Regular screening guarantees that any health concerns are detected early. Being proactive concerning your health can avoid various health problems and spare you from the suffering, time, and money you would need for extensive treatment in the future.
Every man and woman should make time for healthy lifestyles such as choosing the right foods, regular exercise, and stress management. Planning routine health screenings, which can identify potential problems early, is one of those habits.
Health Screenings are tests and examinations to look for a disease before patients get any symptoms. It is vital because, from a medical outlook, prevention is better than cure. It is also often easier to treat or certainly cure a disorder if it is in its early stages, visit this site more info.
Below are lists of screening tests that are essential for men over 40:
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) Screening
The PSA test examines prostate-specific antigen levels, an indicator of prostate health in the blood. A high or rising PSA might indicate prostate cancer, or it could point to another prostate condition that might need medical attention, or it may itself lead to cancer. It is a significant test for all men to consider as an early warning of decreased prostate health.
Digital rectal examination (DRE)
DRE is an easy procedure for the early detection and prostate cancer diagnosis and other abnormalities of the prostate gland. The doctor puts a lubricated gloved finger in the rectum to feel the prostate gland for any enlargements or lumps.
Testosterone
Testosterone levels must be tested once every year, to make sure of normal levels. Low testosterone can cause many changes in the body like fatigue, erectile dysfunction, weight gain, loss of muscle, loss of body hair, trouble concentrating, sleep problems, personality changes and bone loss. Your doctor can check your testosterone via a saliva or blood test.
Blood Sugar Test
Blood sugar screening measures the glucose amount in the blood. The test is a significant screening for insulin resistance and diabetes or pre-diabetes. Untreated diabetes will remain to get worse and lead to problems with skin, eyes, heart, feet, mental health, kidneys, nerves, and many more. Insulin resistance leads to high blood pressure, weight gain, high cholesterol, high blood sugar and bloating. When untreated, it can cause diabetes. There’s also a greater risk of prostate and other cancers related to high blood sugar.
Screening tests that are essential for women over 40:
Pap Smear
Get the Pap smear done every 3 years. If you have HPV (a virus that leads to genital warts and many cancers, including cervical cancer) then both a Pap smear and human papillomavirus (HPV) test, should be done every 5 years.
Those who are sexually active and at high risk must be screened for gonorrhoea and chlamydia. Your doctor might talk with you about testing for other infections.
Mammogram
Women ages 40 to 49 are advised to have a mammogram every 1 to 2 years. But, not all experts agree about the advantages of having a mammogram when women are in their 40s.
Depending on the risk factors, women of ages 50 to 75 may have a mammogram every 1 to 2 years to check for breast cancer.
Women with a mother or sister who had breast cancer at a younger age must consider yearly mammograms. They should start earlier than the age at which their youngest family member was detected with cancer.
Common screening tests that are essential for both men and women over 40:
Blood pressure Screening
- Blood pressure must be checked once every 6 months to ensure that you do not suffer from hypertension.
- If the systolic number (top number) is between 120 to 139 mm Hg or the diastolic number (bottom number) is between 80 to 89 mm Hg, then continue to have it checked every year.
- If the systolic number is higher than 140 or the diastolic number is higher than 90, schedule an appointment with your doctor.
- If you have heart disease, diabetes, kidney problems, or certain other conditions, you may need to have your blood pressure checked more frequently.
Look for blood pressure screenings in your area. Ask your doctor if you can stop in to have your blood pressure checked regularly.
Cholesterol Check
- Cholesterol should be checked every 5 years.
- If you have a history of high cholesterol level, heart disease diabetes, kidney problems, or any other conditions, you might need to have a cholesterol test done more often.
- Few men must consider taking aspirin to avoid heart attacks. Ask your doctor before you start aspirin as aspirin may increase the risk for bleeding.
Bone Density Screening
Men and women should start getting tested for osteoporosis with a bone density test at age 50. Those with risk factors for osteoporosis, like low body weight or fractures, should be screened before. For this test, known as a DEXA scan, you have to lie on a table while a low-dose X-ray machine takes images of the bones. The regularity of this screening differs depending on bone density and other risk factors.
Colon Cancer Screening
Colon cancer screening, which can be performed at a doctor's office or hospital, should start at age 50, as per the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). You'll have either a sigmoidoscopy, in which a lighted tube and camera are put into the anus to view the lower colon, or a colonoscopy, in which a longer tube views the entire colon to detect any problems if present. Unless a problem is identified or you have a higher risk of colon cancer, a sigmoidoscopy is repeated every 5 years, and a colonoscopy every 10 years.
Dental Check-up
Good dental health is vital from the moment your first baby tooth develops, and all adult men and women require twice-yearly dental check-ups. Through regular dental check-ups, which include examining and cleaning the teeth, along with X-rays, you can detect early signs of decay and any other issues.
Eye Examination
Have an eye examination every 2 to 4 years if you are over 40 to 54 and every 1 to 3 years if you are over 55 to 64. Your doctor might recommend many repeated eye exams if you have vision issues or risk of glaucoma. If you have diabetes, have an eye exam at least every year.
Conclusion
Even if you feel good, you should still see your doctor for regular check-ups. These visits can aid you to prevent problems in the future. Regular screening might even save your life. When you notice a disease early you can avoid complications and improve quality of life. To know more about the common screening tests, please refer to basic screening tests guidebook.
Regular monitoring and early detection are essential to treating cancers, monitoring chronic problems like diabetes, kidney diseases, and avoiding strokes and heart attacks. This all adds up to an improved peace of mind and being more in control of your own health.
Author’s Bio:
Mila Jones is a Senior Business Consultant, with rich experience in the domains of technology consulting and strategy, she works with both established technology brands and market entrants to offer research inputs and insights on leveraging technology as a source of strategic competitive advantage. She is a prolific author and shares her expertise with tech enthusiasts on popular digital publishing platforms. She loves not only to write about several topics but also loves to explore new ideas about Lifestyle, Travel blogs and many more.
