What tests should women have after the age of 50?

What tests should women have after the age of 50?

You should look after your health at every age.  Unfortunately, with each passing year, the risk of many ailments, conditions and diseases increases.

Around the age of 50, women go through the menopause, sometimes called the change of life. The first signs of the approaching menopause may become noticeable earlier, during what is known as premenopause. These usually include:  mood swings, menstrual irregularities, irritability, tiring easily, hot flushes, insomnia and unexplained weight gain.  It is worth considering the available test package – Menopause,  which helps  identify the onset of the menopause by measuring the levels of the sex hormone oestradiol and FSH, a hormone released by the pituitary gland.

Furthermore, women over the age of 50 may be more likely to develop ischaemic heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, cancers (e.g. of the breast, lung, bronchus, bowel or cervix), and even stroke. Regular preventive tests can detect many dangerous diseases before they have had a chance to develop. This allows treatment to begin early, giving the patient a greater chance of a full recovery.

Consultations and tests that women over 50 should remember

The basic tests that every woman over the age of 50 should have once a year are:

• Full blood count with automated differential.  This test provides information about potential diseases and conditions, such as anaemia, immune deficiencies, anaemia or blood clotting disorders.
• ESR, or erythrocyte sedimentation rate, may be 15-30 mm/godz. in women over the age of 50.  The test can detect, among other things: inflammation in the body, infection, allergies, rheumatic diseases,  liver conditions and cancerous conditions.
• Urinalysis is one of the simplest, non-invasive laboratory tests, used to assess the functioning of the kidneys, bladder and urinary tract. It can detect diabetes, liver problems and urinary tract diseases.
• A faecal occult blood test is performed to diagnose or rule out stomach or duodenal ulcers, bleeding polyps, bowel cancer or intestinal inflammation.
• A general stool examination is a basic bacteriological and chemical analysis of stool that can detect parasitic infections, digestive disorders, malabsorption, gastrointestinal bleeding and diarrhoea.
• A lipid profile (cholesterol) test  assesses the risk of atherosclerosis, its consequences and cardiovascular diseases. It measures levels of total cholesterol, HDL, bad LDL cholesterol and triglycerides.
• TSH, or thyroid-stimulating hormone testing, measures a hormone released by the pituitary gland and helps assess whether the thyroid gland is functioning properly.
• A creatinine test is performed to diagnose and assess the extent of kidney damage and to assess the glomerular filtration rate.
• A ferritin test helps assess iron levels in the body. An increase in this protein may indicate, for example, inflammation, liver damage, spleen damage or rheumatoid arthritis.
• A glucose test is a basic test used to diagnose diabetes, prediabetes and a disease that accelerates the development of atherosclerosis.
• Measurement of total calcium levels is performed to assess overall health, as well as to diagnose malignant tumours (and their metastases), hyperparathyroidism, hypocalcaemia or chronic kidney failure.
• A uric acid test is used to diagnose gout, kidney diseases, proliferative disorders, lead poisoning and extensive tissue damage.
• An alkaline phosphatase (ALP) test measures one of the liver enzymes, which is also found in the bones and intestines. Raised ALP levels may be caused by liver disease, kidney disease, hyperparathyroidism or a deficiency of calcium, vitamin D or phosphorus.
• This is a test for a liver enzyme, an increase in which may indicate diseases of the liver and bile ducts.
• AST is a test for an enzyme found in the liver, heart muscle, skeletal muscles, kidneys, pancreas and erythrocytes. Raised levels of these enzymes may indicate severe liver damage or the breakdown of cancerous tumours.
• Vitamin D3 is called the “elixir of life” because it protects against a range of lifestyle-related diseases. The main role of vitamin D is to regulate and control calcium and phosphorus levels in the blood and support the functioning of the circulatory system. Vitamin D3 levels that are too low cause many chronic diseases, which may include heart conditions, conditions associated with deteriorating bone health and autoimmune diseases. Scientists at Ulster University (United Kingdom) have demonstrated that vitamin D deficiency causes the immune system to function abnormally.If you take vitamin D3 supplements, you must obtain vitamin K2 from food (fermented vegetables, cheeses). Vitamins D3 and K2 work synergistically with calcium and magnesium. Vitamins D3 and K2 in particular must go hand in hand, because the biological activity of K2 is weakened by a lack of vitamin D3. It turns out that vitamin K2 deficiency can be just as dangerous as vitamin D3 deficiency and may cause brittle bones or vascular disorders.

