Because menopause can bring many changes to your body, your 50s are a good time to check in with your doctor about your overall health. About 70 percent of people ages 50 to 64 have been diagnosed with at least one chronic condition, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and many of them have two or three conditions. But catching potential health problems early on — when they’re likely to be the most treatable — can help save or extend lives.
But despite the fact that early screenings can keep people healthier longer, only about one in four adults between ages 50 and 64 are up to date on their preventive checkups, including immunizations and screening exams, according to the CDC.
“Women need to talk with their doctors about the screening tests that are most appropriate for them, and in many cases that will depend on their family history, age, and their general health,” says JoAnn Manson, MD, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. For example, if you have ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, you may have an increased risk for colorectal cancer compared with people who don’t have these conditions. Or if breast cancer runs in your family, you should ask your doctor about when you should be screened and whether you should undergo genetic testing.
To prepare for a preventive health appointment, the CDC recommends taking these steps:
- Research your family’s health history. Conditions like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease can run in the family, which may increase your odds of developing them, too. The CDC advises everyone to ask their relatives about their health, including any new conditions that may have occurred recently.
- Write down a list of questions. Have you been feeling more fatigued or anxious than usual? Don’t chalk up any symptoms just to aging. Instead, make a record of them and give the list to your doctor at your next appointment, says the CDC. This way you’ll remember to address your concerns during your appointment.
- Think about your future. Do you foresee any health issues that may become problematic in the next few years? (For example, maybe you’re under stress from work or are gaining weight.) If so, now’s the time to tell your doctor so the two of you can work together to form a plan.
During your office visit, ask your doctor about the following eight health screenings recommended for women over 50.
Hepatitis C Screening
Who needs it: Anyone born between 1945 and 1965. Baby boomers are five times more like to be infected with hepatitis C than other adults, according to the CDC, because they may have been exposed to hepatitis C through a blood transfusion or other risk factors that occurred before the virus was discovered in 1989.
Why it’s important: Over time, the hepatitis C virus damages the liver, increasing the risk of liver cancer and organ failure. Today, screening is a must. “This is a silent epidemic, and there is excellent treatment now,” Dr. Manson says. The sooner the disease is detected, the less damage the liver will sustain.
How it works: Your blood is tested for the presence of hepatitis C antibodies, a sign that you were infected at some point.
When to have the next one: If your results are negative, you may not need another test unless your risk factors change. If you test positive for the virus, your doctor will do a follow-up test to determine if you currently have an infection. About 15 to 25 percent of people who get hepatitis C will naturally clear the virus from their body, while the rest will develop a chronic infection, according to the CDC.
Mammogram
Who needs it: The recommendation for this screening test varies, but women should have their first mammogram between ages 40 and 50, Manson says. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force says women should be screened every two years starting at 50. The CDC recommends that you talk to your doctor about screening, particularly if you have a family history of breast cancer.
Why it’s important: This test gives you a chance to catch breast tumors early, before they progress and spread. In women aged 50 to 69, mammograms reduced the risk of advanced breast cancer by about 20 percent, according to a study published in 2016 the journal Annals of Internal Medicine.
How it works: A mammogram is like an X-ray of your chest, revealing cancerous tissue not visible to the naked eye. But some women may need a more advanced version of this test. “For women who are at high risk, such as women with the BRCA genes, it’s recommended that they have an MRI of the breasts as opposed to X-ray mammography,” Manson says. Ask your doctor which test is best for you.
When to have the next one: Depending on your test results and the density of your breast tissue, you’ll likely be asked to get tested again in one or two years.
Bone Density Test
Who needs it: You need this bone test at 65, and possibly earlier if you have a family history of osteoporosis or fractures. In particular, tell your doctor if your mother had osteoporosis.
Why it’s important: Your bone mass and density peaked in your 20s. Bone health for women is especially affected after menopause. It’s been estimated that one-half of postmenopausal women will have an osteoporosis-related fracture. A dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) test will help your doctor predict if lifestyle changes or osteoporosis medication are needed to protect your bones.
How it works: This X-ray passes over your hip and lower spine to detect loss of bone tissue.
When to have the next one: If your results are within a healthy range, you may not need another test for years. If not, your doctor will recheck more frequently to see if treatments are working.
Pap Smear
Who needs it: These tests are generally recommended for women ages 21 to 65.
Why it’s important: Pap smears can detect cervical cancer or precancerous lesions. According to a January 2017 study in the journal Cancer, more women are dying from cervical cancer than previously thought, especially African-American women and older women.
How it works: The Pap smear is named after George Papanicolaou, the doctor who discovered it. A small sample of cells is scraped from your cervix during a pelvic exam. Those cells are then examined under a microscope to look for changes associated with cancer.
