Taking care of your health doesn’t just mean seeing a doctor when you feel under the weather. Regular health screenings can help to identify potential risk factors and give you the opportunity to enhance your health.
Preventative measures can minimize the need for subsequent treatment and can help you to feel well too. Of course, it’s important to know what health screenings are the most important and what you can get out of them.
To get an idea of the importance of regular screenings, take a look at these useful health screenings and find out what they can do for you…
1. Cholesterol check
High cholesterol can increase your risk of having a stroke or developing heart disease, so it’s vital to have your cholesterol levels checked on a regular basis. The National Institute of Health recommends everyone have their cholesterol checked at least once every five years, although your physician may recommend more frequent testing.
While there are medications that can help to reduce your cholesterol, early intervention often means lifestyle changes are enough to bring your cholesterol levels back to within average parameters.
2. Blood pressure
Low blood pressure can cause fainting and dizziness, while blood pressure is a risk factor for atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and stroke. You may not experience symptoms when your blood pressure is out of whack, so routine screenings are vital to maintaining your health.
3. PAP smears
Females between the ages of 21 and 65 should have PAP smears every three years, as they can diagnose the presence of cancer cells and HPV. In addition to this, it’s also advisable to have STD testing if you’re sexually active. When STD incident rates are high, millions of women have conditions they’re unaware of. With the potential to avoid long-term health issues, regular screening is a must.
If you’re sexually active, it’s important that you get screened for all types of STIs and STDs. Even if your body doesn’t show any symptoms, std testing by a gynecologist can be beneficial to you. Keep in mind that most STDs and STIs initially don’t have any apparent symptoms.
4. Blood glucose test
Diabetes is on the increase, which means diabetes-related complications are becoming more prevalent too. If left untreated, diabetes can cause major health problems and lead to blindness and/or amputations. With a simple blood glucose screening, you can determine whether you have diabetes or prediabetes and obtain the treatment you need swiftly.
5. Body mass index
Being either underweight or overweight can have a dramatic impact on your health. From malnutrition and anemia to increased risk of heart disease and joint problems; there are a variety of health conditions that are linked to your weight. Your body mass index will give you and your physician the information you need to determine whether you’re at a healthy weight or whether adjustments need to be made.
6. Mammograms
By taking an x-ray image of your breast tissue, mammograms can identify the presence of breast cancer. Early intervention and treatment greatly increase your chance of making a full recovery from breast cancer, so routine mammograms are important. Currently, the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force recommends women over the age of 50 have a mammogram every two years, while the American Cancer Society maintains annual screenings from the age of 45 are most effective. If you have a family history or at a high risk of developing breast cancer, however, earlier mammograms are generally recommended.
7. Hormone function tests
Women’s hormones fluctuate throughout their lives but when hormones aren’t functioning properly, it can lead to a variety of symptoms. From chronic fatigue and headaches to hair loss and decreased libido; hormones affect every aspect of your body. With hormone function tests, you can determine whether your hormone levels are within the appropriate ranges and obtain further advice and treatment if they’re not.
8. Skin exams
When diagnosed early, most types of skin cancer have very high survival rates. Indeed, many instances of skin cancer can be treated simply by excising the affected area. A skin examination enables your dermatologist to identify new moles or lesions on your skin and monitor them for subsequent changes. If necessary, they can be removed and/or biopsies taken to rule out the possibility of them being malignant.
Taking care of your health
When you’re busy with work, raising a family or running a home, it can be easy to postpone health screenings or put them out of your mind altogether. However, delaying important health tests could lead to late diagnoses, missed treatments and poorer outcomes.
By keeping up to date with your health screenings, you can maintain your physical health and give yourself a better quality of life. In addition to this, you’ll find that you’re happier, have more energy and more relaxed when you know your physical health is well-maintained.
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