We all want to have good health. At the end of the day, being in good health is what allows us to do the things we want to do, uninhibited by pain or physical limitations. The good news is that there are all sorts of steps you can take to keep yourself in the best health possible. Of course, there are the clear requirements, such as eating a healthy balanced diet, remaining within your recommended calorie count and getting one hundred and fifty minutes of moderate aerobic exercise a week. But there are other important elements to staying as healthy as possible too. A good example is keeping up with routine health checks. We’re recommended to attend specific health appointments at specific intervals of time for good reason. These checks give your healthcare specialist the chance to survey your body and determine whether you are well or need to make lifestyle changes or undergo treatment in order to be as fit and healthy as possible. Here are a few that you should make sure to book in if you’re a woman.
General Health Checks
There are general health checks that everyone should attend. If you are experiencing an injury, illness or anything else causing you severe pain or serious symptoms, you should, of course visit A&E or an emergency dentist (whichever is more appropriate for your condition). If you are noticing any other, less severe, changes in your health, you should visit your doctor in a regular appointment. You should also visit your dentist once every six months for a checkup, as well as your optician once every two years for an eye test and eye appointment.
Cervical Screening
If you’re over the age of 25, you need to book in for a cervical screening appointment. You may also hear this routine health check referred to as a “smear test” or a “pap smear” – these are all one and the same thing. Put simply, cervical screening is a health check that aims to analyze the cellular material in your cervix, which is the entrance or “barrier” that separates your womb and your vagina. The test will keep a look out for – and if present, highlight – any irregularities in this material. If there are, further checks for cancerous cells will be carried out. In short, this is a test that can help to highlight cervical cancer in its early stages, allowing treatment to commence as soon as possible if any issues are found. The regularity of your checks will depend on your age. From the age of 25 to 44, you will usually attend once every three years. Between the ages of 45 and 60, the frequency goes down, with checks being carried out once every five years.
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Gynecological Exams
If you notice any changes to your menstrual cycle or reproductive organs, you may want to check in for a gynecological exam. These professionals will be able to diagnose any symptoms and provide referrals or relevant treatment.
Hopefully, some of the information above has introduced you to, or reminded you to book in, some routine health checks that are essential for your wellbeing!
Photo by MART PRODUCTION
