Your Wellness Check: Annual Health Screenings For Women Over 50

If your goal is to prolong your life – and to live happily and healthily while you’re here – it’s going to take more than just healthy eating and exercise. Don’t get me wrong, those are two major components, but another core piece of the puzzle is staying on top of your health from a medical perspective, including seeing doctors for regular check-ups. Right now, the only way we can truly investigate our symptoms and know if we’re living with a disease is by seeing a doctor and getting tested for it. Once I hit 50, I made it a priority to get these regular health checks each year, to make sure if I did have anything going on, I could catch and treat it early. So for this week’s blog post, I’m sharing a list of the most important health screenings and tests for women over 50.

Fortunately, these tests are usually categorized as “preventative care” in the world of health insurance, meaning your plan should cover them. That said, you should absolutely confirm your coverage beforehand so you don’t get slapped with a large medical bill.

Here are the tests and screenings we all need: 

1. Mammogram 

A mammogram is how doctors screen for breast cancer – and women over 50 are usually told to get one annually or every two years. Whether or not you have any concerning symptoms (like a lump, pain, or nipple discharge), it’s important for every woman to get a mammogram regularly, as breast cancer incidence rates are increasing. 

2. Pap Smear and HPV Test

A pap smear and HPV test are done to check the health of our reproductive health system and to screen for cervical cancer and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). To get these, you have to see a gynecologist or OB/GYN. If you’ve never had these tests before, you can learn more about what to expect here. 

3. Bone Density Test

Our bone density starts to deteriorate as we age and with that comes an increased risk of osteoporosis (read more about that here). A bone density test (also called a DEXA scan) can determine your bone strength and detect osteoporosis early. Generally, people over 50 get this test every two years, but ask your doctor what they recommend. 

4. Blood Pressure Check

If you go to the doctor every year for a physical, then you can check this test off the list! You can also get this one done at a pharmacy, if they have a clinic and a blood pressure machine. Given the prevalence of heart disease and stroke, it’s important to get your blood pressure checked every year. 

5. Colonoscopy

I have to say, this is my least favorite test, but I’d choose a colonoscopy over getting colon cancer any day. If you don’t have a family history of colon cancer, it’s recommended that you get a colonoscopy every 10 years, otherwise, see what your doctor suggests. I think everyone over 50 should have a go-to gastroenterologist, especially that our digestive system can change and slow down with age. 

6. Eye Exam

When we’re children, we mostly get eye exams to check our vision – and while that’s important as we get older, eye exams become more crucial because they check for glaucoma, cataracts, and age-related macular degeneration. If you have glasses or contacts, then you probably already get your eyes checked each year, which is great. If you don’t, make an appointment with an optometrist or ophthalmologist for a routine eye exam. 

7. Hearing Test 

This test is more so just to check your hearing, because we all start to lose it over time. If you’re dealing with a hearing impairment, seeing an ear doctor or audiologist means you’ll become educated on your options (e.g. if you want a hearing aid). 

8. Skin Cancer Screening 

Skin cancer is shockingly prevalent – with ~9,500 people in the U.S. getting diagnosed every day. You all know I’m a huge proponent of sunscreen, and this is why! We all need yearly skin checks, or more frequently if we have an unusual mole or skin mark that hasn’t been checked before (or has changed). A quick trip to the dermatologist could save you from serious medical intervention in the future.

9. Cholesterol Screening 

When’s the last time you got your cholesterol checked? If your answer isn’t last year (or the year before if you’re under 65), then you’re due! Also called a lipid panel, a cholesterol test checks the amount of cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood. Getting this test regularly is so, so important, especially because having high cholesterol doesn't come with any symptoms, but it’s linked to multiple diseases. If you get a basic metabolic panel, a lipid test is usually included. 

10. Blood Glucose Test 

This test measures the sugar levels in your blood, and if your levels fall outside of the normal range, you may be dealing with a serious condition. Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, can result from type 1 diabetes and liver disease, while high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) is a sign of diabetes and can have serious long-term health consequences, like insulin resistance. 

 11. Thyroid Function Test

This is another annual blood test for you – this one’s to ensure that your thyroid is working correctly, and that you aren’t experiencing hypothyroidism (an overactive thyroid) or hyperthyroidism (an underactive thyroid). 

12. Vitamin D Test  

Finally, we have a vitamin D test. Given how important vitamin D is for bone health (read more on that here) and mental health, it’s recommended that we receive this test annually. That way, if our levels are low, we can supplement with vitamin D and maintain optimal mental and bone health.

That’s it! I know it feels like a lot, but you do NOT have to get these checks all at once or in quick succession. The idea is to use these tools to stay on top of your health and get ahead of any serious medical conditions, if necessary. Also, keep in mind that a lot of these tests can be done by the same doctor within the same visit (looking at you, blood tests), while others don’t need to be tested every year. The goal of this list is to remind you of the various ways you can keep tabs on your health, and remind you of the importance of getting these different parts of the body checked out. 

Now go forth and ask your doctors what you need, and get up to date on those tests you’ve been putting off! There’s no time like the present to improve your health – and the sooner we do it, the better off we’ll be in years to come.

Xo, 

Renata