Everything you do today will have an effect on your future health. This includes the food you eat, the amount of sleep you get, the exercises you do, and many other things. This makes it important to make healthy choices today so you can be healthier in the future, and lower the risk of developing problems as you age. This is called preventative health care. Preventative healthcare is important for everyone to consider.
It’s never too early to consider forming healthy habits, but preventative care is commonly recommended for women after 35. This is because a woman’s body will be going through lots of changes during this time. These changes happen because the body is preparing for perimenopause and menopause.
To help women after 35 get into healthy habits, let’s go over some things you should understand.
Perimenopause
Perimenopause is the time when a woman’s body is preparing itself for menopause. During this transition, women go from experiencing regular and consistent menstrual cycles to irregular cycles. Women after 35 may also experience changes in how they feel, and hormone levels can also change. This is a very important time in a woman’s life to get into healthy habits because of all the changes that their body is going through. Preventative health care can help keep symptoms in check as well.
Common health risks for women after 35
There are a few common health risks for women after 35 that all should be aware of. Two of these are osteoporosis and heart attacks.
Osteoporosis is a condition that makes bones become weak and fragile. This makes it easier for bones to break as you get older.
Heart attacks are medical emergencies. They happen when blood flow to the heart is blocked. They can be avoided by eating healthy foods, exercising at least half an hour every day, getting good sleep, and not smoking or using tobacco products. In addition to osteoporosis and heart attacks, women are at risk for other health problems like high blood pressure, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
It’s important for women to discuss these health risks and preventative health care measures with their doctors and schedule a “Well Woman” visit every year. A “Well Woman” visit is an appointment you make with your doctor or nurse, in which they will give you a check-up and tips on what preventative health care measures you could be taking. There may also be screening tests. These are medical tests that check for early signs of disease.
Tests and health screenings for women over 35
During your yearly well-woman visit, your doctor may schedule some screening tests in addition to an annual exam. These may include a pap smear test, mammogram, lipid screening, thyroid screening, and fasting blood sugar diabetes test. These screening tests are all done to detect potentially dangerous health conditions in their early stages so they can be treated. This makes screening tests an important part of your “Well Woman” visit.
When to see a doctor
You should see a doctor every year for your “Well Woman” visit. We recommend scheduling your visit at the same time every year so you never miss it.
Questions to ask your doctor
During your “Well Woman” visit, we recommend you ask the following questions:
- What screening tests should I take this year?
- Am I up to date on all my immunizations?
- What can I be doing to prevent cervical cancer?
- Are there any lifestyle changes I can make to help prevent STIs?
- Do any of my prescriptions need to be renewed?
Preventative health care for women over 35 is very important. If you need help understanding what you’re at risk for as your body changes and how it can be prevented, schedule an appointment with denova Collaborative Healthcare today!
