Which health screenings are most important for men and women?
Preventive screenings are better than treating the disease when it’s already there. Here are some of the most common and important health screenings you should consider.
For men
Colonoscopy
Colon cancer is, according to the American Cancer Society (American Cancer Society ), the second leading cause of cancer death in men worldwide. If you’re approaching 50 or have already passed the half-century mark, you should get screened for colorectal cancer. If colorectal cancer runs in your family, you should get screened even earlier.
The only way to be screened for colorectal cancer is to have a colonoscopy. Don’t worry, despite the procedure you have to go through, a colonoscopy is basically painless and takes less than half an hour from start to finish. If your health care provider finds precancerous growths, he or she can remove them before they become malignant.
Prostate exam
Another common cancer that affects only men and can be prevented by early screening is prostate cancer. The problem with prostate cancer is that it is unpredictable. It can develop slowly or be very aggressive.
That’s why you need to detect it before symptoms appear, because by that time prostate cancer may be advanced. If prostate cancer runs in your family, you should get screened as early as age 40.
Abdominal aortic aneurysm
If you are a smoker or used to smoke, you should have an ultrasound to check for an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). This is a weakened part of the aorta that can potentially enlarge and rupture if it gets too big. On the other hand, if you don’t smoke or have stopped smoking for several decades, your doctor will decide if this screening is still necessary.
For women
Folic acid
Folic acid is a type of B vitamin that helps prevent severe disabilities in your unborn child when you are pregnant. Even if you’re not pregnant and planning to become pregnant, you should get checked for folic acid deficiency.
On the other hand, women should still get screened for folic acid deficiency because it can lead to folic acid deficiency anemia, a pretty serious condition.
Cervical cancer screening
The scary thing about cervical cancer is that it usually develops slowly and without any noticeable symptoms. That’s why you should get screened for cervical cancer, even in your mid-20s. Thanks to cervical cancer screening, doctors have found that it has prevented cervical cancer by nearly 70%.
Breast cancer screening
Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death in women around the world. If you get screened regularly for breast cancer, your doctor may be able to do something if the disease is caught early enough.
If there are many women in your family who have had breast cancer, you should consider getting screened regularly for breast cancer.
Conclusion
An old saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure.” Even if you feel well, you should go for regular and early screening to be on the safe side.
