Apart from maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle, women should regularly visit their doctors to get checked for various diseases and conditions (Pic: Instagram/iStock)
Actor Shefali Jariwala’s untimely and tragic death at just 42 years old is a stark reminder to young women to take care of their health. For women in their 40s, their bodies are constantly changing – as most complain of unexplained tiredness, fatigue, loss of bone and muscle mass, symptoms of perimenopause, and even brain fog.
According to experts, apart from maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle, women should regularly visit their doctors to get checked for various diseases and conditions to get timely treatment.
In your 40s there will be many physical, hormonal, and emotional transformations – which need increased awareness and proactive healthcare. A few health factors you need to look into include:
Mammograms
Mammogram tests and screenings should be performed once a year beginning at age forty for all women to detect breast cancer.
Pap smears and HPV tests
Standard cervical cancer risk screening tests need scheduling between four to five years.
Colon cancer
Colon cancer is more common in older women. But doctors say it begins to set in more than a decade after it gets diagnosed. So, it is important to get regular screenings, like stool FIT tests and colonoscopies done, which can help detect early signs of colon cancer, as it is often preventable when caught early.
Mental health screenings
Doctors say women in their 40s are prone to mental health issues, like anxiety and depression, owing to imbalanced hormones. You must see a professional who would assess your situation and, if necessary, recommend treatment that could include counselling or medication.
Cholesterol and thyroid levels
Heart health and thyroid function change because of hormonal changes among women as they hit their 40s.
Diabetes
As you reach your 40s, the risk of developing type 2 diabetes increases significantly. Regular blood sugar tests, such as the HbA1c test, help catch diabetes early, allowing for lifestyle changes and medication to prevent complications.
Bone density tests
Women who are at risk for osteoporosis need to get bone density done regularly
Heart health checks
It is extremely important to take care of their cardiovascular health – especially their blood pressure levels. Doctors say signs and symptoms of heart issues in women are different from those in men.
Gynecological consultations
Gynecological monitoring appointments help doctors track reproductive health status while offering treatment approaches to manage the distressing symptoms of perimenopause.
