Your medical checklist

Did you know that over 70 per cent of the things that will determine if you’ll become ill are within your control? Obviously, you can’t stop yourself from ever getting ill, but you can make good lifestyle choices and have regular health screenings. We put together a useful checklist for you.

IN YOUR 20s & 30s

General check up by your GP or health practitioner: Have a check up once a year (or a minimum of every other year). This should include an annual clinical breast exam. Include cholesterol and glucose testing every five years and blood pressure testing every two to four years.

Dentist: Go every six months for teeth cleaning and for an oral examination. Your dentist should also do a check for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome. Jaw clenching, grinding, or bad alignment of teeth can cause this disorder. Even if you don’t notice any symptoms, such as headaches or jaw pain, your dentist should look at your bite and feel your jaw to ensure there is no stress on the joints.

Gynaecologist: Visit once a year, or, in the case of liquid-based cytology (LBC) testing, once every two years. Include a pap smear or LBC to screen for cervical cancer, and pelvic and clinical 
breast examinations.

Dermatologist: If you’re fair-skinned or have a family history of skin cancer, you’ll want an annual appointment. Ask your dermatologist about mole mapping to assist in the early detection of skin cancer. Otherwise, go if you have any suspicious moles or any other skin problems.

IN YOUR 40s, ADD

Mammogram: It is often recommended that you start annual screenings at 40, although some guidelines do suggest beginning at 50. Use your intuition and common sense based on your health and family history, and discuss your decision with your doctor.

Stress echocardiogram: Get a baseline analysis to check your heart’s health.

Eye examinations: Have your eyes 
examined regularly by an optometrist. Many doctors advise going annually, although others recommend every two to four years until age 65, then annually. The optometrist will check for changes in vision and eye conditions like cataracts, spots or floaters. The visit should include an intraocular 
pressure measurement for glaucoma.

IN YOUR 50s & ABOVE, ADD

Colonoscopy: Have one every five years.

Bone mineral density scan: This test 
determines if you have osteoporosis — a disease that causes bones to become more fragile and more likely to break. It is recommended for all women — and men — 65 years of age and older. It’s also recommended for middle-aged women younger than 65 who have risk factors for osteoporosis. These include if you’re menopausal, very thin or small boned, you smoke, you’ve taken certain medications for a long time or you have a family history of osteoporosis.

Memory test: Tell a complex story and repeat key points, or have someone tell you a phone number and see if you can remember it — if you can’t pick it out of a list of numbers, this could be a sign of early Alzheimer’s disease.

Thyroid: Women should have their 
thyroid tested every five years after menopause. Also get tested if you have unexplained weight loss, irritability, 
irregular heart rate, insomnia or muscle weakness (symptoms of an overactive thyroid); or fatigue, depression, weight gain, dry skin or trouble concentrating (signs of an underactive thyroid).

— Gallo Images

MEN’S HEALTH

In their 30s: They should have a cholesterol test every five years as well as an annual faecal 
occult blood test.

In their 40s or older: They need an annual rectal exam and a blood test to screen for prostate cancer. They should have a colonoscopy every five years.