Agewise recommended health checkups for females

Have you women ever given a thought about your health. Have you ever been to a clinic for regular health checkup before getting sick? If not then what was your excuse from the below mentioned-

I am perfect.

I can’t get sick.

I will pop a pill and I will be okay.

I have to look after the kids.

Who will cook food if I go for checkup?

I have so much other work to finish.

Who will manage the house chores for a day?

Are these reasons sufficient enough to ignore your- self. A big no, I guess. No reason be more important than your own health because if a man gets sick, its a person getting sick but if a female gets sick,whole house will be sick. So think again.

Just choose one special day of the year for yourself, it may be your birthday, your anniversary, your child’s birthday, first day of the year, women’s day or any other day on which you can gift yourself health and happiness by choosing your health checkup appropriate to your age and history. Healthy woman is the foundation for happy homes. Here is a list of checkups every girl/ woman  should undergo according to her age designed by docs.

For childhood checkups(2-12 years age) – If child is completely immunized

• Routine height and weight checkup
• Basal metabolic rate(BMR)
• Complete Blood count(CBC)
• Urine and stool test
• Hearing test
• Vision test
• Reading test (included in mental health checkup)
• Cardiac checkup
• Dental checkup
• Blood group test, if not done before
• Any other test specific to family history
• Vaccination shots, if any left ( including HPV shots recommended around 9 years age)

Special mention-

1. Keep a check on your child’s vaccination schedule.
2. Consult pediatrician for milestone check.
3. Never ignore any signs of child abuse.
4. HPV vaccination is recommended for both boys and girls.
5. Healthy habits should be incorporated in the lifestyle from this age group itself.

Adolescent age group health checkups–

• CBC
• Blood sugar levels
• Height,weight, BMR
• Gynaecological checkup for Menstrual health issues, if any
• Mental health checkup 
• Eye checkup
• Dental checkup

Special mention-

1. Never ignore mental issues, half of the mental health problems start below 14 years age. 
2. Substance abuse also starts at this age group.
3. Talk to adolescents about menstrual health and safe sex practices.
4. Life saving tips- Helmets, seat belts, condoms, healthy eating habits, physical exercise, refraining from any kind of violence(physical, sexual or emotional).

 20s and 30s age group checkup-

• CBC
• Routine urine test
• Test for sexually transmitted disease(once sexually active)
• Thyroid profile
• Thalassemia profile
• Pregnancy test,if missed period
• Pap smear every 3 years or Pap + Hpv test every 5 years, to be started once you are sexually active
• Self breast examination, each month 1 week after period
• Vision/ hearing test, if any complaints.

40s and 50s age group checkup-

• Blood pressure checkup
• Blood sugar checkup
• CBC, Routine urine test
• Cholesterol level check
• Kidney function test
• Chest xray if you are smoking or are at a risk of lung cancer.
• Pap smear + Hpv test every 5 years
• Vision testing( as its the age to start presbyopia)
• Self breast examination every month
• Mammography every two years/ every year, if any risk factors for breast cancer
• Cardiac checkup( as chances of cardiac problems increases steeply after menopause)
• Bone density scan/dexa scan (to rule out osteoporosis)

Special mention-

1. Increase your muscle mass in perimenopausal stage, this will go a long way.
2. Keep a check on your bp, cholesterol as they shoot in this stage.
3. Cardiac complaints also increase steeply postmenopause.
4. Osteoporosis also comes in at this stage, so do take your calcium and vit D supplements regularly.
5. Vision test for presbyopia.

60 and above-

• Bp and random blood sugar
• Cholesterol level
• Kidney and liver function tests
• Colorectal cancer screening( start early if family history or risk factors like polyp or ulcerative colitis)
• Eye checkup- macular degeneration, cataract and glaucoma are common in this age group. 
• Hearing checkup- Hearing loss also sets in at this stage so go for hearing check.
• Mental health consultation- If any complaint of feeling lonely, depressed or anxious most of the time.
• Dental checkup- This is the time you start losing teeth so dental visits will be  more frequent.
• Mammography- You may still need atleast once very two years if no risk factors.
• Cervical cancer screening- Pap and hpv testing still needed
• Skin cancer screening- Dermal checkup may be important if you have any unusual mole, mole changing color, itchy or painful skin lesions.

Special mention–

1. Exercise in this age is important.
2. Use all safety gears whenever required like walkers, smoke alarms, grap bars etc.
3. Don’t forget to get your covid Vaccination shot as recommended.
4. Taking care of your mental and emotional health is equally important as your physical health. 

Frequency and when to stop screening test-

• Bp once every year, more frequently if readings above normal.
• Blood glucose levels- Every 3 years if levels are normal and no symptoms.
• Choleoterol levels- Every 5 years if levels within normal range.
• Pap and Hpv screening can be stopped around 65 years age, if woman had 3 or more normal tests in last 10 years.
• Mammography can be stopped above 70 years age, if recommended by doctors after evaluating your risks and benefits.

My health my priority, take this as mantra and step out for giving your contribution towards healthy society. A physically, mentally and emotionally healthy woman can only nurture a healthy future.