Which Health Screenings Are Important for Middle-Aged Women?
Health screenings are essential for maintaining good health, especially as we age. A health screening is a type of medical test doctors use to detect health conditions before they have obvious signs or symptoms; for many serious and chronic health conditions, early detection is crucial for successful treatment. Women, in particular, have unique health challenges as they reach midlife and are more likely to be diagnosed with certain diseases than men—including heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Health screenings also help assess the risk of future medical problems and encourage a healthy lifestyle.
Regardless whether you feel healthy, you should still visit the doctor for regular wellness exams and health screenings. Some diseases have little to no symptoms in the early stages and the only way to know there’s a problem is to get health screenings.
Here are some of the most important health screenings for women between the ages of 40 and 64 years old to get.
Blood Pressure
High blood pressure rarely has symptoms in the earlier stages of the disease, but it comes with the risk of serious health problems, like heart disease and stroke. Starting at age 20, you should have your blood pressure checked at least once every two years; if you have other health conditions, like diabetes, heart disease, or kidney issues, you should have it checked at least once a year. You should also have your blood pressure checked every year if the systolic (top number) is within the 120 to 139 mm Hg range or the diastolic (bottom number) is 80 to 89 mm Hg. If either the systolic or diastolic number is higher than these ranges, talk to your doctor about what you can do to lower your blood pressure.
Breast Cancer
Monthly breast self-exams can help find abnormalities in breast tissue, but you should still have a clinical breast exam during your preventive check-up. Not all experts agree that women who are 40 to 49 years old should have a mammogram, so if you fall within this age range, talk to your doctor about what’s best for you. Women who are 50 to 75 years old should get a mammogram every 1-2 years, depending on their risk of breast cancer; if you have other breast cancer risk factors, you may need additional tests, like an ultrasound or MRI. If your mother or sister had breast cancer at a younger age, you should begin getting yearly mammograms at an earlier age than when they were diagnosed.
Cervical Cancer
The American Cancer Society recommends women who are 30 or older get a Pap test every 3 years or an HPV (human papillomavirus) test every five years; if you’ve had new sexual partners, you should be screened every 3 years. Women who have had a total hysterectomy don’t need to get a Pap smear. Women over the age of 65 can stop getting Pap tests as long as they’ve had at least 3 normal tests within the past 10 years. Women of any age who have certain risk factors for cervical cancer or have been treated for pre-cancer (cervical dysplasia) may need to be tested more frequently.
Cholesterol
Like high blood pressure, high cholesterol usually doesn’t have any symptoms. Women should start having cholesterol screenings beginning at age 45 if they don’t have any risk factors for coronary heart disease; it should be checked every 5 years after screening had started. If there are any lifestyle changes, such as a change in diet or weight gain, or you have other health conditions, you may need to have your cholesterol checked more often.
Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer screenings are recommended for women who are 45 to 75 years old, but if you have a family history of colon cancer or polyps, you may need to be screened at a younger age. There are several different types of colorectal cancer tests; depending on the test method, you may need to be screened more often. A colonoscopy should be performed every 10 years, but you may need to have one more often if you have other risk factors for cancer, like ulcerative colitis, a history of polyps, or a personal or family history of colorectal cancer.
Diabetes
Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death in the United States; it can also lead to a variety of serious health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, blindness, and kidney disease. Women who are 44 or older should be screened every 3 years. If you have a BMI of 25 or more, or you’re Asian American with a BMI of 23 or more, you should start screening for diabetes at age 35.
Osteoporosis
All women who are 50 or older with fractures should get a bone density screening; anyone under age 65 who has risk factors for osteoporosis should also be screened.
Lung Cancer
You should get screened for lung cancer if:
- You’re between the ages of 50 to 80 years old
- You’ve smoked 20 packs a year or more in the past
- You currently smoke or have quit smoking within the past 15 years
Additional Screenings
Other screenings you should consider include:
- Physical exams
- Have bloodwork performed at least once every year
- Height, weight, and Body Mass Index (BMI)
- Eye exams
- Ages 40 to 54: every 2 to 4 years
- Ages 55 to 64: every 1 to 3 years
- If you have diabetes: at least once every year
- If you have vision problems or a risk of developing glaucoma, your health care provider may recommend more frequent exams
- Dental exams
- 1 to 2 times a year; depending on your oral health, your dentist may recommend more frequent visits
- Immunizations
- Flu shot: every year
- Tetanus-diphtheria and acellular pertussis (Tdap): booster every 10 years
- Shingles or herpes zoster: after age 50
- If you’re at a higher risk for certain conditions, your provider may recommend additional vaccinations
- Infectious disease
- Hepatitis C
- Depending on your lifestyle, you may also need to be screened for syphilis, chlamydia, HIV, or other types of infections
- Skin cancer
You should be screened for sun cancer if:
- You’ve had skin cancer before
- You have family members who have had skin cancer
- You have a weakened immune system
Schedule Your Health Screenings Dr. Jennifer Hubert
It can be easy to push your health to the back burner, especially if you haven’t noticed any symptoms. However, it’s never too late to start screening for health conditions or to make healthy lifestyle changes. Whether you’re looking for assistance with weight loss or a health condition, Dr. Jennifer Hubert will personally evaluate your concerns and develop a customized plan to help you reach your goals. As an internist, Dr. Hubert focuses on treating the whole person—not just the disease. For more information on medical weight loss, health screenings, or other health concerns, schedule a consultation at Dr. Hubert’s office by calling (707) 575-THIN (8446).