Essential tests women often miss out on

A woman never retires. Being completely focused on fulfilling her duties and responsibilities, they often tend to ignore their health. Many data and studies indicate that major complications like cardiac ailments, gynecological cancers like breast cancer, cervical cancer and ovarian cancer etc., are often detected very late in women. The reason may be attributed to ignorance and devotion of time from their busy schedules. In order to protect their health, the following tests (especially for post menopausal women) are a must to avoid complications

Bone Mineral Density Test

Bone loss is common as we age, but it is rapid among women after menopause. In fact, after the early 30's, woman's body adds negligible bone mass in comparison to male counterparts. Furthermore, with the decline of estrogen production in their body that helps in maintaining the strength for healthy bones after menopause, women experience dramatic drops in the estrogen production that triggers bone mineral density loss.

It is important for women to get a regular screening of their bone mineral density to avoid complications associated with weak bones. Osteoporosis is the most common and silent disease among women who cross 60 years. Patients often feel pain in the lower back and brittleness of bones.

It usually causes fracture without a known reason. The screening of bones through a test called DXA (low dose X-rays), helps in predicting the risk of bone fractures and osteoporosis. This test measures how much calcium and other types of minerals that your bones contain. Women over 60 years must undergo these tests periodically to avoid any serious complications.

Lipid Profiling

Though people of all age brackets succumb to heart attacks, women should take care of heart health, as they often tend to avoid due to their responsibilities and busy schedules. Contradictory to the thought that cardiac ailments are only restricted to be a man's disease, post menopausal women are at a higher risk for heart attacks. It has been estimated that heart attacks in post-menopausal women have taken more lives than breast cancer in India.

The incidences of heart attacks increase sharply after menopause, but now the trend is increasingly been seen among young women. Heart attacks happen when one of the main arteries of the heart gets blocked causing the heart muscle to die. Cholesterol deposits in the arteries may break open and form a blood clot that blocks flow.

Some major risk factors that lead to major cardiac health issues include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, mental stress, depression, smoking, inactivity, and menopause. The frequency of lipid profiling in women should start immediately after menopause as they tend to have blockages not only in the main arteries, but also in the smaller arteries of the heart – coronary micro-vascular disease. Lipid Profiling helps in monitoring the levels of cholesterol (HDL, LDL, Triglycerides and total cholesterol) essential for indicating and maintaining a healthy heart.

Mammogram Test

The risk for developing cancer increases if women under the age of 60 years have triple negative breast cancer, which is a type of breast cancer that lacks estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors and human epidermal growth factor receptor. A Mammogram test involves screening for the breast cancer. In this test, breasts are compressed between the X-ray plates. This is done to capture the images.

The chances of breast cancer increase with growing age. Doctors suggest that women should start annual screenings from the age of 45 and recommend mammogram twice a year. If you are having a family history of breast cancer, then the doctor might recommend for a frequent breast mammogram

Cervical Cancer Screening

Cervical cancer is cancer arising from the cervix, due to the abnormal growth of cells that have the ability to invade or spread to other parts of the body. In the early stages, the symptoms are not persistent and hence it is difficult to diagnose, but as the condition progresses, symptoms like abnormal vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain, foul smelling discharge or pain during sexual intercourse post menopause are accompanied with.

Cervical cancer screening is used to find changes in the cells of the cervix that could lead to cancer. Screening includes the Pap test and, for some women, testing for human papillomavirus (HPV). Cervical cancer screening is simple and fast. This simple test is known as the Pap test. In Pap test, a small number of cells are removed from the cervix with a brush or other tool.

The cells are put into a liquid and sent to a lab testing. For an HPV test, sometimes a sample taken for the Pap test can be used. Sometimes, two cell samples are taken. Women aged 30–65 years should have a Pap test and HPV test (co-testing) done every 5 years (preferred). Doctors recommend having the Pap test alone every 3 years.

Thyroid (TSH), T3 and T4

Thyroid function tests are the series of blood tests which are conducted to measure the working of the thyroid gland and can affect women of all ages, but highly prevalent in women aged 60 years or above. It is important for women to get their thyroid tested at every year or as per the doctor's recommendation. (The author is CEO & founder at 3hcare, a leading health service provider)