The importance of an annual physical exam for women

When we’re young, brimming with energy or we’re busy with many things happening in our lives, we tend to neglect some of those preventative health measures every mom, school nurse and teacher insists on so vigorously.

But no matter your age, the importance of these annual checkups cannot be stressed enough. And if you make it your habit to keep this annual appointment, you could save yourself plenty of problems later in life.

Your basic blood work

It takes only a few minutes to perform, but the most common type of bloodwork will let you know whether or not your immune system is running smoothly, your cholesterol levels, and whether or not you might have any deficiencies.

In any case, your results may vary depending on your health, fitness, menstrual cycle and other factors, and it’s always good to know if you can boost your health with better diet, a supplement, a change of behavior, or more exercise based on your results.

General physical checkup

From the very essential functions, such as your heart and respiratory rate, the state of your lymph nodes, your doctor will also take your blood pressure and temperature. With the help of a trusty stethoscope and just talking to you, your doctor can establish quite a few things about your health, and it only takes a few minutes of your time.

Your heartbeat can reveal if you might have irregularities, a heart murmur or similar indicators of cardiovascular illness, and the sooner you catch the early symptoms, the greater chances you have to improve your health and overall quality of life, no matter your age.

Still hawk-eyed?

Even when you are fit as a fiddle, some of your senses might be affected by your lifestyle in a less conspicuous way. Unfortunately, most of us spend a significant amount of time working at a computer and using our smartphones, which leaves us exposed to eye-damaging screens almost constantly.

That’s why an annual eye test is in order so that you can protect your vision and get the right prescription in case you need to wear glasses or contacts as they can help you perform your job properly and protect your eyesight from further damage. Not to mention you’ll look gorgeous wearing a pair of glasses! Especially nowadays when you can find a variety of gorgeous glasses frames online.

Your annual visit to the gynecologist

Yes, you are strongly encouraged to perform a breast self-exam, but if you’ve reached your 40-mile mark, that doesn’t mean you should skip on your annual mammogram when you schedule your lady checkup. Until then, a regular clinical breast exam performed by your doctor might be more than enough, but it’s still the best way to stay on top of your health.

Your gynecologist should also examine your pelvic health with a Pap smear, a colposcopy to make sure your cervix is healthy, and a standard exam for your vagina, vulva, uterus and ovaries. These tests are essential for the sake of early cancer detection, as well as preventing any other possible issues, so this one is a no-brainer when it comes to scheduling your yearly checkup!

Check your lovely skin

In addition to using sunscreen and staying in the shade, a simple visual screening of your skin can help keep track of your lovely moles and spots. Regular checkups can help early detection of melanoma, the most fatal form of skin cancer, and a single visit to your dermatologist in Burnaby even if you feel no symptoms such as itching, burning or visual changes on your skin is crucial for early diagnosis.

Of course, it’s recommended to perform a skin self-check as well, especially for those ladies who spend plenty of time in the sun and those who live in sunny regions of the world. If you’re having trouble performing the check alone, ask your dermatologist for detailed instructions, and always keep your sunscreen close by!

Ladies, your health, longevity and overall wellbeing are deeply intertwined with the choices you make every day. Don’t underestimate the importance of these simple checkups, and make sure to be role models for other young women in your community – that way, together we can create a healthier, happier world for ladies everywhere!

Mia Taylor is a fashion and beauty enthusiast from Sydney and writer for www.highstylife.com. She loves writing about her life experiences. Traveling and enjoying other cultures and their food with her husband is a big part of her life. She is always on a lookout for new trends in fashion and beauty, and considers herself an expert when it comes to lifestyle tips.
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