A woman in her thirties is at the peak of her life with many things happening during this juncture. Managing family, work, friends often becomes a stressful task that she tends to forego or ignore the needs of her health. It is vital that she makes conscious lifestyle changes to ensure that she has a smooth and healthy transition toward the forties and the fifties. Majority of women in the thirties have ailments related to skin, bones, heart, fertility, eyes and ears. Though every woman is different by design, there are certain health guidelines that a woman in her thirties should ensure to follow for her own sake. There are various screenings that are available that can help to nip any grave ailment in the bud. Below are few recommended screenings for a woman in her thirties.
1. Skin health
Percentage of women risking skin cancer is steadily rising. It claims more than two thousand lives a year and is more among women in their thirties. Exposure to the sun, genetics, age, complexion and lifestyle are some of the factors that contribute to skin cancer. Suspicious mole, growths should never be ignored and calls for immediate medical attention to rule out any type of cancer. Screening for skin cancer is often recommended if there is history of the disease within the family.
2. Fertility
Fertility dips when a woman reaches her mid thirties. If there have been efforts to conceive for more than a year without much success, a woman should approach her doctor for fertility tests. Leading experts recommend women to undergo fertility test at the age of thirty. Tests combined with other medical assessments will help a woman to conceive naturally.
3. Bone health
A woman loses about 0.5% of bone mass every year from age 30 onwards. This means, there is less bone density which is so essential to support the whole body structure. This leads to osteoporosis which increases the risk of fracture. A woman in her thirties should go for the bone density scan. This method is quite reliable to assess a person’s current bone strength than putting off the scan for later years.
4.Eye and ear exam
Once a woman reaches her thirties, an eye and ear exam is required every two to four years. Audiometric tests the capacity of a person to hear sounds with respect to intensity and tones. A slit lamp test assesses the interior structure of the eye and examines for any problems, if any. It is advisable to undergo these exams every 10 years after age 18.
5.Hormones
Most women experience hormonal problems in the thirties. Hormonal imbalance can affect a woman adversely, both physically as well as emotionally. Tests are done to check the levels of hormones causing imbalance to the woman. Based on the tests, a woman can get medical support to treat or manage the hormonal imbalance in an effective way.
6. Pap test
A pap smear detects cancerous cells or such conditions of the cervix. It is advisable to start the screenings every three years from the age of 20. If a woman is over thirty, and the Pap smear test results in negative, the doctor may prescribe a test every three years. Though this test is not 100 percent accurate to screen for cervical cancer, it can reveal abnormalities and can indicate further follow-ups, if required.
7. Thyroid test
When the hormones begin to change in the thirties, women are susceptible to thyroid related problems, such as weight gain, hair or skin changes, bowel disorders, fertility problems, neck enlargement, mood swings, rise in cholesterol and exhaustion. Thyroid function test will reveal if the hormone is working well or not and will prescribe for appropriate treatment. It is recommended to take this test every 5 years after age 35.
8.Blood pressure
There are three out of four women who experience high blood pressure in the thirties. It is essential that the levels of blood pressure is monitored and be aware of the conditions that exist with blood pressure. High blood pressure leads to hypertension, stroke, and heart attacks and failures. Checking the pressure every two years is recommended for women who have reached their thirties.
9. Heart health
Depending on various factors such as age, weight and lifestyle, a woman is under risk of a heart disease even in the thirties. Screening for the cholesterol levels through a simple blood test will reveal if there is high cholesterol. If there is a family history of heart disease or there is a risk factor, it is recommended to check the levels every 2 years.
10. Diabetes
Prevention of diabetes helps in controlling various serious complications. Blood tests will reveal the glucose level in the blood and indicate if the body is functioning well to regulate the sugar. This can be checked every year.