years,”

1. Bone density test: The denser your bones, the less likely they are to break. If you have a thin build or another serious risk factor, begin getting tested at age 50. Otherwise, the general guideline is to start by age 65
2. Blood pressure screening: High blood pressure is associated with heart disease, diabetes, and an increased potential for heart attack and stroke. Most doctors begin this screening with obese children by age 2, then continue to check annually.
3. Cholesterol test: The American Heart Association recommends getting a baseline test at age 10, then repeating the test every four to six years for people at average risk of high cholesterol

Make sure you see your doctor and have these screenings done. It does not have to be done all at once but at various times. Remember early detection is vital to survival.