|
|
|
Medical
Tests For Women Over Age 40
As
women age, their chances for disease increase. However, if
detected early, many diseases, including many early stages of
cancer, can be treated successfully. Therefore, it is especially
important that women maintain good physical health by eating a
well-balanced diet, exercising, and receiving regular medical
tests. The type and frequency of medical tests a woman should
have depend on her age and often other circumstances, such as a
family history of diseases, etc.
|
- Breast self-exam: Thorough
breast self exams should be practiced monthly to check for any breast or
nipple changes that may indicate breast conditions or cancer.
Skin self-exam: The skin and moles should be examined monthly for
any changes that may indicate skin cancer or other skin conditions.
Pelvic exam: A physician-performed pelvic exam should be
performed each year to check for abnormalities in the size or shape of the
uterus, vagina, ovaries, Fallopian tubes, bladder, and rectum.
Pap smear: A physician-performed
pap smear
should be performed each to screen for cervical
cancer and other cervical abnormalities.
Mammogram: A x-ray exam of the breast, should be performed each year beginning at age
40 to help detect breast cancer in its earliest stages.
Clinical breast exam: A physician-performed breast exam should be performed every year to help detect breast
cancer.
Skin exam: A thorough skin exam should be performed by a
physician every year to help detect changes that may indicate skin cancer
or other skin conditions.
Consult your doctor if you have any unusual brown spots, bumps, sores, rashes, or moles.
Fecal occult blood test: A fecal occult blood test should be
performed each year beginning at age 50 to help screen for colon cancer.
Flu shot: An influenza (flu) shot should be given every year beginning
at age 65 to help prevent influenza, which can be fatal to the
elderly.
Blood pressure test: Blood pressure should be checked by a
healthcare provider at least every two years. High blood pressure
increases the risk for heart disease and stroke.
Heart: If you're over 40, have an EKG and a treadmill stress test every three to five years.
Immunizations: Tetanus-Diphtheria Booster, Flu Shot, and Tuberculin Test.
Eye exam: A thorough eye exam should be performed at least every
one to two years until age 60 and then every year after age 60 to check
for diseases such as glaucoma.
Diabetes test: A fasting plasma glucose diabetes test should be
performed every three years to detect diabetes.
Cholesterol test: A cholesterol blood test should be performed at
least every five years. High LDL ("bad") cholesterol, high total
cholesterol levels or low HDL ("good") cholesterol levels
increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Sigmoidoscopy/Intestines: For those over 40, check for polyps, cancer, or gastrointestinal problems.
A sigmoidoscopy, examination of the rectum and
lower portion of the colon, should be performed every five years to help
screen for colon cancer beginning at age 50. However, a double contrast
barium enema every five years or a colonoscopy every 10 years (both
beginning at age 50) may be substituted for the sigmoidoscopy.
Double contrast barium enema: A double contrast barium enema
should be performed every five years to help screen for colon cancer
beginning at age 50. However, a sigmoidoscopy every five years or a
colonoscopy every 10 years (both beginning at age 50) may be substituted
for the barium enema.
Colonoscopy: A colonoscopy, examination of the colon with a
flexible, lighted tube called a colonoscope, should be performed every 10
years to help screen for colon cancer beginning at age 50. However, a
sigmoidoscopy every five years or a double contrast barium enema every
five years may be substituted for the colonoscopy. Researchers are
investigating whether a non-invasive exam called virtual colonoscopy (CT) is as accurate at detecting colon cancer as standard
colonoscopy. If so, virtual colonoscopy may be an appropriate alternative
for patients who are unable or unwilling to undergo conventional
colonoscopy. However, virtual colonoscopy is currently not recommended as
a standard screening exam for colon cancer.
FSH test: An FSH test may be performed to determine whether a
woman is close to or has reached menopause.
Underarms: Check for lymph nodes.
Routine
Physical: The physician checks knee reflex test that screens for neuromuscular
disease, enlargement of the spleen or liver, sounds of your lungs and heart are
normal.
|
|
Medical Tests For Women Under Age 40
Maintaining
good physical health often depends on a well-balanced diet,
exercise, and receiving regular medical tests to help detect
conditions early, when the chances of successful treatment are
the greatest. The type and frequency of medical tests a woman
should have depend on age and often other circumstances,
such as a family history of diseases, etc.
- Breast self-exam: Thorough breast self-exams should be practiced monthly
beginning at age 20 to check for any breast or nipple
changes that may indicate breast conditions or cancer.
- Skin self-exam: The skin and moles should be
examined monthly for any changes that may indicate
skin cancer or other skin conditions.
- Pelvic exam: A physician-performed pelvic
exam should be performed each year beginning at age 18
to check for abnormalities in the size or shape of the
uterus, vagina, ovaries, Fallopian tubes, bladder, and
rectum.
- Pap smear: A physician-performed Pap
smear should be performed each year beginning at
age 18 to screen for cervical
cancer and other cervical abnormalities.
- Eye exam: A thorough eye exam should be
performed every year until age 18 and then every one
to two years until age 60, when annual eye exams
should resume. Screen for glaucoma, cataracts, and early signs of retinal disorders annually.
- Blood pressure test: Blood pressure should be
checked by a healthcare provider at least every two
years. High blood pressure increases the risk of heart
disease and stroke.
- Clinical breast exam: A physician-performed
clinical breast exam should be performed at least
every three years between the ages of 20 and 39 to
help detect breast cancer.
- Skin exam: A thorough skin exam should be
performed by a physician at least every three years to
help detect changes that may indicate skin cancer or
other skin conditions. Consult your doctor if you have any unusual brown spots, bumps, sores, rashes, or moles.
- Cholesterol test: A cholesterol blood test
should be performed at least every five years. High
LDL ("bad") cholesterol, high total
cholesterol levels or low HDL ("good")
cholesterol levels increase the risk of heart disease
and stroke.
- Dental exam: Regular dental exams and
cleanings should be performed to detect cavities and
other periodontal diseases. See your dentist every six months for a standard cleaning.
- Bone mineral density test: Women at high risk
of osteoporosis, such as those with a strong family
history, those who have had a hysterectomy including
ovary removal, etc., may be advised to have a bone
mineral density test
- Underarms: Check for lymph nodes.
- Immunizations: Tetanus-Diphtheria Booster, Flu Shot, and Tuberculin Test.
- Routine Physical: The
physician checks knee reflex test that screens for neuromuscular
disease, enlargement of the spleen or liver, sounds of your lungs and heart are
normal.
|
|
|
|