As you age, your body’s immune changes, and you might start experiencing many health complications. Going for constant checkups and screening is essential to maintaining your overall health. This will help you improve your chances of getting the right treatments on time and avoid severe conditions.
Several medical checkups, such as blood tests, can help determine your health condition and help detect any underlying illness. You need to consult with your healthcare practitioner to advise you on some of the tests you must go through, depending on your conditional and current health status.
This article will explore medical tests you need to do at your 50 and beyond to ensure healthy living.
Some of the common Concerns for Women Aged 50 and Beyond
As women draw age 50 and beyond, their hormones change, which can lead to a series of conditions.
Some of the common know include:
- Menopause
- Obesity
- Risk of getting Cancer
- Vitality
- Joint Issues
- Memory loss
Tests recommended for Women aged 50 and above
1. Breast Cancer Screening
It’s essential to go for breast cancer screening as early as possible. Early detection significantly impacts cancer treatment, and the survival rate is still high. All cancer can be removed for stage 1 breast cancer, and you can be free.
However, when you go for screening at an advanced rate, the survival rate is minimal and might lead to a bad prognosis. Go for your mammogram testing when you reach 50, but you can still grow at the age you are right now to ensure you are free from cancer.
2. Cervical Cancer Screening
Most women will often ignore this crucial screening because they are done with giving birth. If you think this way, you are wrong. Going for pelvic exams is essential to check for cervical and uterine cancer. You need to contact a reputable and experienced gynaecologist to conduct a complete exam which will entail obtaining a Pap smear and HPV test.
3. Full Hormone Checkup
As you reach the age of 50, you might experience significant hormonal imbalances that lead to menopause and other conditions. The primary hormone that gets affected includes estrogen and testosterone.
Low testosterone can lead to mood swings and weight gain, which might lead to obesity and low libido. When experiencing low testosterone for an extended period can lead to a condition such as poor memory, loss of bone density, and heart disease. If you have low testosterone, you can consider undergoing testosterone replacement therapy to help boost and ensure your hormones are good.
Ensure you go for a full hormone profile to be checked for other vital hormones that can also affect other health functions such as metabolism, appetite, and temperature.
4. Osteoporosis Screening
There is a high chance that you might have broken a bone over the years. If you have, you need to go for Osteoporosis screening to check for your bone density and ensure they are strong. A doctor can recommend you a prescription in case you have one, and they can guide you on how to live a healthy life.
5. Blood Pressure Checkup
Most women will suffer from blood pressure at 50 and beyond due to aggressive body changes. High blood pressure can lead to many heart diseases. Left untreated, it can damage your arteries, leading to health conditions such as heart failure, eye damage, kidney failure, atherosclerosis, fat buildup in arteries, and stroke.
Ensure you go for constant and regular checkups to ensure your blood pressure is within the limit. It’s important to note that blood pressure conditions are manageable, especially when realised early.
6. Blood work
You need to go for blood work testing for things like blood sugar levels. The doctor can also conduct a complete cholesterol profile which includes HDL and LDL. When you have High LDL, which is a harmful cholesterol level, you are at risk of experiencing a stroke, chest pain, and heart attack.
You should note that bad cholesterol occurs due to eating an unhealthy diet, weight gain, high blood pressure, high blood glucose, and lack of exercise. However, not all high LDL results from such some might be due to genetics.
When the doctor checks your blood glucose levels, they often check for undiagnosed type 2 diabetes. Some symptoms of high blood pressure include increased hunger, weight gain, frequent urination, and fatigue. When it’s detected early enough, it can be treated by a change in diet.
Final Words
The above are crucial tests every woman aged 50 and above should do to ensure healthy living. It’s essential to ensure a healthy lifestyle to avoid complications. If you get tested and realize you have a condition, ask your doctor about ways to get treatment.