The Most Important Health Screening Tests for Women
The internist scanned the chart, then frowned. "You don't have osteoporosis yet," he said. "But you definitely have osteopenia."
It was an unwelcome surprise but one that resulted in quick, corrective action.
Each month, articles appear refuting the importance of various screening tests for women. Often, they report of changes in standard guidelines or question the value of a specific test for a particular group of individuals. At those times, it's confusing to be a woman.
Here are some essential health screening tests for women. The frequency with which they should be performed sometimes varies according to the individual's health history.
Osteoporosis
It claims first place in the MedicineNet list of diseases to prevent in women. Osteoporosis involves the progressive loss of bone density, which can result in fractures. Osteopenia is a precursor to it.
The standard screening test for osteoporosis is a dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan to measure bone density. It can detect problems before a patient suffers any bone fractures, can predict the risk of future fractures and, in some cases, monitors the effects of various treatments for osteoporosis.
Guidelines from the National Osteoporosis Foundation suggest that all women who are post-menopausal but younger than 65 and at elevated risk for the disease or conditions associated with it should consider being tested. So should all women who are at least 65.
Breast Cancer
It heads the list of the most common cancers among women in the United States. Around 1 out of every 9 females who live to age 65 will develop the disease. For many of them, it strikes after that age.
There are three types of breast cancer screening. The validity of the first, self-examination, has been debated in the last few years. The second is a breast exam by a doctor. Mammography is the third.
The standard advice is that all women over 20 should perform self-exams monthly. The ideal time coincides with the monthly menstrual cycle.
Women older than 40 should have a breast exam performed by a physician at least annually. By this age, each should also have a baseline mammogram. The American Cancer Society has for years recommended that women 40 and older should have a mammogram each year if they remain in good health. A recent controversial recommendation in the news is every two years.
Some doctors believe that women with "lumpy" breasts or high risk factors for this type of cancer should have a baseline mammogram at age 35.
High Blood Pressure
It's also known as hypertension. About one out of every six Americans suffers from high blood pressure. It can result in heart attacks, congestive heart failure, strokes and kidney failure.
A physician should determine how often to conduct high blood pressure screenings on a patient whose numbers are elevated. The frequency is linked to severity of the numbers and the presence of other risk factors for heart attacks and stroke. High-normal is 130-139/85-89. Stage 1 hypertension 140-159/90-99, while stages 2 and 3 are readings of more than 160/more than 100.
Medical personnel perform the test by inflating a cuff around the patient's arm.
Cancer of the Cervix
It's third on the list of the most common gynecological cancers. The human papilloma virus (HPV) is the cause. This type of cancer usually develops over a long period of time.
Cervical cancer screening involves a Pap test in a doctor's office. The doctor sends a sample of cells on a slide to a laboratory for analysis. Women should start having yearly Pap tests as part of their yearly pelvic exam at age 18.
After two normal Pap tests, MedicineNet says that women who are in bilateral monogamous relationships may have Pap tests every two to three years.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
HIV causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Screening the blood for HIV antibodies requires an ELISA test. To confirm antibodies for AIDS, doctors order a Western blot test.
Physicians recommend that pregnant women, individuals with occupational exposure to the virus and those with a sexually transmitted infection or high-risk sexual behavior be tested.
Others
WebMD adds to this list colonoscopies to check for colorectal cancer and annual skin cancer screenings. The site stresses the need for heart disease screening using tests to check blood flow to the heart, cholesterol levels and signs of diabetes.
Sources:
MedicineNet site
WebMD site
It was an unwelcome surprise but one that resulted in quick, corrective action.
Each month, articles appear refuting the importance of various screening tests for women. Often, they report of changes in standard guidelines or question the value of a specific test for a particular group of individuals. At those times, it's confusing to be a woman.
Here are some essential health screening tests for women. The frequency with which they should be performed sometimes varies according to the individual's health history.
Osteoporosis
It claims first place in the MedicineNet list of diseases to prevent in women. Osteoporosis involves the progressive loss of bone density, which can result in fractures. Osteopenia is a precursor to it.
The standard screening test for osteoporosis is a dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan to measure bone density. It can detect problems before a patient suffers any bone fractures, can predict the risk of future fractures and, in some cases, monitors the effects of various treatments for osteoporosis.
Guidelines from the National Osteoporosis Foundation suggest that all women who are post-menopausal but younger than 65 and at elevated risk for the disease or conditions associated with it should consider being tested. So should all women who are at least 65.
Breast Cancer
It heads the list of the most common cancers among women in the United States. Around 1 out of every 9 females who live to age 65 will develop the disease. For many of them, it strikes after that age.
There are three types of breast cancer screening. The validity of the first, self-examination, has been debated in the last few years. The second is a breast exam by a doctor. Mammography is the third.
The standard advice is that all women over 20 should perform self-exams monthly. The ideal time coincides with the monthly menstrual cycle.
Women older than 40 should have a breast exam performed by a physician at least annually. By this age, each should also have a baseline mammogram. The American Cancer Society has for years recommended that women 40 and older should have a mammogram each year if they remain in good health. A recent controversial recommendation in the news is every two years.
Some doctors believe that women with "lumpy" breasts or high risk factors for this type of cancer should have a baseline mammogram at age 35.
High Blood Pressure
It's also known as hypertension. About one out of every six Americans suffers from high blood pressure. It can result in heart attacks, congestive heart failure, strokes and kidney failure.
A physician should determine how often to conduct high blood pressure screenings on a patient whose numbers are elevated. The frequency is linked to severity of the numbers and the presence of other risk factors for heart attacks and stroke. High-normal is 130-139/85-89. Stage 1 hypertension 140-159/90-99, while stages 2 and 3 are readings of more than 160/more than 100.
Medical personnel perform the test by inflating a cuff around the patient's arm.
Cancer of the Cervix
It's third on the list of the most common gynecological cancers. The human papilloma virus (HPV) is the cause. This type of cancer usually develops over a long period of time.
Cervical cancer screening involves a Pap test in a doctor's office. The doctor sends a sample of cells on a slide to a laboratory for analysis. Women should start having yearly Pap tests as part of their yearly pelvic exam at age 18.
After two normal Pap tests, MedicineNet says that women who are in bilateral monogamous relationships may have Pap tests every two to three years.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
HIV causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Screening the blood for HIV antibodies requires an ELISA test. To confirm antibodies for AIDS, doctors order a Western blot test.
Physicians recommend that pregnant women, individuals with occupational exposure to the virus and those with a sexually transmitted infection or high-risk sexual behavior be tested.
Others
WebMD adds to this list colonoscopies to check for colorectal cancer and annual skin cancer screenings. The site stresses the need for heart disease screening using tests to check blood flow to the heart, cholesterol levels and signs of diabetes.
Sources:
MedicineNet site
WebMD site
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