12 Medical Tests That Every Senior Should Have Done Before It’s Too Late

Healthcare professionals encourage everybody to do a general checkup at least once a year. Even if you think that you are well, it is still important that you visit your doctor on a regular basis.

As you age, the need for medical testing increases. This allows you to monitor any changes in your body and address anything that might be wrong as early as possible. If you or a loved one is already a senior adult, here are the most crucial medical tests that should be taken:

Blood Pressure Check

Hypertension is common among senior adults, and this is something that is very dangerous. In fact, it is regarded as a silent killer because the signs or symptoms may not show up until it has already caused complications. Take note that the risk of elevated blood pressure increases with age, so it is crucial that you have yours checked regularly.

Doctors recommend getting a blood pressure check at least once a year. However, if you have health conditions like diabetes or if you are a smoker, you should monitor your BP more often. You can invest in a BP apparatus so that you can check your blood pressure as needed.

Colorectal Cancer Exam

The risk of colorectal cancer in senior adults is high. More so if you have a history of obesity as well as smoking. Experts say that people who have already reached the age of 50 should take a colorectal cancer exam every 10 years or more frequently if there are risk factors.

There are different screening methods that can be used: fecal occult blood testing, sigmoidoscopy, and colonoscopy. Colorectal cancer is highly treatable, but it would be hard once it has already reached the advanced stages. This is why a colorectal cancer exam should never be neglected.

Weight Check

Health conditions, such as diabetes, stroke, cancer, and high blood pressure are prevalent among senior adults and all of these are life-threatening. The good news is, these illnesses can be avoided by simply monitoring your weight. This is why you should also monitor your weight on a regular basis. If you are obese, you need to find ways to get rid of the extra pounds. You should also consult a doctor if you are rapidly losing weight, especially if you are not on a diet.

Skin Check

The skin is the largest organ of the human body, and it is usually the first one that will show signs and symptoms of various diseases. Since it is the body’s first line of defense, it can incur damages. But these issues can be treated if detected early enough. For this reason, every senior adult should undergo skin assessment once in a while.

Cholesterol Screening

High cholesterol levels are the number one culprit when it comes to heart attack and stroke. Therefore, as you age, you should be more proactive in checking your cholesterol levels. You can take an advanced lipid test so that you will have a better idea of what the status of your HDL and LDL is.

Eye Exam

Just like anything else, the eyes also deteriorate as people age. Senior adults have high chances of developing eye diseases like cataracts and glaucoma. You can easily detect or prevent such problems by doing annual vision screenings.

Hearing Test

Loss of hearing is part of aging, but there are times when it is also caused by infections and other medical conditions. Hearing loss is treatable though, depending on the seriousness. And so to protect your ears, you should get an audiogram every two or three years.

Oral Test

Dental health is important no matter what your age is. It becomes more crucial though as you age. Therefore, it is essential that you still visit a dentist regularly even if you are already a senior adult. This will help you preserve your natural teeth and prevent the development of dental diseases.

Bone Density Scan

With this test, your bone density will be measured, which will then tell you how strong your bones are. Anyone who is 65 years old and above should take this test more frequently.

Prostate Cancer Screening (Men)

Millions of males all over the world are suffering from prostate cancer, which can be detected by either measuring prostate-specific antigen levels in your blood or a digital rectal exam. If you have a family history of prostate cancer, you should talk to your doctor about it and start getting the test at the age of 40.

Breast Exam and Mammogram (Women)

Women who have a family history of breast cancer should undergo annual screening, and so do females between the ages of 45 to 54. The frequency of taking this medical exam depends on your health condition and your doctor should be able to advise you as to what’s best for you.

Diabetes Test

In the United States alone, millions of people have type 2 diabetes. If you have already reached the age of 45, you should consider taking the test on a regular basis.

All of the medical tests that we have highlighted above will help you detect any health condition that you may have. The earlier you detect them, the better.