As a woman, taking care of yourself should be one of your top priorities. After all, when you’re healthy, you’re better able to take care of the ones you love. That’s the reason health screenings are so important. They can detect many health problems before they become serious and provide you with the information to help you maintain and improve your health. At Main Street Hospital, we encourage you to make sure these eight screenings are on your healthcare radar.
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Body Mass Index (BMI)
Your BMI measures your body fat based on your weight in relation to your height. A healthy BMI is somewhere between 18.5 and 24.9. If your BMI is high, losing as little as five to 10 percent of your body weight can lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk for heart disease and diabetes.
How Often: Once a year.
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Blood Pressure
A blood pressure reading measures the force of the blood against the walls of your arteries. 120/80 is a healthy blood pressure. Anything over 140/90 is considered high and increases your risk for heart attack and stroke.
How Often: Once a year or more often with high blood pressure.
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Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a fat-like substance produced by the body and also found in certain foods. Too much cholesterol can start to deposit on the walls of your arteries and eventually lead to heart disease. There are no symptoms for high cholesterol. A blood test is the only way to detect it. That’s the reason it’s important to have your cholesterol checked.
How often: Every four to six years for all adults age 20 and older. Testing should occur more frequently if you are being treated for high cholesterol or have a high risk for heart disease. Talk to your doctor to determine the best schedule for you.
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Pap Test
A Pap test can find abnormal cells in the cervix that may turn into cancer. Pap tests also can find cervical cancer early, when the chance of a successful treatment is
very high.How Often:
• If you are between ages 21 and 29, you should get a Pap test every 3 years.
• If you are between ages 30 and 64, you should get a Pap test and a human papillomavirus (HPV) test together every 5 years or a Pap test alone every 3 years.
• If you are 65 or older, ask your doctor if you can stop having a Pap test.
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Mammogram
A mammogram can find cancer one to three years before a woman can actually feel a lump. This early detection greatly improves the chances of a successful treatment. The American Cancer Society recently changed its screening recommendations for women with an average risk of breast cancer:
• Ages 40 – 44: Women should have the opportunity to begin an annual screening mammography.
• Ages 45 – 54: Women should have a screening every year.
• Ages 55 and older: Women should begin making the transition to having a screening mammography every two years, depending on their preferences, as long as they are in good health.
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Bone Density Test
A bone density test measure the strength of your bones. This test is especially important for women, who have a much higher risk for osteoporosis, a disease that causes the bones to become weak and fragile. About two million bone fractures occur each year because of osteoporosis.
How Often:
• Women age 65 and older: once a year.
• Women between the ages of 50 and 64: Talk to your doctor about your risk factors.
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Blood Glucose Test
This test checks for diabetes by measuring the level of sugar (glucose) in the blood. Diabetes is a chronic medical condition that can lead to serious long-term complications that can even be life-threatening: heart disease, nerve damage, kidney damage, blindness and others. For the most accurate results, you should fast for at least eight hours prior to the test.
How Often: Every one to two years starting at age 45.
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Colon Cancer Screening
Colon cancer almost always develops from precancerous polyps (abnormal growths) in the colon or rectum. Screening tests can find precancerous
polyps, so they can be removed before they turn into cancer. Screening tests also can
find colorectal cancer early, when treatment works best. Starting at age 50, to your doctor about which screening option is best for you.How Often:
• Flexible Sigmoidoscopy every 5 years
• CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) every 5 years
• Double-contrast barium enema every 5 years
• Colonoscopy every 10 years
If you’re age 76 to 85, your doctor can help you decide if you should continue screening.