Five Health Screenings to Get as You Get Older

As you get older, there are many different kinds of health screenings that you should get done. It varies for women and men and your age, but it’s always important to keep up on your health screenings. It’s vital to know what is happening inside your body, and you should know where you’re at. When we age, we are forced to monitor things about our bodies if we want to live the happiest, healthiest lives possible. Below are five health screenings you should get done as you age.

Health Screening

Prostate Exam

As men get older, they need to get a prostate exam done. Prostate cancer is one of the most frequent causes of death in men. When you’re middle aged, you should get an exam for prostate cancer every year. If you can catch cancer early, there is a much better chance to avoid complications and spread to other parts of the body. With detecting prostate cancer being relatively easy and early detection the most important way to mitigate the spread and complications of cancer, there’s no reason to avoid a prostate exam.

Pap Smear

Another way to get screened for cancer is a pap smear or a cervical screening. This is the prostate exam equivalent for women. These days, the tests combine a Human papillomavirus (HPV) test with a cervical screening for cancer. You can HPV without symptoms, and HPV can lead to cervical cancer. That’s why you should get a pap smear every three years after the age of 21. Even if you have had an STI test and aren’t worried about having HPV, you should still get screened for cancer in the cervix.

Blood Work

You should also make sure your blood work is done frequently. As you age, your cholesterol can go up. The risk of leukemia goes up. You should also monitor your blood sugar. Going to the doctor to get your blood taken is a routine part of getting older. You should constantly monitor your blood. It can tell you a lot about your health and risk for disease in the future. When you get older, your doctors will need to know the details about your blood work. It is an essential part of staying healthy and happy.

Colonoscopy

After around 50, everyone should have a regular colonoscopy done. It depends on how old you are, but you should have a colonoscopy done at least every five years. A lot of doctors will have you do a colonoscopy each year. You might also need to do a colonoscopy more frequently as you get older. You should always consult your doctor about when and how often to get a colonoscopy done.

Diabetes Screening

While blood work can give you a general idea of how high your blood sugar is, you should get a full diabetes screening. At about 40, it’s necessary to get screened for diabetes every three years. As we get older, diabetes becomes a much higher risk. It is pivotal to eat well, exercise regularly, and get screened for early diabetes to avoid complications from it later. Like the other diseases, diabetes should be screened for frequently.

As humans age, their health and longevity come more into question. You don’t have to worry less about your health and upkeep when you’re young. Even when you’re young—but it is especially pertinent when you get older. Things change in the body, becoming increasingly vulnerable to disease and complications.

The most important thing is prevention. If you can catch something early and monitor what you could be at risk for, you will be able to live longer and happier. Health screenings are a massive part of this. With so many straightforward ways that health risks arise as you get older, the screenings for diseases and ailments have improved. Whether you can affect the condition or not, it’s vital to get screened for them as you get older. It doesn’t matter how healthy you are; it’s essential to keep up with where you’re and what you can do better.

Joshua K. Lopez

As a health blogger, my goal is to educate people on healthy living and wellness trends. Through my writing, I hope to promote positive mental and physical health and provide people with tips, tricks, and recipes to lead a healthier lifestyle. My work has been featured in The Huffington Post, LiveStrong, FitSugar, and more. I’ve even appeared on national television, including The Doctors.