1) Mammogram
Although experts disagree on how often women should have mammograms, they do agree that surviving breast cancer depends on catching the disease in its infancy. Mammograms are x-rays of your breasts that can reveal cancerous growths or other abnormalities in breast tissue. The test is not perfect, however: mammograms sometimes yield false positives—indicating a malignancy where there really isn’t one. An incorrect diagnosis of cancer can lead to tremendous stress and even unnecessary surgery. The National Cancer Institute prescribes a mammogram once every one to two years for women over 40; the American Cancer Society (ACS) advocates an annual mammogram after 40. The American Medical Association (AMA) doesn’t make a recommendation for women between 40 and 50 but suggests they consult their doctors (the AMA does endorse annual mammograms for women older than 50). If you don’t have health insurance to cover this test, call the ACS at 800-ACS-2345 to find the locations of low-cost mammogram clinics in your area.
2) Diabetes Test
If you are over age 40 and overweight or have a family history of diabetes, you should be screened for diabetes once every three years. Doctors diagnose diabetes by examining levels of glucose in your blood, which will be high if you are diabetic. Your doctor may also request a urine sample to check for the presence of ketones, chemicals that build up in the body if you’re diabetic. For more information, call the American Diabetes Association (ADA) at 800-342-2383.
3) Skin Exam
The American Cancer Society recommends that women older than 40 have a doctor examine their skin once a year for melanomas and fast-growing moles that could be signs of skin cancer.
4) Cholesterol Test
The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) reports that a woman’s cholesterol level often increases sharply between ages 40 and 60. Don’t trust “finger-stick” cholesterol tests offered at work or the shopping mall—they are often inaccurate.
5) Dental Test
Three out of four people older than 35 have some kind of gum disease. Visit the dentist regularly to have your teeth cleaned and examined for cavities.
Written by ekosujarwo
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