All of us understand that in order to stay healthy we will need to do certain things – eat the correct foods, exercise daily, take our vitamins, and prevent bad habits for example smoking and excessive alcohol intake. How about visiting the doctor’s for all those examinations each year? You know you hate it, but this one can really save your life! So why should a girl go to her physician for exams?
Tests
Here are a few crucial tests which you might already know about. Bone-density evaluation – When you start perimenopause the hormones are decreasing, meaning your bones are starting to gradually decrease in density too. Yes, no one wants to consider getting osteoporosis at age 40 but that is the age most physicians recommend starting to consider it. If you receive your bone density checked and something is amiss, at least it can be addressed early. Waiting too long may mean letting harm build up till your bones are brittle.
- Mammogram – You likely have been getting these already, but you have to understand that as you get older they’re even more significant. Doctors recommend getting mammograms every 2 years for women over 40, and every year for women over 50. If breast cancer runs in your family, this could very easily save your life.
- Cholesterol screening – As we age, it’s prudent to care for the heart and cardiovascular system due to the normal increase in cholesterol at this moment. Getting your cholesterol checked is rather painless anyway, the one thing you want to keep in mind is that you need to fast for 12 hours before the test to guarantee accuracy. In this test your LDL (bad cholesterol) and ratio to HDL (good cholesterol) are compared, and your triglycerides are measured. If any of them are too far out of equilibrium your physician may put you on drugs like a”statin” drug, to lower your levels.
- Hormone screening – This is reserved for when a woman starts to begin noticing the signs of menopause, and your physician will most likely suggest it to be certain that is true. So as to learn if your hormones, particularly estrogen are in decline, a blood test is given which is then examined. This will be used to discover how much Estradiol (the active form of estrogen) is in the blood, to determine a plan of action. Since every woman’s body is different, there isn’t any certain way to tell precisely when a woman is truly starting menopause. This test is a great indicator, however, and it could also eliminate other possible reasons you are experiencing symptoms of menopause, such as thyroid problems or cancer. If your Estradiol levels are considerably below the normal 90 pg/ml degree then you likely are starting menopause.
- Pap smear – Every girl ought to know by now how important the pap smear is but it bears repeating. Having a gynecological exam annually to be certain that the uterus, cervix, vaginal tissue and breasts are completely normal is of extreme importance to rule out cancer.
Conclusion
As uneasy as they are, just about any girl knows somebody that has gone through the life-changing experience of getting cancer, and finding out early is almost always the difference in saving a life. The most important thing is, to stay healthy you have to do certain things. Some you must do daily, others not so often, but make time for these tests so that you can devote a very long and healthy life with your nearest and dearest.