Don’t let heart disease, stroke, and other serious health conditions sneak up on you. Instead, prevent them by seeing your doctor for a yearly well-woman checkup.
“At your checkup, your doctor will suggest health screenings,” says Steven Harmon, MD, a Steward Health Care primary care physician. “These tests can help spot potentially deadly conditions before they become life-threatening.”
Here are six screenings that can help you stay healthy.
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Blood pressure
Getting your blood pressure checked, and changing your lifestyle or using medication, if necessary, can reduce your risk for stroke and heart disease.
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Cholesterol
This simple blood test—after an overnight fast—measures levels of HDL, or “good,” cholesterol and LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol, as well as triglycerides. These fats in your blood can affect your risk for heart disease and stroke.
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Pap test
This test, as part of a pelvic exam, takes a sample of cells from the cervix to check for cervical cancer. Women ages 21 to 29 should get a Pap test every three years. From ages 30 to 65, you should get screened every three to five years. Cervical cancer and the beginning stages of the disease are treatable if caught early.
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Mammogram
This breast X-ray can find breast cancer in its early, most treatable stages. Talk with your doctor if you’re between ages 40 and 44 about when to start getting a mammogram. Women ages 45 to 54 should get mammograms every year, and women 55 and older should switch to mammograms every two years or can continue yearly screening.
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Blood glucose
This simple blood test helps detect type 2 diabetes and prediabetes, which can increase the risk for heart disease and other complications. The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force recommends this test for adults aged 40 to 70 who are overweight.
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Colonoscopy
During this test, the doctor will examine your colon, looking for signs of cancer and small growths that can become cancerous over time, which can be removed during the test. The American Cancer Society recommends getting a colonoscopy starting at age 45.
To find a doctor or schedule an appointment, visit Steward DoctorFinder™.
*Source: American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org
*Source: U.S. Preventative Services Task Force, www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org