When to have the next one: You might need one each year. However, if you’ve had three consecutive normal Pap smears, you can go three more years before your next Pap smear.
Colonoscopy
Who needs it: Most women should have their first colonoscopy at age 50, but you might need screening earlier if you have risk factors such as a family history of colon cancer or a personal history of ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease.
Why it’s important: This test can detect colorectal cancer early, improving odds of survival. In the United States, it’s estimated that colonoscopies have prevented 29 to 34 percent of colorectal cancer deaths, according to a study published in April 2017 in the journal Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. People are catching on to the power of colorectal cancer screening, but about 37 percent of adults over 50 still haven’t had one, according to a 2017 report by the American Cancer Society.
How it works: Your doctor prescribes a bowel-clearing laxative solution that you drink the day before the colonoscopy. During the test, the lining of your colon and rectum is visualized using a thin, flexible tube. This test offers an advantage over stool blood tests and other noninvasive alternatives. “With a colonoscopy, any polyps found can be removed during the exam,” Manson says.
When to have the next one: The standard schedule is every 10 years, but if you have polyps, you might be checked again sooner.
Cholesterol Check
Who needs it: Everyone.
Why it’s important: “The leading cause of death in women is cardiovascular disease, and we know that risk factors like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes are strongly related to the development of it,” Manson says, adding that treating the risk factors can significantly decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease. For example, cholesterol can accumulate in your arteries, contributing to blockage that could lead to a heart attack.
How it works: Cholesterol is checked through a simple blood test. The proportion of cholesterol in your blood is measured in the lab.
When to have the next one: If your cholesterol levels are normal, your doctor may recommend another test in five years. “If your levels are high or you’re being treated for [high cholesterol], you might be tested more frequently,” Manson says. If you have a high risk for heart problems, your doctor may want you to start taking a cholesterol medication, regardless of your levels.
Blood Pressure Check
Who needs it: Everyone. After 50, your blood pressure should be checked at every office visit, Manson says.
Why it’s important: High blood pressure stresses the walls of the blood vessels and takes a toll on the heart and brain. In a January 2017 study published in the Journal of Hypertension, adults 55 and older with high blood pressure had a 40 percent increased risk of dying of cardiovascular disease.
How it works: You know the drill. When you see your doctor, a pressurized cuff is put on your upper arm to check two numbers. The first (top) number is your systolic blood pressure, which is the amount of pressure against your artery walls during each heartbeat. The bottom number, your diastolic blood pressure, is the pressure against your artery walls during the time in between beats. Your BP should be lower than 130/80. If the top number is 130 or higher, your doctor might ask you to change your diet, exercise more, start checking your blood pressure at home or taking medication to lower your blood pressure.
When to have the next one: If your numbers are normal, have your blood pressure checked again within a year. If they’re not, your doctor will monitor your levels more closely.
Blood Sugar Screening
Who needs it: Everyone over age 45, especially if you are obese or have symptoms of diabetes, such as excessive thirst, blurred vision, or numbness in your feet.
Why it’s important: High blood sugar is a sign of diabetes — a breakdown in your body’s ability to produce the hormone insulin. Diabetes can lead to eye problems and blood vessel damage and raise your risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular problems.
How it works: Blood sugar is often measured by a fasting blood test. You’re in the safe zone if your blood sugar measures between 70 and 100 milligrams (mg) per deciliter.
When to have the next one: If your blood sugar level is normal, you can be retested in three years. If you have a family history of diabetes or other diabetes risk factors such as obesity, you may be tested more often.
Sanjai Sinha, MD
Medical Reviewer
Dr. Sinha did his undergraduate training at the University of California in Berkeley, where he graduated magna cum laude. He earned his medical degree at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City in 1998 and completed his internship and residency training at the New York University School of Medicine in 2001. Subsequently, he worked with the Department of Veterans Affairs from 2001 to 2012 and held faculty appointments at both the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.
In 2006, he won the VISN3 Network Director Award for Public Service and a commendation from the secretary of Veterans Affairs for his relief work after Hurricane Katrina. He joined Weill Cornell Medical College in 2012, where he is an assistant professor of clinical medicine and the director of the care management program, as well as a practicing physician.
In addition to his work for Everyday Health, Sinha has written for various publications, including Sharecare and Drugs.com; published numerous papers in peer-reviewed medical journals, such as the Journal of General Internal Medicine; and presented at national conferences on many healthcare delivery topics. He is a fellow of the American College of Physicians.
Julie Stewart
Author
Julie Stewart is an author and editor with more than a decade of experience in health, science, and lifestyle writing. Her articles have appeared online for Men’s Health, Women’s Health, EatingWell, Vice, AARP The Magazine, and Shape.