Nearly 50% of women skip checkups - here are the checkups you should prioritize

Nearly 50% of women skip checkups - here are the checkups you should prioritize

Nearly half of women in the United States have missed preventive health care in the past 12 months. The most common reasons for missing these appointments were high cost, difficulty scheduling appointments, living too far from a provider, and a lack of awareness. Experts agree on the importance of these routine checkups and encourage individuals to create an individualized plan based on their needs.

According to a recent Ipsos survey, nearly half of women in the United States have missed a preventive health care program such as an annual well visit, a routine vaccination or a recommended test or treatment in the past 12 months.

The most common reasons for missing these routine appointments were high costs and the challenges of booking appointments. Living too far away from a general practitioner was also cited as a reason, as was a lack of awareness of the regularity of certain examinations.

While confusion, anger, or a general lack of planning can disrupt the rhythm of a person's medical appointments, regular communication with healthcare professionals is a crucial step in preventative care. During routine appointments, doctors can often identify new signs of illness that may require additional care. Early detection and treatment of a disease can halt or slow its progression and significantly improve people's quality of life.

“The reason we do these tests is to catch things early,” Amy G. Huebschmann, MD, MSc, FACP, a family physician and researcher at the Ludeman Family Center for Women’s Health Research at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, tellsHealth. “There are always things we can do.”

Getty Images/JGI/Tom Grill

Routine blood tests

Routine blood tests allow doctors to measure lipids, cholesterol levels, blood sugar levels and a complete blood count. These numbers can indicate medical conditions such as anemia or immune system problems, or chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

The American Association of Clinical Endocrinology recommends that normal-risk women be screened for lipid disorders every one to two years starting at age 55. Women with diabetes should be examined annually. Women with a family history of elevated cholesterol, heart attack, or sudden death should talk to their doctor about screening.

Most women should plan to have their blood sugar levels checked around age 35. However, women with a family history of diabetes or a personal history of gestational diabetes should have their blood sugar levels checked earlier, Dr. Handsome man. There is no set schedule for complete blood count tests, as women are primarily advised to schedule blood tests if they have abnormal symptoms.

In general, people should plan to have their blood tests done approximately every three years. However, many people need to do this annually - or possibly every three or six months - if they have abnormal test results or an underlying health condition such as high blood pressure or diabetes, Dr. said. Huebschmann.

Blood pressure screening

Blood pressure is usually measured at the beginning of every doctor's appointment. Elevated blood pressure levels can be a marker for heart disease, stroke and kidney failure, all of which can be treated with medication and lifestyle changes such as diet or weight loss, explained Mary Franklin, DNP, CNM, NCMP, FACNM, the director of the Women's Health Nurse Practitioner Program at Case Western Reserve University. “It's really important that we recognize this early,” she said.

Mental health screening

Mental health screenings generally involve a short questionnaire and can be conducted by primary care physicians, community centers, or clinics. All women ages 18 and older should be screened for depression at least once a year. The frequency of these screenings depends on each person's risk factors, comorbidities and life events.

There is evidence that 1 in 10 women in the US have experienced symptoms related to depression, and up to 1 in 8 women develop depression after giving birth. Mental health screenings are particularly important in the postpartum period, Franklin noted.

Pap tests

Pap tests, more commonly known as Pap smears, help doctors detect cervical cancer.

“It is extremely effective,” said Dr. Huebschmann. During a Pap smear, cells are scraped from the cervix and sent to a laboratory where the sample is examined. Lab technicians look for two things: traces of human papillomavirus (HPV) or abnormal changes in uterine cells that indicate cervical cancer, Dr. Huebschmann. If caught early, cervical cancer is curable, Franklin added, which is why you want to avoid skipping your routine Pap smears.

Regular Pap exams begin at age 21 and are performed every three years. At age 30, women can be tested for HPV in addition to a Pap smear - if these results are normal, they can wait another five years until their next Pap smear. This routine examination continues until the age of 65.

Mammograms

Mammograms, or breast x-rays, look for early signs of breast cancer. Up to 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime, "as common as it is, it's a really important test for women," says Dr. Huebschmann.

Most women should start getting mammograms around age 40 and repeat the procedure every one to two years. However, according to Franklin, it is based heavily on risk.

Women who have a high-risk genetic marker — such as the BRCA gene or a first-degree relative with breast cancer — should start their mammograms younger, perhaps in their 20s or 30s. People at risk may also need to undergo other types of screening, such as MRI scans or ultrasounds, to rule out cancer. You need to tailor your routine mammograms to your medical history, noted Dr. Huebschmann.

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Colon cancer prevention

Like cervical cancer, colorectal cancer is curable if detected early. "It is completely curable if caught early. The later it is caught, the more we have to do to repair it," Franklin explained.

Colonoscopies are considered the “gold standard” for detecting colon cancer, but people without risk factors who want to take a less invasive route can have a stool test. Routine colonoscopies begin at age 45; If the results are normal, the test is scheduled every 10 years.

If colon polyps are detected during colonoscopy, more frequent colonoscopies are recommended. There are different types of stool tests – some need to be done once a year, while others, according to Dr. Huebschmann can be carried out every three years.

Bone density test

Dr. Hübschmann noted that “women have a much higher risk of osteoporosis than men.”

Women are recommended to have their first bone density test at age 65. These tests, which essentially take a scan of the hip and spine to measure the thickness of the bones, help women assess their risk of future fractures. At-risk women — those who smoke, weigh less than 126 pounds, have lost at least two inches of height or have gone through menopause — may qualify for a bone density test sooner, Franklin says.

There is no set schedule for routine bone density testing, but many people can plan to be retested every two to three years. The follow-up plan will be individualized based on your test results, according to Franklin.

Screening for sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

While there are a number of STIs that women can get tested for, there are three that all women should be screened for: chlamydia, gonorrhea and HIV. Chlamydia rarely causes symptoms in women but is strongly associated with infertility, Franklin noted. Gonorrhea, on the other hand, is easier to recognize because it causes noticeable symptoms. If left untreated, it can lead to other health problems such as pelvic inflammatory disease, liver damage and arthritis, she added.

Women under 25 should be screened for chlamydia and gonorrhea at least once. Women over 25 who have new or multiple sexual partners should plan to be tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea more frequently, ideally once a year, or every three to six months if necessary. Everyone is recommended to get tested for HIV at least once - those at risk should get tested at least once a year.

Lung cancer examination

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths, primarily because it is rarely detected early. Early-stage lung cancer has a better prognosis, making routine screening potentially life-saving. Early detection of lung cancer can significantly improve longevity and quality of life, Franklin confirmed.

People between the ages of 50 and 80 who smoke or have previously smoked heavily should have their lungs checked for lung cancer. The lungs are examined using a CT scan, which is repeated annually until the patient has not smoked for 15 years.

Teeth cleaning and dental examinations

Everyone should aim to get a teeth cleaning every six months, Franklin said. People who develop tooth decay or gum disease despite regular dental cleanings may consider having their teeth cleaned every three months, Dr. Hübschmann firmly.

Regular dental cleanings not only prevent gum disease and tooth decay, but also help reduce the risk of infections and many other health problems such as heart attacks. “Good oral health really sets you up for good overall health,” Franklin said.

Creating a routine schedule

Once you meet with a doctor and go over your medical history, family history and risk factors, the frequency with which you need to have these routine health exams changes. Many of these conditions are treatable and if caught early, can improve and in some cases be cured.

Franklin acknowledged, "There are so many benefits to sitting down with someone and getting a tailored plan - how we're going to do screenings and when - just to keep people as healthy as possible."

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