Your metabolic rate may slow down as you get older, but that doesn’t mean you have to. From your carefree twenties to your adventurous sixties and beyond, ensure good health remains a constant as we reveal the tests and check-ups you should schedule in each decade of your life...
In Your 20s...
They might be the most responsibility-free years of your adult life, but taking care of yourself in your twenties can pay huge health dividends further down the road. One of the most important check-ups you should get are for your cervical health, which means booking in for that all-important smear test. These check for abnormal cell changes in your cervix, which can be pretty common, but which allow your doctor to investigate further if required. Another test, which you can usually ask your doctor to perform along with your smear is a breast check-up to look for abnormalities in the breast. Although breast cancer is relatively rare in younger women, it’s not unheard of, so as well as visiting the doctor, be sure to regularly self-examine too. Finally, as a Millennial, you probably spend a lot of your waking time in front of screens, be it Netflix, your phone or your work laptop, all of which makes an eye test de rigueur in your twenties. And although eyesight quality begins to decrease around the age of 40, thanks to our tech-heavy lifestyles eye strain has become a common problem for twenty-somethings.
In Your 30s...
Your thirties are a great time to check on your cholesterol, which is a high factor in heart disease, which last year became the number one cause of death in the UAE. You’ll need a blood test to undergo this check-up, and you’re looking for a result below 130. If it’s higher, you should schedule annual tests. Another important test to have in your thirties is blood pressure. At a time in a woman’s life when her career makes big strides and she may be considering marriage and children, as well as juggling a million other things, it’s important to keep an eye on your blood pressure, as a high reading could lead to problems with your kidneys or even a stroke. Sexual health should also remain a priority, and you should get tested for HPV - Human Papillomavirus - a sexually transmitted disease which, although virtually symptom-free, can cause cervical cancer. And you can get the test at the same time as you have your pap smear.
In Your 40s...
While you might be as active as you were in your twenties and thirties, now is the decade to start stepping on the scale and taking note of where the needle falls. The metabolism slows down as you age, with weight gain, especially around the waist, a potential precursor to diabetes and heart disease, which makes a weight check up with your doctor a good idea. Cholesterol and blood pressure should be checked in your forties too, and add in a blood sugar test, as weight fluctuations due to hormonal changes can put pressure on your pancreas, putting you at risk of diabetes. Pap smears and breast examinations are more vital than ever, as your risk of breast cancer is heightened between the ages of 40 and 70. Be sure to get your moles checked out on a regular basis too, as well as eye tests, during which your optician can not only check for short or long sightedness, but also for the likes of presbyopia, glaucoma and macular degeneration. Lastly, it’s worth speaking to your doctor about having the vaccinations you had as a child and teenager boosted with tetanus, diphtheria and pneumonia shots the most highly requested.
In Your 50s...
Staying fabulous at fifty requires work and effort, and you can start by scheduling a full physical examination, which will give your doctor the chance to ascertain any areas of your health you need to improve on. It’s important to note that although your childbearing years may be behind you, that regular pap smears are still to be scheduled. A waist circumference measurement and BMI test will determine how likely you are to develop diabetes, heart disease or metabolic syndrome. If you have a circumference of over 35 inches, it’s worth requesting a C-reactive protein test, which tests for blood inflammation and potential heart disease. A pelvic exam will check the condition of your uterus, cervix, ovaries and rectum, and this is certainly the decade for getting some blood work done. A glucose test will check for diabetes, while Blood Urea Nitrogen and Creatinine tests will check how your kidneys are functioning. Entering your fifties can also see your thyroid become underactive, and it’s recommended to get it tested as you enter this decade; as is a bone density test which is done using an x-ray called the DXA scan.
In Your 60s...
Weight gain is a huge issue as you get older as muscle is replaced by fat, which then collects around the waist, all while your metabolism is slowing down; therefore it’s vital to keep up your exercise routine and to watch your diet. The risk of colorectal cancer increases in your fifties and sixties, with screening recommended well into your seventies, which includes blood testing and a colonoscopy. The risk of breast cancer increases with age, so annual mammograms are highly recommended. Now is also the time to schedule in regular hearing tests, with hearing quality decreasing from the age of 65 onwards. Osteoporosis becomes a factor as you get older, and can mean risking permanent disability from even a minor fracture if you don’t stay on top of your bone health. As you have throughout your life, a visit to the dentist remains important. However, it’s not just your teeth they’ll check, as your oral health can be an indication of your overall wellbeing with gum disease increasing the risk of
heart attack.