Along with getting enough exercise and eating right, having regular health screenings should be an important part of your routine. Regular health screenings can help catch diseases early and when they’re most treatable, which can prevent serious health issues in the future. To improve your quality of life, make sure you’re getting the following health screenings regularly.
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High blood pressure is a common condition that affects almost 30% of adults yet often has few to no symptoms. If left unchecked, it can lead to stroke, heart attack, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease. A normal blood pressure reading is lower than 120/80. Once you reach 18, you should have your blood pressure checked at least once a year. If your blood pressure is high, you’ll need to get it checked more frequently.
Mammograms help screen for breast cancer. During a mammogram, your health provider will compress your breasts between two plates and X-ray them. Regular mammograms are currently the best tests doctors have to detect breast cancer early. The American Cancer Society currently recommends all women begin having annual mammograms at the age of 45. When they reach 55, they can switch to having mammograms every other year. If you have a family history of breast cancer, you can start the annual screening sooner.
Every year in the United States, more people are diagnosed with skin cancer than all other cancers combined. One in five Americans will develop some form of skin cancer before they reach the age of 70. You should examine your skin at home every month to look for new moles and changes in color, shape, and size to existing moles. If you have a family history of skin cancer or you’re at an increased risk, your doctor might recommend you schedule yearly in-office skin examinations.
If you’re between the ages of 21 and 29, you should have a Pap smear every three years. This test collects cells from your cervix to test for cervical cancer. Once you reach 30, you can switch to having a Pap smear every five years if you also include an HPV screening test. The HPV test checks for the virus that causes cervical cancer.
Thanks to advancements in telemedicine, you can get HPV screening test kits you can use in the comfort of your own home from online providers such as Nurx. This option is ideal for women who live in rural communities, have busy schedules, or simply want more convenience and discretion.
Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to become weak. Once you reach 65, you should have a bone density test to screen for osteoporosis. If you have certain risk factors, such as low body weight or fractures, you should get screened sooner. During the test, which is called a DEXA scan, you’ll lie on a table while a low-dose X-ray machine takes pictures of your bones.
If you want to stay healthy and catch certain diseases early, be sure to keep up with these five important health screenings.