As a woman’s body develops, it goes through many stages and changes such as puberty, pregnancy, childbearing years and menopause. Each stage can come with its health issues. Getting regular medical check-ups is important for a woman’s overall well-being and health.
Maybe you feel fine and do not think it is necessary to go through any type of medical test. There are countless individual benefits of getting regular check-ups. Here are a few reasons why you as a woman should consider it:
- Check for any medical issues
- Gauge risk for future medical problems
- Detect disease early
- Encourage a healthy lifestyle
- As an act of self-care
Whether you go to the hospital, the lab or book a test on HealthTracka, a check-up can help establish health risks and inform your lifestyle. These general check-ups can also serve as preventative health screenings. This gives a chance for diseases to be detected early. These checks are not an exhaustive list but a guide on where to begin and how frequently to get screened.
History CheckA woman’s risk of getting certain diseases is higher if they or a close family member had it before. This applies to both physical and mental illnesses. If a mum had previously suffered from depression, their child is 40% more likely to go through the same. Your personal history can be a guide on how often you should get tested, especially if you are at a higher risk.
Weight Check – BMIBody Mass Index (BMI) is a measurement that checks whether a person is over-, under-or at a healthy weight, this is calculated by dividing their weight in kilograms by the square of their height in metres. It is recommended to check your BMI every one to two years. There is an emphasis on looking good, dieting and losing weight but none on ensuring that one’s weight is healthy. Knowing your BMI can help guide your diet and exercise regime as you work towards living healthy. Obesity is not the same as being underweight or overweight, however, these states can put a person at a higher risk for certain diseases. These can include heart disease, stroke, diabetes or certain types of cancer.
Pregnancy CheckNigeria contributes to 10% of global deaths for pregnant mothers. The maternal mortality rate is high. Visiting the hospital for prenatal care is a must, there should also be an emphasis on doing medical check-ups regularly. Being pregnant puts a woman at risk of developing pre-eclampsia. This is a disorder that results in high blood pressure, can cause damage to organs and cause a woman to give birth prematurely. Having pre-existing conditions like high blood pressure (hypertension), diabetes, kidney disease or obesity during pregnancy puts a person at a higher risk of developing pre-eclampsia. In a study done on pregnant women in Nigeria, it was discovered that the incidence of pre-eclampsia was relatively high. Getting a medical check-up that is inclusive of high blood pressure and urine test is essential. Pregnant women should also be screened for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV and Syphilis at least once.
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Sexually Active Health CheckSTD screening is a proactive health action, even when a person is using protection. If one is sexually active, they need to be screened at least once a year for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, HIV, hepatitis B and syphilis. Chlamydia, among other STDs, can affect a woman\’s fertility and it often has no symptoms. Gonorrhoea, the most prevalent STD in Nigeria can also affect a woman’s fertility. STD screenings are affordable tests that you can get privately and securely at HealthTracka.
Other Health Checks
These check-ups you do not necessarily have to do annually. However, if you are at a higher risk due to history, age or pre-existing health conditions, it would be wise to order a check-up at least once a year.
Blood PressureThe only way to find out if you have hypertension (high blood pressure) or low blood pressure is to have it checked regularly. If you are at risk (family history of hypertension, stroke or heart disease) you can have it checked more than once a year.
Blood TestIt is recommended to get your cholesterol checked every 5 years. If you are at high risk for heart disease you can get it checked every one to two years. Diabetes can also be checked with a blood test. Similarly, depending on risk, you can get tested every one to three years.
Cancer TestsDepending on risk – cervical cancer screening should begin at age 21 and then every three years after that until they are 65. Breast cancer should be screened every one to two years.
Sound like a lot of tests?
Do not worry, at HealthTracka we provide individual tests and packages at affordable rates.
These include general health check-ups (which cover the annual recommended tests) and STD tests.
You can head over to the website here to book a test.
