My blog focuses on Health/Wellness. Our bodies change as we age as do our health considerations. Likewise, it is important to know what things you should look out for. The following contributed post is entitled, Important Checks To Make To Your Health As You Get Older.
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As you get older, your body is not getting any younger in its performance. We all don’t quite realize the impact age can have when it comes to our bodies. However, it’s important to remember that age is just a number and it doesn’t mean you should stop doing what you love doing once you hit a certain milestone.
However, there are some important checks to be mindful of as you get older to make sure you’re looking after your body. Preventative efforts are best made to ensure your health is at its best, especially as you get older. Let’s take a look at what some of those important checks should be.
Cardiovascular and metabolic health
It’s important to keep an eye on your blood pressure, as this should be checked regularly to ensure it’s at an appropriate level. High blood pressure can often be symptomless, but it increases the risk of heart disease and strokes.
Regular tests to check LDL, HDL, and triglycerides are useful to help prevent atherosclerosis, as well as heart problems. Blood sugar is something to be mindful of, especially as the risk of Type 2 diabetes can be present in those of an older age.
Of course, a heart health check in the way of an ECG is important to check for arrhythmias or heart disease.
Organ and musculoskeletal function
Your organs and musculoskeletal functions are also important to monitor. Bone density scans are highly recommended for women post-menopause and men who are over 65 to help detect osteoporosis and also fracture risk.
Blood panels can help assess kidney and liver functions to see how well they’re performing. A thyroid function test is useful to do, as an underactive or overactive thyroid can result in fatigue and weight gain, which is common with age, too.
As well as all that, musculoskeletal assessments are good to do to test joint flexibility and muscle strength.
Cancer screenings
The big C word that no one wants to hear. Cancer screenings are a crucial part of checking up on your health, especially as you get older, and particularly in the case where there’s a family history of it.
From bowel cancer screenings to breast, prostate, and skin cancer checks. It’s good to be proactive and get booked in for any screenings you’re eligible for.
Sensory and cognitive health
Sensory and cognitive health is important to be mindful of, too, especially as you get older. A cognitive test helps spot the early signs of dementia or memory issues in general. Eye examinations are great for detecting glaucoma, macular degeneration, and cataracts.
A hearing test is also useful to get done routinely to manage any age-related hearing loss and to ensure quality of life is maintained, too.
Preventive and general health
Preventative health is always important to lead with, and so getting any vaccinations regularly is helpful. Dental checkups help to prevent gum disease and tooth decay. Medication reviews are helpful to check for any side effects and interactions to ensure your medications are still required where applicable.
Prioritize your health now more than ever, especially as you start to climb the ladder of age.
