Seven Must-Have Medical Exams For Women

Women are supposed to be the main pillar of any household around which the house revolves. She is responsible for the health of all the members of the family. Therefore, it is extremely important that she remains in good health herself. But it is often seen that a woman puts her own health last on her priority list.

While she never forgets a date with the doctor when her husband or her children are concerned, she generally forgets to find time for her own meeting with the doctor. However, doctors recommend certain tests which are a must have for all women, in order to secure their long term health and discover potential medical problems they may face as early as possible to be able to offer timely treatment options.

These are tests that help in the early diagnosis of some medical conditions that particularly affect women, especially as they get older. Early diagnosis leads the way to prompt treatment so that the woman can continue to live in good health — and, if she has a family to look after, to make sure that she can continue to do so. Some of these tests which are necessary for every woman include those we're discussing today. If you have not been to see a doctor yourself for a while, now may be an excellent opportunity to make an appointment.

Regular cardiovascular checkup

Statistics show that heart and cardiovascular diseases are single-handedly responsible for the death of 250,000 American women annually. According to the American Heart Association, the number of women succumbing to heart disease is six times the number of women dying every year due to breast cancer.

One simple way of identifying your risk for developing a heart or cardiovascular disease is by undergoing a blood test, to check your lipid profile. This simple test not only helps you to know the amount of cholesterol in your arteries but also indicates the ratio between the high density lipoproteins (good fat or HDL) and the low and very low density lipoproteins (bad fat or LDL). Based on these results, a woman can modify her lifestyle in order to prevent heart diseases in the future.

Apart from the blood tests, every woman should get her blood pressure checked from time to time. Hypertension is a leading cause of heart diseases, often referred to as a silent killer, because it often does not show any noticeable symptoms. In the case of the presence of symptoms like shortness of breath or palpitations, a woman is advised to undergo a stress echocardiogram. This test determines the rate of blood flow to the heart and also identifies any impediment to it in case there is any.

The Pap test

One cannot stress enough the importance of the Pap test. It is recommended that every woman should undergo a Pap test annually, one she is 21 years of age, or three years after she becomes sexually active, whichever is earlier. According to the American Cancer Society, this test should be done annually till a woman has reached thirty years of age. After 30, if three tests in a row are normal, then she can undergo a Pap test every two or three years.

A Pap test is done to collect a cell sample from the cervical tissue. These cells are examined under a microscope to determine if they exhibit any abnormal behavior. The presence of abnormal cells in a Pap test may be indicative of early changes in cervical cancer.

Medical Exams Routinely Advised For Women

Mammograms

Physicians recommend that every woman above the age of forty should undergo mammography every one or two years until she is fifty. Thereafter, this should be an annual examination. In case there is a history of breast cancer in the family, then the woman should get her first mammogram ten years before the age of her relative when the condition was diagnosed.

It is imperative for women to understand the need of mammograms. Breast cancer is a disease with a high mortality rate. However, if the disease is diagnosed at an early stage, say in stage I, then the chances of cure are as high as 97%.

The Kate Couric test for diagnosing colon cancer

According to the American Cancer Society, almost 75,000 American women were diagnosed with colon cancer in 2007. It is the third commonest cancer in the U.S. affecting both men and women. So, one should not dismiss it as a man’s disease. Experts advise that all women who are at risk of developing colon cancer should undergo a colonoscopy examination every 10 years, beginning at the age of 50 years. In case of a positive family history, the first colonoscopy examination should be done 10 years before the age when the relative was diagnosed with the cancer.

Colonoscopy allows the specialist to examine the wall of the colon closely using a camera, so that any abnormal growth can be identified at the earliest. If need be, tissue for biopsy can be taken in the same setting.

Skin Examination

After the age of 18, every woman should be examined by a dermatologist annually. This is necessary to identify any new mole or any abnormal growth of a pre-existing mole. The skin is also examined for any unusual red or brown spots. A thorough dermal examination is essential to identify development of melanoma in its early stage. Although melanoma accounts for just 4% of all skin cancers, the mortality rate attached to it is very high. Therefore, women should be aware that any abnormal growth of moles can be a sign of something serious, and should bring it to the notice of their doctor immediately.

Bone density test

Women are known to suffer from rapid bone loss after attaining menopause because of plummeting levels of estrogen hormone. This may lead to osteoporosis. According to the statistics given by the National Osteoporosis Foundation, almost 1.5 million men and women suffer from osteoporosis related fractures every year. Therefore, all women beyond the age of 60 or women after undergoing hysterectomy should undergo tests for bone density annually. Early diagnosis of osteoporosis can lead to early start of treatment which can reverse to some extent the bone loss that has already occurred.

Thyroid test

Women need to be tested for both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. While the former is marked by unexplained weight loss, rapid pulse and insomnia, the latter is marked by weight gain, lethargy and dry skin. According to the American Thyroid Association, every woman should get tested for thyroid hormones at an interval of five years, beginning from the age of 35. However, in case of presence of symptoms, regular monitoring of thyroid hormones is started much earlier.