If you’re over age 55, it’s a good idea to think seriously about some of the health tests that you need to schedule. These can protect you long-term and prevent you from receiving a more severe diagnosis down the track.
But what are the most important health tests and screenings to focus on? Let’s take a look
Colorectal cancer screening
One of the most important tests for people over the age of 55 is a colorectal cancer screening. The baseline age for this was recently lowered to 45, although it has been recommended for people over 55 for a long time now.
A standard colonoscopy is recommended every 10 years if your results are normal. If you don’t want a colonoscopy, you can also get a non-invasive at-home stool test every three years. This will tell you whether there are any issues occurring in your lower bowel. The results require a colonoscopy follow-up anyway, so you might as well get the colonoscopy in the first place.
Comprehensive cardiovascular panel
After age 55, you also need to think more carefully about your cardiovascular health. It’s a good idea to get a comprehensive cardiovascular panel that includes your blood pressure and lipid levels, as these are the most common factors that lead to heart attacks and strokes.
Make sure you get your blood pressure tested at least once a year during your annual checkup. Look for signs and patterns to see if your blood pressure is increasing. Also get a lipid and cholesterol panel. You want routine fasting tests every two to five years to tell you what’s happening to your LDL and HDL levels in your bloodstream. If LDL rises too high, it can also lead to an increased risk of a heart attack.
Hearing tests
You should also get hearing tests regularly if you’re over the age of 55. Not only is hearing loss annoying, but it can also lead to several knock-on health consequences, including dementia. Hearing tests these days are simple and available everywhere. They take less than half an hour and can characterise your hearing loss with a high level of accuracy. You can also find out which part of your ear is to blame for your hearing loss. Most age-related decline relates to the cochlea, but you may also have trouble in your middle ear.
Breast and cervical cancer screening
If you’re a woman, you’ll also want to go to the breast and cervical cancer screening. The American College of Radiology suggests that women over the age of 55 get this type of screening every two years. Provided they have average risk and no genetic propensity, it’s also a good idea to get a Pap smear and an HPV test. These screenings should occur every three to five years up to age 65.
Prostate cancer screening for men
Over the age of 65, it’s a good idea to take a regular prostate cancer screening. Prostate-specific antigen blood tests can tell you whether you are at risk of developing cancer in the future, so that surgeons can take early and immediate corrective action.
