It is crucial that a person has daily routines that uplift their life quality and ensure that they are healthy and happy. People generally acquire various habits to stay healthy, such as exercise, stress release, a healthy diet, and health screenings and doctor’s appointments should also be on their well-being list.
You rarely hear that a timely screening saved someone’s life, so keep this in mind when planning your annual checkups. Detection of a condition at its early stages can prevent several issues and literally save your life.
In this article, we have decided to give you a list of critical medical checkups done annually, giving you a guide on your options and how to plan accordingly. Although this will most certainly be helpful, it is essential to speak to your chosen doctor as well because they are the ones who monitor your health status regularly and give proper guidance.
If you are looking for a doctor, make sure you take into consideration their relevant experience, expertise, and education. Doctors such as Dr. Leonardo Blachar, who are leaders in their fields, are always an intelligent choice, so make sure you visit Doral Beach Gynecology and find out why this clinic is one of the best ones in the country when it comes to health checks for women.
Health Screenings Important for Women
In this part of today’s article, you will find in detail descriptions of ten different medical checkups which are advised for women by experts. Make sure you consult your chosen doctor before scheduling a health screening so that they can monitor your results accordingly.
- Pap smear: When a woman turns 21, she should start visiting a gynecologist and having regular Pap smear exams. The test is usually done every three years if the results do not show any irregularities. The process is quite simple – the doctor takes a speculum, widens the vaginal opening, extracts cervical tissue, and sends it for analysis. The most crucial role of a Pap smear is to detect any cells which could potentially lead to cervical cancer.
- Blood pressure screening: For persons who suffer from blood pressure higher than 120/80 mm Hg, it is advised to check their blood pressure every two years from the age of 20. If you are suffering from obesity or hypertension, this medical checkup is recommended annually.
- Mammogram: Screening for breast cancer is one of the most popular medical screenings today. The topic of breast cancer in women is extremely important, and a variety of research is being done on a yearly basis. The mammography process itself is simple – the breast is compressed between two plates, and an x-ray image is taken. This should be done by women from the age of 45 every two years. If there is a family history of this condition, it should be shared with your chosen doctor.
- Cholesterol check: This checkup is essential when assessing patients’ risk of heart disease or stroke. After the age of 20, the patient should check their cholesterol levels every five years. Ideal results are below 200 mg per deciliter, and if the results are higher than 239, make sure you do an annual checkup in consultation with your doctor.
- Glucose blood tests: When you turn 45, you should get a blood glucose test on a three-year basis. This is important so the doctor can check for risks of developing diabetes or prediabetes. If your results show a value above 100 mg per deciliter, it signifies that you are pre-diabetic and you need to take the necessary steps to control the condition. Values above 126 mg indicate that you have diabetes. If this condition runs in your family or you suffer from obesity, make sure your chosen doctor is aware of your situation.
- Bone density screening: Osteoporosis is another condition that needs to be regularly checked after the age of 65. This is done via a bone density health check, so women with high-risk factors for this condition, such as low body weight, or previous fractures, are advised to schedule this test regularly. When it comes to the frequency of this particular screening, it depends on your condition and potential risk factors.
- Body mass index (BMI): While most other health checks for women include examinations, imaging, etc., screening for obesity is actually a calculation of your BMI. Your chosen doctor takes your measurements and determines the index number, which shows whether you are obese or not. Obesity raises many different issues, especially when it comes to diabetes and heart disease, so be mindful of your BMI.
- Screening for colon cancer: Cancer screenings, in general, are immensely important to the overall health of women, especially after the age of 45. Colon cancer testing is done in two ways – the doctor either performs a sigmoidoscopy or a colonoscopy. Doctors use a tube to examine the colon in both procedures, but during a sigmoidoscopy, only the lower colon is examined, and it is done every five years. At the same time, a colonoscopy includes the whole colon, and it should be done every ten years unless issues are detected.
- Dental checks: You would be surprised how many health conditions can arise from not taking care of your dental health. From the time we start growing our first teeth throughout our adulthood and old age, dental checks need to be done at least twice a year. The check can include teeth examination, cleaning, X-rays, etc., which help medical professionals prevent tooth decay and other, more severe, issues.
- Skin exam: This type of health screening can be done both at home and at the doctor’s office. Women are advised to do a skin examination every month, where they carefully go over their body and screen for any suspicious moles, any changes that occurred on the skin, etc., to catch potential early signs of skin cancer. If this condition is a part of your family anamnesis, make sure you talk to a doctor about it to schedule regular doctor’s appointments and monitor your skin health.
Schedule an Appointment!
As mentioned at the beginning of this article, regular health screenings are obligatory for anyone who wants to be healthy and stress-free when it comes to their overall health. Today we have talked about ten regular medical checkups, but there are many more which can be included in your annual medical to-do list. Our clinic is here for you, so make sure you contact us and schedule an appointment with our expert team. Timely discovery of health conditions is critical if we are talking about prevention.
Be healthy and carefree with us by your side! Schedule your annual checkups today! Call us!