Monday, September 12, 2011

Medical Checkups: For 40 year Olds

Doctors usually advise patients that as soon as you hit your 30s or 40s, you should get certain age-specific medical checkups done.


A list of must-do medical checkups for 40 year olds: 

Medical Checkups for 40 year Old Men and Women 



- Exercise stress testing - If you often suffer from short-lived, but acute, chest pain, or you have a family history of coronary heart disease, then this test is a must for you in order to check the working of your heart.


- Physical cancer exam - This test must be performed on a yearly basis.


- Dental checkups - Visit the dentist once every 6 months.


- Height/weight measurements - This will determine whether your weight is within the ideal weight zone, especially since most lifestyle diseases are associated with weight gain or sudden weight loss.


- Blood Pressure - Blood pressure must be checked once in every 6 months to make sure that you don't suffer from hypertension.


- Stool sample - Stool sample test helps in detecting any kind of impurities in the blood and must be done once in every 2 years once you cross 40.


- Cholestrol - Cholesterol levels must be tested once in every 3 years from the age of 40.


- Blood sugar - Blood sugar test helps in ruling out diseases like diabetes.


- Colonoscopy - This test should ideally be performed when you have reached 50 years of age. But, people who have a family history of colon cancer should get this test done at 40 itself.


- Vaccinations - Ensure that all your vaccinations are under check once you have crossed 40. 



Medical Checkups for 40 year Old Women 


- Pap smears - This is a must-do test in order to keep cervical changes under check.


- Mammogram - If you have witnessed any changes in your breast tissue, then this is a must-do test for you. If not, even then getting a mammogram done once in 3 years will help in giving the doctor a better baseline reading for future comparisons.


- FSH test - This test helps in determining your menopause stage.


- Breast Exam - Annual breast exams are a must test for any women who has crossed 40.


- Ultrasound - Ultrasound helps in keeping any changes in the ovaries in check.


- Pelvic exam - This is an annual test which helps in trapping any changes in the vagina, fallopian tubes, bladder, rectum, uterus or vagina. 



Medical Checkups for 40 year Old Men 


- Prostate exam - This helps in making sure that there are no abnormalities. This test must be performed once in every 2 years to keep prostate cancer at bay.


- Testosterone levels - Testosterone levels must be checked once every year, to ensure normal levels.

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