One of the most important things you can do as you get older is to make sure you get regular checkups. Even if you feel fine, you must see your doctor for screenings and tests that can help detect health problems early on. By catching health issues early, you can often treat them more effectively and avoid serious health complications down the road.
The 30s are a great time to start taking care of your health. You’ve probably noticed numerous changes and difficulties during these years, which might lead to significant illness or even death if left unchecked. As a result, regular checkups are critical for prevention.
Regular Checkups You Shouldn’t Neglect
You need to do many important things in your 30s to set yourself up for a successful future. But one of the most important is ensuring regular checkups and screenings. By catching health problems early on, you can often treat them more effectively and avoid serious health complications down the road.
Here are six regular checkups you shouldn’t miss in your 30s:
Blood Pressure and Cholesterol Check
As you get older, your heart disease and stroke risk increase. Your doctor may prescribe medication to help you reduce your risk of heart disease if you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
Your doctor will probably want to check your blood pressure and cholesterol levels every six months. Regular exercise and avoiding foods like saturated fats can also help lower your risk of heart disease.
Mammogram and Pap Smear
If you’re a woman, these tests are highly recommended. Mammograms can help detect breast cancer, while pap smears can help detect cervical cancer early when it’s most treatable. A new study has shown that it’s better to get a mammogram starting at age 30. You should get a Pap smear every three years beginning at age 21.
If you’re diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer, your doctor will likely recommend surgery, radiation therapy, and/or chemotherapy.
Eye Exam
Your vision can change as you age, so it’s crucial to have an annual eye exam. This will help ensure you can see clearly and catch any vision problems early on.
An eye exam typically consists of three parts:
- Patient History: Your doctor will ask about any problems with your eyesight and any health conditions you may have.
- Vision Test: The vision test will measure how well you can see at different distances.
- Eye Health Examination: This test will check for any changes in your eyes that could indicate a health problem.
Common eye problems include dry eyes, cataracts, glaucoma, temporal arteritis, age-related macular degeneration, and presbyopia.
Blood Sugar Test
High blood sugar levels can damage your nerves and blood vessels. This can lead to serious health problems such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and blindness.
A blood sugar test is a simple test measuring the sugar in your blood. Your doctor will likely recommend that you get this test every year.
Skin Exam
Your skin is the largest organ in your body, so it’s important to take care of it. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer of the skin. If you notice any changes in your skin, such as a new mole or a change in an existing mole, you should see your doctor right away.
Your doctor may use a dermatoscope, a tool that magnifies and lights up the skin, to help look for changes in your moles. If your doctor finds a suspicious mole, they will likely remove it and send it to a laboratory for testing. A biopsy will be done to check for cancer cells.
Dental Exam
Even if you have no dental problems, you must see your dentist every six months for a cleaning and checkup. A typical dental problem as we age is that our jaw will continue to expand, causing an increase in crowding and narrowing of our teeth. If you wait to treat an overbite or crooked teeth, the problem will not get better.
Some refuse treatment at this age because they don’t want braces, or they don’t want to be seen wearing them. However, more discrete options, such as the Invisalign treatment that uses clear plastic aligners, are available. They’re also detachable, so you can take them out for special occasions.
Vaccination
As you age, your immune system weakens, making you more susceptible to diseases. Getting vaccinated against diseases such as influenza, pneumonia, and shingles is essential. You should also get a tetanus booster every ten years. CDC recommends getting Hepatitis A and B, also Human Papillomavirus (HPV).
Your doctor can help you determine your necessary vaccines based on age, health conditions, and lifestyle.
Final Thoughts
These are just some of the regular checkups you shouldn’t miss in your 30s. Be sure to talk to your doctor about which screenings and tests are right for you. Regular checkups are essential to staying healthy and catching health problems early on.
