health issue
|
frequency
|
risk factors
|
why get checked?
|
| Routine
Physical |
Age 20: Every 3 yrs
Age 30: Every 2 yrs
Age 40: Every yr |
N/A |
A general checkup will allow your
physician to assess your overall health and detect a number of
problems early.
|
| Blood
Pressure Testing |
Every 1-2 years |
Inactivity, a diet high in fat, obesity,
having an ‘apple-shaped’ figure
•
Smoking
• Family history of heart disease
•
Diabetes
• Stress
•
High-dose birth control pills
• Alcohol abuse
|
Heart disease is the number one killer
of women. Although difficult to cure, lifestyle changes can make
heart problems easier to manage. Optimal blood pressure scores
are below 120/80. |
Lipoprotein
Profile to Check Cholesterol Levels |
Every 5 years after age 18 |
Same as above |
Cholesterol tends to
rise by age 20 and sharply rises by age 40. This can lead to
heart disease or stroke. Cholesterol levels should be below 130
LDL and over 40 HDL.
|
| DEXA
to Scan for Osteoporosis |
Intially at the onset of
menopausal symptoms and every 2 years unless diagnosed with Osteoporosis
or Osteopenia. |
Caucasian women, thin, family history
of osteoporosis, anorexia/bulimia or low calcium intake |
Knowing that you have
low bone mineral density can alert you to the fact that you need
to increase bone density through exercise and calcium intake.
Early detection can slow further bone loss.
|
| Breast
Cancer Prevention |
Self-exam: monthly
Annual mammogram beginning at age 40.
|
Family history, obesity, postmenopausal
or taking hormonal birth control
|
Perform a breast self-exam on a monthly
basis to determine which lumps are normal and which are not. Women
should receive a screening and mammogram from a physician every
1 to 3 years beginning at age 30. |
| Colonoscopy
to Prevent Colon Cancer |
Every 10 years after age
40 |
Age, family history
of colon cancer, obesity, too much red meat or too little fiber
in diet
|
Precancerous cells form in the colon
5 to 10 years before cancer forms. Early detectionoffers a 95%
chance of complete removal. |
| Pelvic
Exam and Pap Smear to Check for Cervical Cancer |
Annually
With abnormal pap smear results, every 4, 6 or 12 months, depending
on diagnosis
|
A history of HPV or
genital warts |
Pap smears allow physicians to find
abnormal cells before they turn into cancer. |
| Check
for Blood Sugar Levels to Test for Diabetes |
Variable, but high-risk individuals
should have this checked on a regular basis |
Family history of diabetes,
surgical procedures, certain medications, stress, race, female,
over age 40, obesity, smoking, family history or regularly wearing
high heels
|
Women over age 40 are particularly susceptible
to diabetes, where insulin levels make blood sugar in the body
drastically rise to unhealthy levels. Treating it early can make
it more controllable. |
| Skin
Exam to Spot Skin Cancer |
If at high risk, every
3-6 months
Self-exam monthly
If at low risk, every 5 years |
History of melanoma,
light skin and eyes, freckles, severe sunburn, moles or family
history of skin cancer |
If you are at high risk for developing
skin cancer, get checked regularly. This can help detect cancer
early, making it much easier to treat. |
