5 Important Health Checks for A Woman That She Cannot Ignore
Maintaining good health is not at all difficult. However, it does require a focused effort and proper attention to the changes occurring in your body. One of the major aspects of healthy living is to undergo appropriate Well Woman Checks regularly to diagnose any underlying ailments or conditions and find the right treatment in the early stages itself; before they balloon into major problems.
So, here are the five important Well Woman health check-ups that every woman should undergo to ensure their good health and overall wellbeing.
1.Blood pressure
Any changes in hormonal activity influence the blood pressure levels in women. Also, women experience most blood pressure fluctuations during their periods. Therefore, women should undergo regular blood pressure checks to know their average BP levels and to keep them within the normal range at all times.
Generally, a BP reading of 120/80 is considered normal. If your blood pressure reading goes below normal, then you must get your BP checked every six months. Similarly, if your blood pressure is higher than 140/90, then you are suffering from hypertension or high blood pressure. Therefore, women should undergo regular BP checks to ensure that their blood pressure levels remain within the normal limits.
2.Pap smear
Irrespective of their sexual activity history, women above 21 years of age should undergo a pap smear test every three years, provided they do not report any complexity. If any complexities do arise from the tests, then the frequency of the test could be increased. The pap smear test checks for early indications of cervical cancer. In this test, the gynaecologist uses a speculum to enter the vaginal canal and takes the samples of cervical cells. The doctor can recommend infrequent smears after three consecutive pap smear tests. The interval usually extends among older women.
Women should undergo testing for STDs or sexually transmitted diseases depending on their sexual activity or the prevailing symptoms.
3.Cholesterol test
Cholesterol screening should be performed to evaluate your risk of developing a stroke or a heart attack. And if you are at higher risk of acquiring coronary heart disease, then you should undergo regular screening for triglycerides and cholesterol levels. Women should check their cholesterol levels every four to six years from the age of 21, provided the level of cholesterol is less than 200 mg per decilitre (mg/dl). If the range is within 200 and 239 mg/dl, then you are at a greater risk of acquiring complications.
After 45 years, cholesterol screening should be done more frequently as the chances of acquiring heart ailments enhance with age.
4.Mammogram
A mammogram is an important test in the Well Woman health check-up list. This test is done to screen for breast cancer. Women in their 40s and 50s should undergo a mammography test for breast cancer every two years. However, if there is a family history of the condition, then you should consult the gynaecologist for the screening process.
The frequency of this test varies with age. According to Well Woman Health Checkup specialists, women in the age group of 50 to 75 years should get a mammogram every year. Women below 50 years of age should consult their gynaecologist to determine their frequency of a mammogram test.
5.Bone density
The bones of women are not as strong as those of men. Osteoporosis is one of the common diseases which affects most women. Even women from the developed countries of America and Europe suffer from this ailment. Women should regularly undergo a bone density test once they are 65 years of age. If the woman has had a bone fracture or a history of excess lower body weight, then she should undergo a bone density screening at the earliest.
The bone density test is termed as a DEXA scan, wherein you need to lie on the X-ray table, and the X-ray machine will capture close-range images of the bones.
Every woman should undergo these five important tests annually to ensure better physical and mental health. After all, if you are healthy, both your family and your career will remain healthy. If you or a woman you know wants to undergo a Well Woman check in London, visit us at the Well Women Clinic today.
