Here are some Essential Preventive Health Checks for Women

Women’s health is a crucial topic that often goes overlooked. Regular health check-ups and preventive screenings are essential for all women to ensure good physical, mental, and emotional health. These screenings can detect potential health problems before they become more serious, and early diagnosis often means a better chance of successful treatment. Women should also be encouraged to discuss their medical history and any symptoms they may be experiencing with their healthcare provider. Apart from this, every woman must be secured with a Mediclaim policy or health insurance for women, as health insurance plans provide financial protection during medical emergencies. Let’s explore the benefits of a medical check-up and the tests recommended for different age groups.

Benefits of preventive health checks

Some of the benefits of a health check-up are:

1. Early detection of diseases:

When a disease or illness is detected early, the chances of getting cured without any complications are high.

2. Health assessment:

Preventive health check-ups help assess a person’s health and the probability of illness or diseases.

3. Long-term wellness:

By keeping track of their health status, women start focusing on long-term wellness and not on the short-term.

>4. Staying healthy:

It inspires people to follow a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet, exercise and stay away from unhealthy habits like consuming junk food, alcohol, smoking, etc.

5. Reduces medical expenses:

When you are able to track your health condition with preventive health check-ups, your medical expenses are reduced, which otherwise would have been spent on emergency hospitalisations or treatments.

6. Tax benefits:

Under section 80D of the Income Tax Act, you can claim a tax deduction of up to Rs 5,000 in a financial year.

List of health checks

For 11-12 years old

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common viral reproductive tract infections, causing cancers like cervical cancer. For protection against all kinds of HPV, girls of this age group are recommended to take the HPV vaccine. However, almost 90% of HPV infections usually get cured within two months.

For 20 years

Annual screening is a must to get treated for any issues related to menstruation, infertility, unwanted pregnancy, or menopause. If a woman experiences symptoms such as pain in the vagina, abnormal uterine bleeding, or a lump in the breast, she should consult a gynaecologist immediately.

For 21-29 years

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), all women in this age group should get a Pap smear test done at regular intervals, which can be every 3 years or as recommended by the doctor. However, this test is not recommended for women below 21 years of age. Regular screening for cervical cancer is also a must to check the health of your cervix and protect yourself from cervical cancer. These screenings will help detect pre-cancers or any signs and symptoms of the diseases and get treated. Even if you have taken the HPV vaccine, it is good to go for regular screening because the vaccine doesn’t prevent all HPV infections. Cervical cancer screening is like a Pap smear but is done specifically to diagnose HPV.

For 30-year-olds

Women in their 30s are advised to get either a Pap test done every 3 years, the HPV test every 5 years, or both tests every 5 years. If HPV tests are normal, you must undergo a Pap test every 5 years. In this age group, anaemia or iron deficiency is common among pregnant or new mothers. If you feel fatigued or have shortness of breath, get a blood test to check your iron levels.

For 40-year-olds

After age 40, every woman should get a mammogram and X-Ray of her breasts done regularly because the risk of breast cancer is relatively high as a woman gets older. If breast cancer is detected early, there is a high chance of getting cured. If there’s a family history of breast cancer or any symptoms, it is advised to get tested as soon as possible. Remember not to go for a mammogram a week prior to your period because your breasts are already tender during this time.

For 45-50 years

When a woman is nearing 50, it is recommended to go for colon cancer screening. Persistent changes in bowel movements, such as constipation, diarrhoea, or blood in stool, could imply the initial stages of colon cancer. Women also get menopause during this age, so look for menopausal symptoms like mood swings, hot flashes, and sexual dysfunction.

For 65 years and above

After age 60, women must get their bone density tested because our bones become brittle and break easily. Since women have lower bone density than men, the likelihood of women developing osteoporosis is more, leading to fractures and other related complications. The bone density test becomes even more important for those who have a family history of osteoporosis. In addition to the bone test, all women above 65 should have a full body screening every year, including heart, cholesterol levels, diabetes, hearing and vision tests, etc.

Conclusion

There are many benefits of a health check-up for women. They help in the early detection of diseases, and regular checks also help in knowing the various risk factors for any illness and thus preventing complications at later stages. Since women have unique health needs, it is critical to go for health screenings for various problems as recommended and maintain their overall well-being. In addition to the health checks, it is also imperative to have health insurance plans or health insurance for women to stay financially secure during medical emergencies. Remember to renew your Mediclaim policy on time to avail yourself of the coverage benefits.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.