Do you exercise an hour daily, eat
healthy, and even for a minute don’t
think that you would have any
underlying health condition? Well
ladies, though we all pray you remain
hale and hearty always, we want you
to rethink this assumption. Certain
health check ups are as important as
your healthy diet and fitness regime.
They help in early detection of
diseases, and in getting you their
timely cures.
Even though you might not see any
symptoms on the surface, it is said
that prevention is always better than
cure! To help you out, here is a list of
few medical tests that every woman
must undergo from time to time.
1. Cervical cancer
Ideally you should undergo a ‘Pap
smear’ test first when you turn 21 or
within three years of becoming
s*xually active. Yes, you can get this
test done even if you are a virgin,
there are no possible side effects.
This test should be repeated after
every three years. It is usually done to
detect cervical cancer, which if
detected early, can help in removing
abnormal cells from the cervix before
they become cancerous. Once you hit
30 you can wait for about five years (if
you test negative thrice in a row)
before going for another one unless
you see any changes in your body.
2. chest cancer
Usually doctors recommend
mammograms, a low dose x-ray to
screen the br**sts and other tissue
around it for cancerous lumps, after
the age of 40. But you can start
performing a self-exam even in your
early 20s and 30s. Although some
lumps in your chest can be
nonthreatening, this test can help you
trace malignant lumps too. But, it all
depends on detection, so whether you
do a self-test or a medical one, keep a
close watch on various symptoms and
changes. This way, if the lumps are
cancerous they can be prevented from
spreading to lymph nodes and brain or
lungs.
3. Skin Test
Melanoma is the second most life-
threatening form of cancer among
women, after chest cancer. This is the
most common health problem for
women in their late 20s or early 30s. If
you have has a family history of skin
cancer then do visit a dermatologist
annually. But, if there has been no
prior history, then you can do so semi-
annually. This is also known as mole
screening. A dermatologist will give a
fully body examination, including the
skin between your toes, behind your
ears and your scalp too. They would
check for any forms of suspicious
looking moles, freckles and skin
growths that might be cancerous in
nature.
4. Heart Disease
Did you know that two-thirds of women
who have no prior history of heart
problems die of heart diseases? This
is to say that even though you don’t
have a family history of heart
diseases, you still could be at a risk.
The secret to keep a check on it is
recognising early symptoms, adopting
a healthy lifestyle (exercise, quit
smoking and sleep well) and
undergoing relevant medical tests
listed below:
Blood pressure
Waist circ*mference
Cholesterol
Blood glucose levels checked
ECG is recommended if you are on the
other side of 50, even if you have no
previous history of heart problems in
your family. This test helps to monitor
heart abnormalities, if any.
5. Bone Mineral Density Test
It is important for you to keep a check
on the bone mineral density in your
body. Especially, women who reach
menopause are at a greater risk of
having weak bones; and this would
increase their risk of getting
osteoporosis. You must visit your
doctor and discuss if you are at an
increased risk of bone deterioration,
which comes with age. The most
commonly recommended test is DXA or
dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. It
becomes a must for women above 65
years of age, as with age bone mineral
density reduces and chances of
fractures increases. The DXA test will
help to measure your bone marrow
density and determine risk of
osteoporosis.
6. Ovarian cancer
Most of you would not know, but
ovarian cancer is the most common
causes of gynaecologic cancer death.
Other than age, family history of
ovarian cancer, personal history of
chest cancer, endometriosis, post-
menopausal hormonal therapy and
infertility too are considered
contributory factors that increase the
risk of ovarian cancer. This risk
particularly increases when it comes
to women between 50 to 75 years of
age. Usually during screening, doctor
performs a pelvic exam and then
proceeds to confirm if the uterus and
ovaries show symptoms of cancer or
not.
So, take an appointment with your
doctor who will be in a better position
to recommend– depending on your age,
family history and other risk factors –
the tests you must undergo. And,
ladies, do not ignore your health
problems or overlook them. Keep a
close watch at any even a slight
symptom and change that you see in
your body
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