How To Be Healthy At Every Age
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Loading... - Benjamin Grant
- 18 Feb 2022
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By 2036, the life expectancy for Canadian women is projected to rise from 83 to 87 years, and from age 79 to 84 for men. With this extended lease on life, plus ongoing medical advances and a better understanding of our personal health, the future is looking bright.
Since an annual checkup with a family doctor is not always required, ensure that you understand your medical history, communicate health concerns to your doctor and stay on top of your medical screenings. Tailoring many of these preventive measures to your personal health regimen can go a long way toward thwarting potential illnesses and taking charge of your overall well-being.
30S
Maintain established healthy habits, such as eating well and exercising, to set yourself up for success in later years. In addition, talk to your family members to find out if there are any hereditary issues you should discuss with your physician.
Also be aware the average age at which Canadian women are having babies has increased over time to 30.2 years. “If you're thinking about getting pregnant, prepare by taking a prenatal vitamin with folic acid, quitting smoking and alcohol, and becoming physically active,” says Dr. Karen Fleming, interim chief in the department of family and community medicine at Toronto's Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and assistant professor in the department of family and community medicine at the University of Toronto.
Checklist for your 30s
· PAP TEST: If you're not at high risk for cervical cancer, book a Pap smear every two to three years, depending on your provincial guidelines. It's an effective way to check for cervical cancer for women aged 25 to 69, says the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care. A Pap test can also detect human papillomavirus (HPV), a group of more than 100 different types of viruses. Some provinces use HPV tests to follow up abnormal Pap results as part of their cervical cancer screening programs. HPV testing is most effective for women aged 30 and older.
40S
Did you know that strokes kill more women than men in Canada? “In our 40s, unique risk factors for cardiovascular disease impact screening. Having high blood pressure during pregnancy, early menopause and chest radiation for breast and other cancers would lead to additional screenings,” says Dr. Fleming.
During this busy and transitional decade, some women are still able to get pregnant while others may be entering perimenopause (the stage before menopause), which can begin up to 10 years before a woman stops menstruating.
Checklist for your 40s:
· BLOOD-PRESSURE TEST: Heart & Stroke recommends getting your blood pressure checked by a health-care provider once a year. High blood pressure is the number one risk factor for stroke and a major risk factor for heart disease. A low-risk blood-pressure reading is less than 120/80. Your doctor will confirm a diagnosis of high blood pressure when either the top number (systolic) or the bottom number (diastolic) stays high over a period of time.
· BLOOD-GLUCOSE TEST: The number of diagnosed cases of diabetes and the prevalence of this disease are increasing for women and men. This blood test screens for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Canada recommends that women have this test at age 40 and then every three years after that. If you're considered high risk, the test should be done earlier or more frequently. (A risk calculator, using indicators such as body mass index and ethnic background, will help determine your likelihood; find one at diabetestest.ca.)
· HEARING: Speak with your doctor about having your hearing screened once in this decade.
· EYE EXAM: Even if you haven't noticed vision problems, the Canadian Ophthalmological Society suggests scheduling an eye exam every five years during this decade. The exam will also look for signs of glaucoma, which can start in your 40s.
