The Importance of Preventive Exams for Women « MyMedicalForum MyMedicalForum

As wise old Benjamin Franklin once said, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Never is that adage more appropriate than when it comes to your health.

Through early screening and testing, the opportunity of detecting and treating conditions earlier on increases the chances for better health results.

But it’s often confusing what types of exams women should get and at what specific ages. Here are 5 common health conditions, their implications and when women should be tested for them.

Blood Pressure

High blood pressure can damage the cells of your arteries, which in turn blocks blood flow and causes strokes, heart failure, kidney failure and a host of other problems.

Ages 18-39 – Get tested every 2 years if blood pressure is lower than 120/80, every year if between 120/80 and 139/89. Discuss with your health provider if higher.

Ages 40-49 – Get tested every 2 years if blood pressure is lower than 120/80, every year if between 120/80 and 139/89. Discuss with your health provider if higher.

Ages 50-64 – Get tested every 2 years if blood pressure is lower than 120/80, every year if between 120/80 and 139/89. Discuss with your health provider if higher.

Ages 65 and Older – Get tested every 2 years if blood pressure is lower than 120/80, every year if between 120/80 and 139/89. Discuss with your health provider if higher.

Breast Cancer Screening

Each year, breast cancer is diagnosed in more than 300,000 women and is the cause of death in about 40,000 women in our country.

Ages 18-39 – Discuss screening with a medical professional.

Ages 40-49 – Discuss screening with a medical professional.

Ages 50 -64 – Every 2 years.

Ages 65 and Older – Every 2 years.

Cervical Cancer

While being vaccinated to protect from human papillomavirus (HPV) is the best way to reduce the risk of cervical cancer, early testing with pap tests and exams also helps protect women from this disease.

Ages 18-39 – Pap test if you’re 21 or older and have a cervix. At 30, a Pap test and HPV test together every 5 years.

Ages 40-49 – Pap test and HPV test together every 5 years if you have a cervix.

Ages 50-64 – Pap test and HPV test together every 5 years if you have a cervix.

Ages 65 and Older – Discuss with a medical professional.

Cholesterol

Currently, 71 million Americans have high cholesterol, putting them at risk for heart disease. Unfortunately, only about half get treatment for their condition.

Ages 18-39 – Starting at age 20 if you are at increased risk.

Ages 40-49 – Regularly if you are at increased risk.

Ages 50-64 – Regularly if you are at increased risk.

Ages 65 and Older – Regularly if you are at increased risk.

Diabetes

The earlier the diagnosis, the better your chance of avoiding conditions related to diabetes. Unfortunately, one-third of the people with diabetes are unaware of their condition, often because there are no symptoms.

Ages 18-39 – Get screened if you take high blood pressure medicine or your blood pressure is 135/80 or higher.

Ages 40-49 – Get screened if you take high blood pressure medicine or your blood pressure is 135/80 or higher.

Ages 50-64 – Get screened if you take high blood pressure medicine or your blood pressure is 135/80 or higher.

Ages 65 and Older – Get screened if you take high blood pressure medicine or your blood pressure is 135/80 or higher.

If the information in this article might benefit a woman in your life, please consider sharing it with her.

Sources

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/in-depth/high-blood-pressure/art-20045868

http://www.womenshealth.gov/screening-tests-and-vaccines/screening-tests-for-women/

http://www.who.int/cancer/detection/en/

http://www.idph.state.il.us/about/womenshealth/factsheets/cervical.htm

http://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/Statistics.html

http://www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/data_statistics/fact_sheets/fs_cholesterol.htm