What tests must be taken by women at different ages

Modern clinics and laboratories offer whole packages of services - consultations, screenings, ultrasound, analyzes - for any gender and age. Paying attention to prevention is a responsible and fashionable approach to your health.

But how to figure out what you really need to pass and check depending on your age? Here's a little cheat sheet for girls and women.

You are 18-39 years old

1. Pressure measurement

This can be done easily and simply at many pharmacies.

With normal blood pressure, its upper figure (systolic pressure) is in the range 91... 139, and the lower one (diastolic pressure) is 61... 89.

If your upper indicator becomes more than 139 or the lower one exceeds 89, you need to contact a therapist. He may refer you to a cardiologist.

2. Diabetes check

You need to check in the following cases:

• your blood pressure is above 139/89
• you have direct relatives with diabetes
• you are overweight (medically speaking)

If you find yourself in this risk zone, you need to take a blood glucose test for an empty stomach once a year. The doctor may also order a glycated hemoglobin test.

3. Visit your dentist

If you are afraid to go to the dentist, then you definitely need to see him. It is necessary to visit the dentist at least 2 times a year: to carry out professional teeth cleaning and to heal caries, if any.

Do not be afraid that they will immediately start drilling something for you. If you run a problem, it will become much more difficult to fix it.

Moreover, modern dentistry is equipped with such anesthesia, with which you will not feel anything at all. In case of panic, you may even be briefly put under general anesthesia for the procedure. It is absolutely safe and can be used even for children.

4. Cholesterol test

Of course, at the age of 18-25 it seems that cholesterol is something from the area of ​​retirement age, but in fact, it can cunningly approach young people.

This study will be especially relevant for those who are overweight or who eat a diet high in fat and protein (keto diet, Ducan diet).

Remember that cholesterol causes big problems in the work of the cardiovascular system, up to blood clots, heart attack or stroke. Therefore, at least once you need to pass an analysis for total cholesterol and its fractions. If the result is normal and your nutrition and weight do not change significantly, you need to repeat the study after 5 years.

If the analysis showed an increased cholesterol level, a doctor's consultation is necessary.

5. Vaccination

Every year in the fall, you need to be vaccinated against seasonal flu - this will help you not only avoid complications of this disease, but also have ARVI less often.

If you don't remember the last time you were vaccinated against tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough, after 19 years you definitely need a revaccination. Then it should be repeated every 10 years.

Vaccinations against chickenpox and rubella should be done if you have never had them before. You also need to be vaccinated against measles, but before that it is better to take an antibody test. You cannot vaccinate against measles, rubella and chickenpox during pregnancy.

6. Cervical screening

The research is conducted annually. The first must be done within 3 years after the onset of sexual activity.

7. Examination by a gynecologist

Until the age of 39, it is enough to visit a gynecologist-mammologist once a year, it is imperative to examine the breast for possible inflammation / seals, etc.

If you are at risk of breast cancer (heredity, radiation, detected precancerous processes, etc.), then you need to do a mammogram once a year.

8. Fluorography

Due to the fact that outbreaks of tuberculosis periodically occur in our country, it is advisable to do fluorography once a year, but not less than once every 2 years.

9. Screening for melanoma

Skin cancers are very dangerous and aggressive, therefore people with fair skin and a large number of moles need to visit a dermatologist and check their moles at least once a year.

10. Ovarian Cancer Screening

It is mainly needed by women at risk - who have direct relatives with this disease, Lynch's syndrome (colorectal cancer), in the presence of BRCA1, BRCA2 gene mutations.

You need to be examined not at the same age at which your relative's cancer was detected (if any), but 5-10 years earlier.

Women who are not at risk can have an ultrasound scan of the pelvic organs and donate blood for the CA-125 tumor marker every 3-5 years.

You are over 40 years old

1. Bowel examination

If you are at risk for bowel cancer, or you are diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, you should have a colonoscopy once a year.

For women outside the risk group, sigmoidoscopy, irrigoscopy and virtual colonoscopy are required every 5 years.

It is also necessary to pass an immunochemical analysis of feces for occult blood annually.

Every 3 years, an analysis is needed to identify DNA markers and blood in the stool.

2. Examination by an ophthalmologist

If you do not have vision problems, then you can go to the optometrist about 1 time in 2-4 years. The only problem is that after 40 years, almost everyone has certain vision problems. Therefore, it is better to visit an ophthalmologist more often - at least once a year.

3. Mammography

After 40 years, a mammogram must be done every year.

4. Vaccination

In addition to the annual flu shot, you must not forget about the tetanus and diphtheria booster (every 10 years).

Also, after 50 years, you need to be vaccinated against herpes zoster, and after 65 years - from pneumococcus.

5. Screening for cervical cancer

The PAP test is performed from 40 to 65 years old. If over the past 10 years all regular tests have shown negative results, then after 65 they can no longer be performed.

6. Osteoporosis screening

After 65 years of age, women need to undergo regular X-ray densitometry - an examination for bone mineral density.

If you have had fractures or are at risk for osteoporosis (early menopause, taking certain medications), densitometry may be prescribed as early as 50 or earlier.

7. Lung cancer screening

An annual CT scan is mandatory for those who regularly smoke or have smoked for a long time and quit less than 15 years ago.

You will also be interested to read:

• myths about influenza vaccination that are dangerous to believe
• why is it necessary to do the first screening during pregnancy
• what tests must be taken during pregnancy