| Routine Physical |
Age 20: Every 3 yrs
Age 30: Every 2 yrs
Age 40: Every year
|
N/A |
A general checkup will allow
your physician to assess your overall health and detect problems
early. |
| Blood Pressure Check |
Every 1-2 years for
those age 20-40
Once annually after age 40 |
•
Inactivity
• A diet high in poly saturated fat
• Obesity
• Having an 'apple-shaped' figure
• Smoking
• Family History of high blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Stress
• High-dose birth control pills
• Alcohol abuse
|
Although statistically,
women are not at quite as high of a risk for heart disease as
men, it is still the number one killer of women. It is difficult
to cure a heart problem, but lifestyle changes can make the problem
easier to keep under control. Optimal blood pressure scores are
below 120/80. |
| Lipoprotein Profile to Check
for Cholesterol |
Every 5 years age 18-30
Every 2 years age 30-40
Once annually after age 40 |
Same as above |
Beginning at age 20, cholesterol
levels tend to rise in women and sharply rise by the age of 40.
High cholesterol, like high blood pressure, can lead to heart disease
or stroke. A desirable cholesterol level is less than 130 LDL—bad
cholesterol and over 40 HDL—good cholesterol.
|
| Holologic Densitometry to Check for Osteoporosis |
Get your first one between the ages of 21 and 35
and once every 2 years after age 45 |
- Caucasian
- Women
- Thin frame
- Family history
- Anorexia/bulimia
- Low calcium intake
|
Knowing that you have low bone density
can alert you to the fact that you need to increase bone density
through exercise and calcium intake. Early detection can slow further
bone loss. |
| Breast Cancer Prevention |
Monthly self-exams
Physical: annually after age 3
Mammogram: every 2 years for ages 40-50, and annually after
age 50 |
- Family History
- Overweight
- Postmenopausal
- Taking hormonal birth control
|
Breast cancer self-exams have not been
shown to help detect cancer. However, performing them on a monthly
basis to determine which lumps are normal and which are not.
|
| Sigmoidoscopy/Colonscopy to Prevent
Colon Cancer |
Every 5 years after age 50 |
- Age
- Family History
- Obesity
- Too much red meat, too little fiber in diet
|
Precancerous cells form in the
colon 5 to 10 years before cancer forms. Catching these cells early
offers a 95% chance of complete removal.
|
| Pelvic Exam and Pap Smear |
Every 3 years after age 17-65
If abnormal pap smear results: every 3-6 months
|
A history of HPV or genital warts |
Pap smears allow physicians to find
abnormal cells before they turn into cancer. |
| Check for Blood Sugar Levels to Test
for Diabetes |
It varies, but high-risk individuals
should have this checked |
•
Genetics
• Surgical procedures
• Certain medications
• Stress
• Race
• Female
• Over age 40
• Obesity
• Smoking
• Family history
|
Women over age 40 are particularly susceptible
to diabetes, where insulin levels make blood sugar in the body
drastically rise to unhealthy levels. Treating it early can make
it more controllable. |
| Skin Exam to Spot Skin Cancer |
High Risk for melanoma: every 3-6 months
Self-exam every month. Low Risk: every 5 yrs |
•
Previous melanoma
• Light skin and eyes
• Freckles
• A very bad sunburn
• Many moles
• Family history |
Getting checked for skin cancer regularly
if you are at high risk can help detect the cancer early making
it much easier to treat and the chances for survival much greater. |
