A Health Check-Ups Guide for Your 20s, 30s, and 40s!

Growing up in a household where my parents neglected, and somewhat continue to neglect, their health I knew I always wanted to be proactive about taking care of myself. Around this time of year I have my bi-annual check-ups and being that I try to be very health conscious I wanted to share some information that I have learned along the way about what one needs to do to make their health a priority now and later on in life. So here's my guide for what check-ups one should have when your...

In your 20s... 

All young women in their 20s should have periodic medical check-ups, besides taking care of their health through a balanced diet, physical activity and healthy habits.

You should have a complete medical check-up every two years, which includes a thorough discussion of your medical history and that of your immediate family.

▪   Pap test and pelvic exam: Women should have yearly Pap smears starting either at age 18 or when they become sexually active—whichever comes first. By the time you hit 20, you should be having routine annual pelvic exams and Pap tests.

▪   Breast exam: Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women. While your chances of getting breast cancer in your 20s are less than 1 in 1,000, ask your doctor whether you should have a breast exam, and if so, how often.

▪   Skin check: Anyone at any age can develop skin cancer. In addition to your doctor doing a thorough skin check, you can also do a skin check yourself. Remember the ABCDE rule when looking at skin growths: Asymmetry, Border, Color, Diameter, and Evolving. If anything seems out of the ordinary or alarming, contact your doctor.

▪   Dental check-ups: Visit your dentist for preventive check-ups and routine cleanings.

▪   Eye exams: You should have your eyes examined every one to two years. Optometrists check for other things besides how good your vision is—like signs of glaucoma or other eye diseases.

▪   Blood pressure and cholesterol: Your blood pressure will be checked any time you go in for a routine health care visit, and you should get a cholesterol work-up every few years.

Immunizations: Get shots to protect you from measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) if you’ve never had the vaccinations before. The tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine is recommended for anyone whose last Tdap shots were more than 10 years ago. Get a meningitis and hepatitis A and B vaccination if you are considering traveling.

In your 30s...


▪   AIDS test: If you have an active sex life, doctors recommend having an AIDS test once a year.
▪   Chlamydia: Chlamydia, a bacterial infection, is the most frequently diagnosed STD. In the 2008, there were 1,210,523 cases reported in the U.S. alone. It is treatable, but if it is not cured, it can lead to serious complications like infertility.
▪   Blood pressure and cholesterol: You’re not at too great a risk of elevated levels now, especially if you’re following healthy heart habits like exercising regularly, eating a nutritious diet, and not smoking. But still you need to test your levels.
▪   Pap test and pelvic exam: By now you should be having routine annual pelvic exams and Pap tests.
▪   Breast exam: Your doctor may do an exam when you go in for your annual Pap test and pelvic exam. You should also become familiar with doing a breast self-exam, so you know what’s normal for you.
▪   Skin check. The same routine as in your 20s.
▪   Dental check-ups: The frequency of visits will really depend on your needs, though most dentists recommend a check-up and cleaning at least once or twice a year.
▪   Eye exams: If you have a family history of vision problems, your optometrist will let you know if you need eye exams and check-ups more frequently than once a year.
Immunizations: Each year get the influenza vaccine. The flu shot is especially important if you have medical conditions that put you at risk of complications from the flu, like pneumonia.

In your 40s and beyond...


▪   Mammograms: Almost every North American medical organization supports mammography screening every one to two years, beginning at age 40.
▪   Pap smears: After three or more normal/negative results, your doctor may recommend that you have Pap smears every three years instead of every year.
▪   Diabetes screening: A lot of women get diabetes in middle-age or older, but its rates are rising in younger women, too. Hispanic women are two to four times more likely to develop diabetes than white women. If you are at average risk for diabetes, you should be getting tested for type 2 diabetes every three years beginning at age 45.
▪   Blood pressure: If your blood pressure is less than 130/80, you should be screened every two years. If it’s higher than that, or if you have high cholesterol levels or diabetes, you should be screened more frequently.
▪   Cholesterol testing: Women aged 45 and older should have their cholesterol levels checked every one to five years with a simple blood test that measures total cholesterol.
▪   Thyroid testing: This blood test checks your TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) level for signs of thyroid problems. You should be screened for thyroid dysfunction beginning at age 35, and again every five years.
▪   Eye exams: The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that you have your vision checked every two to four years between ages 40 and 64.
Skin check: A skin exam should be part of a routine cancer-related health check-up  (Source)