It’s a fact of life that needs to be confronted. As we get older, the risk of developing various health problems increases. By scheduling health checks with a medical professional, you can catch many of these health problems early. Below are some of the health checks that are recommended as we get older.
Vision
It’s common for our vision to deteriorate as we get older. Many people require reading glasses as they reach their mid 40s and 50s, and long-distance vision can also fade for many people. More serious conditions like cataracts can also develop as we get older. Getting these vision problems diagnosed early can enable them to be treated – whether it’s via glasses or surgery.
Regular eye tests with the help of a trusted optician are the best way to diagnose vision problems. This could prevent accidents, and other further problems from increased vision loss. This guide at WebMD explains more about vision problems as you get older.
Hearing
Our hearing can also fade with age. In fact, one in three adults over 65 is likely to experience hearing loss. Hearing difficulties can make social interaction harder and in some cases affect balance. However, most people do not realise that they are experiencing hearing loss until it becomes more severe, simply due to how gradual hearing loss can be.
By scheduling a hearing test with the help of an audiologist, you can help to diagnose hearing loss early while it is still mild. Getting a hearing aid early could help you to keep your hearing sharp and prevent knock-on issues like social anxiety.
Blood Pressure
High blood pressure can increase your risk of a heart attack or stroke. By diagnosing high blood pressure early, it’s possible to take measures to lower it and reduce the risk of any serious health problems. Most people do not know that they have high blood pressure because it has no physical symptoms. This is why it’s worth scheduling regular blood pressure tests as you get older. This is measured by placing a cuff on the arm – a doctor can do this, or you can do it yourself by buying a blood pressure cuff.
Cancer
The risk of developing cancer increases as we get older. While cancer is known for being one of the biggest killers, most forms of cancer are treatable when caught early. Unfortunately, cancer doesn’t always display obvious symptoms until it gets more serious. This is why it’s worth investing in cancer screenings as you get older – these can detect cancer in the early stages, even when there are no visible symptoms.
It’s worth booking screenings for the most common cancers such as prostate cancer screenings as detailed here at Check4Cancer. Other common cancers like breast cancer and bowel cancer can also be detected early via screenings.
There are three national screenings programmes available on the NHS, too. These are cervical screening, breast screening, and bowel screening.
Cholesterol
Cholesterol is fat found within our blood. Too much cholesterol can lead to fatty blockages that can lead to strokes and heart attacks. There are not any obvious physical signs that a person has high cholesterol. This is why a blood test is recommended. Doctors recommend getting a blood test for cholesterol over the age of 40, as this is when high-cholesterol-related health problems can become more common.
*This article is not intended to replace medical advice, diagnosis or treatment given by a qualified mental health professional. Instead, this article only provides information, not advice. For any medical enquiries, always consult your GP first*