Don't skip these 4 medical tests after 40 as they could save your life
Four screenings doctors say every woman needs after the age of 40 (photo: magnific)
Heart disease kills twice as many women as breast cancer, cardiologists warn. Yet many women ignore the earliest warning signs or dismiss unusual symptoms as ordinary fatigue. Doctors explain the four basic medical screenings every woman should have regularly after age 40 to help prevent heart attacks and strokes.
Why women miss heart attack signs
According to the British Heart Foundation (BHF), cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death among women. One reason is that women often experience heart attack symptoms differently from men. Their symptoms may be less severe or resemble other conditions.
Dr. Francesco Lo Monaco, a preventive cardiologist and founder of The National Cardiac Clinic in London, stresses the importance of early detection.
"Regular checkups are essential for identifying problems before symptoms appear. If a woman has no family history of heart disease or other known risk factors, these four tests should become routine as soon as she turns 40," the expert said.
4 essential screenings after age 40
To keep heart and blood vessel health under control, Dr. Lo Monaco recommends regularly monitoring the following:
Blood pressure
High blood pressure (hypertension) often causes no obvious symptoms, but it can make arteries stiffer and narrower, significantly increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Blood pressure should be checked at least once a year.
Cholesterol (lipid profile)
High cholesterol contributes to plaque buildup in the arteries. If cholesterol levels are normal, testing every five years is generally recommended. If levels are elevated, screenings should be done more frequently.
Fasting blood glucose, HbA1c
These tests measure blood sugar levels and can help detect prediabetes or diabetes at an early stage. They are generally recommended every three years, or annually for people at higher risk.
Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference
Because BMI alone is not always an accurate indicator of health risk, the cardiologist also recommends measuring waist circumference annually. A waist measurement greater than 88 cm is associated with a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular disease.
Female-specific risk factors, unusual symptoms
Dr. Lo Monaco says several women-specific factors can also affect heart health but are often overlooked. These include early menopause, pregnancy complications such as gestational hypertension and preeclampsia, polycystic ovary syndrome, autoimmune diseases, as well as chronic stress, depression, and poor sleep.
The cardiologist urges women never to ignore the following possible signs of a heart attack:
- Unexplained, persistent fatigue that is unusual for you, especially when accompanied by shortness of breath.
- Pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, shoulders, back, or upper abdomen.
- Nausea or vomiting along with discomfort in the upper body.
- Sudden dizziness or breaking out in a cold sweat.
- A strong feeling that "something is seriously wrong."
This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.
