12 Medical Tests which are Essential for Women
31-03-2019 | Posted By: Anirudh Singh | 3678 View(s)
A Lot of the times it is observed that woman are more concerned about their Family Member’s Health and tend to ignore their health. But this is something which should be avoided at all cost. In case of problems which needs medical attention or a health checkup, they tend to delay the decision just because they think that there are other more important things to take care of. However, it is very important that the womenfolk realise the importance of their health and ensure all possible measures and precautions are taken to safeguard their health. Here are some 12 Medical Tests which are Essential for Women and should be done from time to time to stay Healthy and Fit.
12 Medical Tests which are Essential for Women
1.Lipid Profile
Lipid Profile Test measures the total cholesterol: the “good” HDL cholesterol, the “bad” LDL cholesterol, along with triglycerides, which is another kind of fat in the blood. Triglyceride levels are affected most by what you have eaten recently, This is precisely the reason why most of the cholesterol tests are done after a short period of fasting.
Women aged 30 and above should definitely go in for the test at least once in a year. However, those in the age bracket of 25-30 would also do well to get themselves tested for Lipid as lifestyles are becoming more and more hectic and prone to stress.
The reason why you should go in for this test is that High cholesterol levels can cause heart disease, heart attacks, and stroke. Keeping the levels under control can be a really smart decision to stay safer from these diseases particularly as you approach menopause.
Estrogen is said to raise HDL (“good”) cholesterol; the natural drop in estrogen levels at menopause can be one reason why your heart disease risk increases as you age.
2. Blood Glucose Testing
This is a basic routine Test to test your Sugar Levels. The sugar levels indicate whether a person is Diabetic or pre-diabetic or has absolutely normal levels of sugar in the blood.
Women above the age of 30, those suffering from obesity, overweight etc should always get themselves tested for sugar levels and keep doing it on a regular basis at least once a year. Those who are diabetic or prediabetic should get themselves tested at least two times a year.
Type 2 Diabetes is one of the biggest causes of heart disease. It can also increase the risk of eating disorders and even depression both of which are more common in women than men. The good news is that you can easily monitor your sugar levels even at home with easy to use devices or get tested from a Lab and get medicines for diabetes from your doctor which is not at all expensive
3. Blood Pressure Test
This is a must for all adultWoman. High and Low Blood Pressure can be disastrous and so getting to know about your BP pattern and monitoring it is very important. If there is a need for corrective action it should be done at once by seeking doctor advice. Having the right Blood Pressure levels is vital for Healthy Life.
4. Liver Function Test
Liver Function test measures the levels of proteins, liver enzymes, or bilirubin in your blood and helps to determine the health of your liver. The Liver Function Tests Helps to analyse and monitor how well are you responding to a particular treatment for people already Diagnosed with a Liver Disease. It helps to Monitor the side effects of certain medications known to affect the liver and also measure the degree of scarring (cirrhosis) on the liver. The Test should be done in Women Aged 30+ at least once in two years if Liver Health is perfectly ok or else as per doctor’s advice
5.Kidney Function Test
Kidney Function Test or KFT as it is popularly known is a simple Blood and Urine Test that can identify problems with your Kidney. You may also be required to go in for a kidney function test if you have other conditions that can potentially harm the kidneys, such as Diabetes or High blood pressure. The Test is recommended at least once in a year for all Women above the age of 30. This is one of the many Medical Tests which are Essential for Women
6.Screening for Arthritis
This is one problem which is widely prevalent in Women. They are more prone to Arthritis and as such, they need to get tested for Vitamin D deficiency which can result in Bone related issues.
Women who have hit 60 and above should get a Bone Density Test done. It is a must for those with a Family History of Osteoporosis or a History of the Previous Fracture. The Scan can help doctors know about bone mass which can increase the risk of injury and of declining mobility
7.Breast Cancer Screening
Breast cancer is increasingly becoming very common in Woman and as such a woman above the age of 40 should get their Breast Screened. Getting a Mammography done helps to ascertain the health of Tissues in the breast and could tell about possible issues if any. It is generally advisable to go in for mammography at least once in two years but those with a history of breast or ovarian should get it done more frequently. Another Test which can be done for its screening is CA15.3.
8. Thyroid Screening
All Adults need to get this Test done at least once in Two years and those suffering from any form of Thyroid should get tested more frequently. Thyroid may hit an individual without even the person knowing about it. So go for it and remain free from Thyroid disorders
9.Cervical Cancer Screening
Cervical Cancer screening is generally recommended for women in the age group of 21-65 years and should be done at least once in 3 years.HPV Swab and Pap Smear tests can do the job. These Tests look for changes in cells that can indicate a need for further testing, like a biopsy and helps to catch it early, especially if it happens to be cervical cancer
10.Hepatitis C Test
This is a blood test for the hep C virus. Women aged 50 & Above and also for those who had had C-Section as a young woman should get tested. This is particularly required since they may have received blood transfusions that weren’t screened for the virus in those Times. In quite a few cases symptoms of the disease do not show up and the liver disease can be a silent one. This could affect your immune system and might even lead to cirrhosis or liver cancer if left untreated for a long time.
11. Colorectal Cancer Screening
Colorectal Cancer Screening is generally recommended for those hitting 50 and above. Colonoscopy should be done at least once in 10 years, if everything looks normal, if not then more frequently especially for those with a family history of colorectal cancer. A colonoscopy might be a very unpleasant Experience but it’s probably the best to pick up a Colon Cancer or precancerous lesions or polyps early.
12. Depression Screening
Depression Screening is something which is generally not talked about but the matter of fact is that more and more woman tend to suffer from this ailment in some point of their life may be for a small duration of time or for prolonged periods and the worst part is that it might go unnoticed without any treatment which can prove to be disastrous. Depression screening is one of the few Medical Tests which are Essential for Women and should not be taken lightly at all.
The first part is acknowledging the fact that you suffer from the Problem but the person suffering from it might not be able to find out herself and as such family role becomes important. Those suffering from Depression need to be given all possible support-Physical as well as emotional to deal with the problem
This is where the role of Mental care becomes all the more important. Depression is twice as more common in women than in men and can cause a lot of problems so Screening for it is the only solutions and taking medical recourse if necessary for its treatment if required.
Hope the above article about the 12 Medical Tests which are Essential for Women will help to create awareness among women to take better care of their Health to Stay Healthy and Happy!
