How many roles do women play in our daily lives? From being a mother, sister, or daughter to a wife or a homemaker, society surely can’t survive without women. They take care of a whole family along with being mindful about their professional lives. But they forget to take care of themselves while taking care of their loved ones. A woman’s body carries out numerous functions such as experiencing periods and giving birth to a child. These functions put a strain on the woman’s health, therefore getting a health checkup is extremely important.
Here are some important health checkups that every woman should take at regular intervals to keep a check on her health;
Important Health Checkups For Women
Blood Pressure Screening
The foremost health checkup that you should take is blood pressure screening. The blood pressure of an individual should be checked at least once every 3 to 5 years if your blood pressure remains in the normal range and if you do not have any risk factors or signs of high blood pressure. You need to get your blood pressure checked more often if you have diabetes, any heart disease, kidney problems or if you are overweight.
Breast Cancer Screening
Breast cancer screening is also an important health checkup for women if you have a mother or sister who has breast cancer at a young age. This test helps in checking a woman’s breast for cancer before there are any signs or symptoms of the disease. Although breast cancer screening cannot prevent breast cancer, it can help in early detection and diagnosis of the disease.
Cervical Cancer Screening
Cervical cancer screening is an important routine health checkup that should begin at the age of 21. It is an extremely important health checkup for women who have a cervix. If you are in the 21-29 years age group, then USPSTF ( United States Preventive Services Task Force) recommends getting your first Pap test at age 21, followed by Pap testing every 3 years. Even if you are sexually active, you do not need a Pap test before age 21.
Cholesterol Screening
Also known as a lipid panel or lipid profile, a simple blood test that helps in determining the amount of cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood is known as cholesterol screening. According to the Mayo Clinic, a cholesterol test can help determine your risk of the buildup of fatty deposits (plaques) in your arteries that can lead to narrowed or blocked arteries throughout your body (atherosclerosis).
Diabetes Screening
Also known as fasting blood sugar test, diabetes screening is an important healthcare checkup for women. According to the CDC, this test measures your blood sugar after an overnight fast (not eating). A fasting blood sugar level of 99 mg/dL or lower is normal, 100 to 125 mg/dL indicates you have prediabetes, and 126 mg/dL or higher indicates you have diabetes.