Women’s health information – Imperative Screening Tests all Women must undergo

Undergoing the apt screening test during the correct time is among the highly significant steps that anyone could take towards maintaining their health. The kind of tests one must undergo is dependent on the person’s age and the risk aspects.

• Breast Cancer Screening

  Early diagnosis of breast cancer enhances one’s survival rates as the lesser the cancer has metastasized more improved are the chances of an operative cure. The smaller-sized breast tumors have lesser likelihood of spreading to the lymph nodes and other body parts. Those in their twenties or thirties and no discerned breast cancer risk aspects should ideally undergo a clinical breast examination during their routine health checkups in a time interval of every 3 years.

• Mammogram Screening

  The American Cancer Society has suggested women in their forties at average risk must get screened every year. The lesser dosage X-rays could spot lumps 3 years prior to one even being able to palpate it. However, a normal result of a mammography does not totally exclude the probability of breast cancer.

• Cervical Cancer Screening

  The cervix is the section of the uterus extending inside the vaginal cavity. When it is persistently infected with the HPV or human papillomavirus it could be a significant risk aspect of cervical cancer and facilitate its inception. Undergoing regular screening could spot it in its initial stages when it has high cure rates. It could also detect anomalous pre-malignant cells on the cervical surface which could be taken out prior to them turning malignant. Pap smear tests for cervical cancer screening involve the removal of tissue samples from the cervix to be evaluated microscopically to detect premalignant and malignant cells. These screening tests must ideally begin from twenty-one years of age and is beneficial in both prevention and detecting cervical cancer in its beginning stages.

• Cervical Cancer Vaccination

  Gardasil vaccine has received the FDA nod to be used on girls and women aged nine years and twenty-six years. It provides immunity from 4 HPV strains – a virus which is deemed the principal reason for cervical cancer. Cervarix, another vaccine got the FDA nod in the later part of 2009 to be used on girls and women aged ten and twenty-five years old and provides immunity from 2 HPV strains. However all cervical cancers are not because of HPV and other HPV strains could lead to cancer that both the vaccines cannot safeguard against. Hence, regular Pap smear tests alongside getting inoculated are the ideal way out.

• Osteoporosis and Fracture Screening

  The weakening and brittleness of the bones due to bone loss that hastens when a women turns menopausal is known as osteoporosis. Even a rather insignificant move of the body, trivial falls or such could cause excruciating bone fractures. A Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry helps in measurement of bone mass density and detection of osteoporosis prior to their occurrence. It additionally forecasts the likelihood of bone fractures in the near future. The suggested age in sixty-five years or above in women though also for women in their middle-age below 65 and having risk aspects for this condition.

• Skin Cancer Screening

  Melanoma is the perilous type of skin cancer affecting the cells producing the skin pigment. The risk rises with increased sun exposure and getting sunburnt. When spotted early on and have not yet become deep-seated could be ably treated. Self-examinations for any variations in the skin marks are important. Undergoing a skin examination that must be done alongside a regular cancer screening is imperative.

• Screening for Hypertension

  Ageing is known to be directly proportional to rise in blood pressure. Even weight gain and particular lifestyle habits could lead to hypertension. In case not detected and treated early, it could lead to aneurysm and raise the chances of cardiovascular ailments, stroke and failed kidney. Hence, blood pressure should be monitored on a regular basis, the frequency of which is dependent on how elevated it is and whether any risk aspects are involved.

• Checking Cholesterol levels

  Elevated LDL cholesterol levels could raise the likelihood of cardiovascular ailments and atherosclerosis (thickening and constriction of the arteries) eventually lead to stroke and heart attack. Cholesterol is checked by undergoing a fasting blood lipid panel test that evaluates the LDL, HDL and triglyceride levels. In adults and elderly persons one should get checked in a 5-year time interval.

• Type 2 Diabetes Screening

  Among the foremost reasons for fatalities in the U.S., diabetes could cause a huge range of problems like cardiovascular ailments, going blind, stroke, kidney problem and nerve harm. The fasting plasma glucose test helps in screening pre-diabetic and diabetic condition. Forty-five years is the recommended age for undergoing testing to be repeated in 3 years for those in good health and are at general risk of getting diabetes.

• HIV Screening

  The HIV virus leads to AIDS and transmitted during sexual contact. With no treatment or vaccination in sight, being treated in the early stages using HIV-combatant medicines could boost the body’s immunity in combating the virus. An infected person could be asymptomatic for several years. A blood analysis testing known as ELISA checks for presence of antibodies to HIV present in the blood. A Western blot assay is another test done for corroborative purposes.

• Colorectal Cancer Screening

  Colorectal cancer originate in the internal colon surface and then metastasize to other body parts and is the second prevalent reason for cancer related fatalities. A colonoscopy is a commonly used screening method wherein the complete colon is viewed with the assistance of fine, pliable, camera-fitted tube. The removal of the polyps could be done during the time of the colonoscopy procedure. A flexible sigmoidoscopy is an analogous substitute for examination of the lower portion of the colon. Fifty years is the recommended age to undergo screening.

• Glaucoma Screening

  Glaucoma could lead to becoming blind because of the harm done to the optic nerve. Mostly it is asymptomatic till quite later on. By treatment of high eye pressure during glaucoma could avert blindness. Hence, eye examinations are suggested in 2-4 years among those below forty years. Those in between forty to fifty-four years must undergo screening in 1 to 3 years time. Those in between 55-64 years must undergo testing in 1-2 years time interval and those past sixty-five years must get checked twice in a year.

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