What Preventative Tests Should I Take After I Hit 30?

Introduction

Our 30s are a time when we experience a rather heavy load of responsibilities – both on a personal as well as professional front. During these years and the years to follow, there is often not enough time for fun activities let alone time to focus on our mental health and physical well-being. Stress and anxiety start to take a toll on us. 

While occasional doctor visits are fine when something goes wrong, a proactive approach towards your health can save you immense time, pain and effort down the road. Medical tests are diagnostic screening tests that you can take before you notice any symptoms or feel sick. These can detect any potential danger signs and treatment can start right away. This is called preventive care and it can save lives. 

Here are a Few Tests You Should Consider Undergoing

Cholesterol Blood Test

The cholesterol levels in your blood are highly correlated with your heart and overall health and being 30 is no excuse to ignore your heart health. Even if you do not have diabetes or are not obese and seem to be physically fit, many people can still have increased levels of bad cholesterol or LDL which can adversely affect their heart health if it is left unchecked. Getting a Lipid profile test not only reveals your LDL level but also screens for other things like triglycerides and HDL, which means you’ll know your levels of these as well.  

Blood Pressure

Blood pressure can be easily affected by many factors like work stress, diet and personal factors (family issues or similar). The ideal blood pressure in a resting state is 120/80. Our blood pressure changes throughout the day and at different stages of our lives. That is why it is best to let your doctor decide if your present blood pressure reading is normal. If it is not, then you may have to undergo frequent blood pressure checks and take blood pressure medication as well. 

Heart-Related Medical Check-Ups

There are several heart-related medical tests you can do by the time you turn 35 but that is the latest recommended age to start. It would be more preferable if you can begin getting your heart tested earlier (especially if you’re experiencing some kind of chest pain, irregularity of heartbeat or pulse rate, tightness in the chest, etc). An ECG test measures the electrical signals from your heart as it beats while an Echo test uses sound waves to view your heart, its structure and any abnormalities in real-time. This can allow a cardiologist to find out if you have any risk of developing heart disease and it should be repeated yearly even if your results are normal. There are some blood tests called cardiac risk markers which can also help in assessing heart health.

Cancer Screening

For both men and women, there are several cancer screenings you can undergo in your 30s and 40s as recommended by the oncology community. A Pap Smear test looks for precancerous changes in the cervix of women, it should be conducted at least every 5 years but in conjunction with the Human Papillomavirus test once a woman turns 30. For men, there is the Prostate Cancer screening test, which is a medical test of the blood that helps to determine your risk of developing prostate cancer. It needs to be done every 2 or 3 years. 

Women should also consider making breast examination a part of their yearly medical check-up along with their regular physical examination. Usually, women younger than 40 are not recommended to undergo a mammogram. This examination helps in the early detection of breast cancer which can help in treating it timely.

Lastly, a full body examination to screen for skin cancer is also vital when you’re in your mid-30s, it should be repeated as often as possible since melanoma is one of the most common types of cancer. 

Blood Sugar Test

Diabetes is on the rise and almost 77 million people in India live with diabetes. To prevent diabetes or if you are in the pre-diabetes stage, then you need to get a blood sugar test done annually. Both fasting and postprandial blood glucose tests along with HbA1c are recommended to help your doctor understand if you are at risk of developing diabetes. 

General Tests

Apart from the above-mentioned medical check-ups, there are a number of other screening tests you should do, if not yearly then at least every 2 years (again, this is regardless of any preexisting symptoms).

• The Thyroid Function Test, Kidney Function Test and Liver Function Test are tests for 3 major systems/organs in your body – your Thyroid gland, your kidneys and liver. Usually, these are covered by laboratory testing and such tests are some of the first that are recommended if your doctor thinks you may have an issue within these systems but there is no need to wait for issues to develop. 
• Vitamin D and Calcium are not only important for your bone health but also play many important roles to keep you healthy too. You should do a medical test yearly to check whether they are present in the recommended levels.
• Routine dental examination and an eye checkup help to detect any issues that may be present in your mouth or with your vision. 

Conclusion

There is overwhelming evidence that early detection leads to better chances of survival, across all types of diseases and disorders that affect humans. From your 30s onward, even if you feel like you’re at your physical peak, underneath it all the body starts its slow march toward ageing. So don’t ignore the wisdom of the Preventive medical check-ups, get yourself booked with a few of these tests, the benefits far outweigh the expenses. With at-home medical tests easily available through a variety of online platforms, busy work life is no longer an excuse to avoid being serious about your health. 

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

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