Whether each morning starts with a scavenger hunt for your keys or you’re so organized that you have automated reminders to send birthday cards, one thing is for sure: It’s hard to keep tabs on your health when every medical test and screening has its own guidelines. That’s why we’re putting it all in one place. Take a look and then start scheduling your appointments.
1. Blood Pressure
You should get your blood pressure checked at least every 2 years if your reading is normal and at least every year if it’s abnormal. High blood pressure can lead to heart disease, kidney failure, or stroke, so get comfortable with the sphygmomanometer (that pump and arm cuff device).
High cholesterol is a risk factor for heart disease and the only way to detect it is with a blood test. If your LDL or “bad” cholesterol is higher than 130, you should get retested annually. If it’s lower, you can wait 5 years to do it again.
3. Thyroid Test
An underactive thyroid, measured via blood test, can lead to weight gain; an overactive thyroid can indicate an autoimmune disease. Get tested for thyroid disorders at 35, or younger if you have symptoms like unexplained changes in mood, weight, sleep habits, and cholesterol level. Ask your doctor when you should have it rechecked.
4. Skin Cancer Screening
Melanoma and other skin cancers aren’t a concern only limited to people who use tanning beds. Fair-skinned women are at higher risk for skin cancer than people with darker skin. People who’ve had bad sunburns before age 18 and those who’ve had a close family member with melanoma are also more likely to get skin cancer.
Do a self-exam every month looking for moles that are asymmetrical, larger than a pencil eraser, or have an irregular border or color. Alert a dermatologist if moles or spots are changing, growing, or bleeding. See a dermatologist annually for a full-body exam.
5. Pap Smear
The Pap smear is a screening that detects inflammation and infection on the cervix and abnormal cells, which may signal cervical cancer. The new guidelines on Pap smears state that women over 30 who have had three consecutive "normal" results can wait three years between Paps.