Every woman who has become sexually active or reached the age of 20 should book an annual gynaecological consultation. After the age of 50, the risk of various diseases, including gynaecological conditions, increases, so this appointment should not be neglected.  Tests that should be performed during the appointment include:

• A transvaginal ultrasound, or gynaecological ultrasound,  which allows the doctor to assess the appearance and functioning of organs such as the uterus, vagina, ovaries and fallopian tubes.

• Cervical cytology , which involves taking a tissue sample from the cervix. This is a test that women over the age of 50 should have  once a year. A cervical smear allows early detection of changes in cervical tissues that may indicate a developing cancer, but also enables the diagnosis of inflammation of the vagina, fallopian tubes or mucous membrane.

It is also worth purchasing a CA125 tumour marker test – a test for a cancer antigen used in the diagnosis of ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, endometrial cancer or lung adenocarcinoma.

The risk of developing breast cancer increases with age. The greatest increase in cancer incidence is seen in women between the ages of 50 and 70, which is why breast self-examination and specialist tests play such an important role in cancer prevention. These tests include:

• Mammography, an X-ray examination of the breasts. It should be performed once a year for all women over the age of 50. The examination can detect both small changes and serious cancerous conditions.  Importantly, a breast X-ray can detect early changes that often do not show up on a breast ultrasound.
• Breast ultrasound, an ultrasound examination that allows the doctor to assess the structure of the breasts,  mammary glands, milk ducts and connective tissue. Ultrasound can detect, among other things, lumps and cysts.

Women over the age of 50 should have an abdominal ultrasound once every three years. This assesses the condition of the abdominal organs (liver, pancreas, kidneys, spleen and gallbladder), allowing abnormalities to be detected.

Once every 5-8 years, it is worth booking a colonoscopy, an endoscopic examination of the lower gastrointestinal tract that can  detect bowel cancers or polyps.

Women should have a chest X-ray once every two years, or once every three years if they smoke, to help diagnose lung diseases. The X-ray examination assesses the size of the heart and aorta, enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes or fluid in the pleural cavities. Indications for more frequent chest X-rays include: difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, chest pain or a chronic cough.

After the age of 50, the risk of heart and circulatory diseases increases, so it is very important to check your blood pressure regularly – at least every 3 months. Blood pressure is monitored to help prevent coronary heart disease, atherosclerosis, stroke and heart attack. Normal blood pressure should remain between 120/80 mm Hg and 135/85 mm Hg.

An ECG with a written interpretation should also be performed once a year. This test records the electrical activity of the heart muscle. Electrocardiography assesses the regularity of the heartbeat, heart rate, and whether the heart’s ventricles are of a normal size and position.

Women experiencing chest pain, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath should book a consultation with a cardiologist, during which the doctor will perform an additional ECG. People with respiratory diseases should also see a respiratory specialist and book spirometry with a written interpretation.

Another important test after the age of 50 is bone densitometry – a test that assesses bone density and the risk of developing osteoporosis.

Regular eye checks are also very important – once every two years. An ophthalmology consultation allows early detection of glaucoma, cataracts and many eye diseases. The assessment should include examination of the back of the eye, measurement of pressure inside the eye and visual acuity testing.

It is best to prevent diseases. However, if illness does develop, those who start tackling it very early have the greatest chance of a full recovery. That is why you should think about yourself and take care of prevention, including having your health checked by specialists.

Most of the tests that every woman over the age of 50 should have are available on BadamySie.pl. You can also purchase the “Woman 50+” test package here, which includes most of the laboratory tests listed above.

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