Mother's Day Special: Make Sure Your Mom Undergoes These Important Medical Tests

Listed in this article areafew of the important tests that every mother hasto undergo. It helps in preventing many of the serious health problems.

By Suryasis Paul

Monday, November 2, 2020, 11:35

Women are the most beautiful creations on earth. Our mothers are our friends, philosophers and guides. Over the years, they have been a beacon of strength and endurance. Yet menopause can take a toll on their health. Menopause is a condition, after which a woman stops menstruating and is incapable of bearing a child. Technically, a woman is considered as having passed her menopausal state if she last had her periods a year ago. Menopausal stage is a state of turmoil, both mentally and physically.

There is a considerable amount of decrease in the production of hormones like oestrogen and progesterone. Women undergoing this would often face psychological problems like reduced or altered sleep patterns, irritation and mood swings.

Along with these changes come the risk of plenty of other diseases, disorders and ailments.

Women who experience an early onset of menopause (that is in their early 40s) are considered to be more prone to diseases like impaired lung disorders, heart diseases and even death.

With the International Mother's Day around, make sure that your mother undergoes the following tests to nip the possible problems in the bud.

1. Mammograms

Breast cancer is one of the common diseases that causes the death of thousands of women worldwide. It is important that a lady, who is past 40, must visit the doctor for a breast scan or mammogram. Additionally, the doctor may recommend a breast ultrasound, if the breasts are very dense. Moreover, this check must be performed every year or every alternate year, so that any anomaly can be detected in its early stage.

2.Bone Density Scans

Another common problem among women is the gradual reduction of their bone densities post menopause. This leads to diseases such as osteoporosis. It is highly advisable that a woman who is in her 40s must get her bone density report at least every alternate year. The test must be conducted every year for women who have a low body weight (i.e., 127 pounds). Moreover, women who consume excessive amount of alcohol and women who smoke regularly are at a higher risk. So, they also must get their bone densities checked at frequent intervals.

3. Colonoscopy

Cancer in the colon is another disease that older women run at the risk of being diagnosed with. A woman must strive to get a report of her colon once in a year from the age of around 50. However, if there are cases of colon disorders in the family history, one might start at an earlier age and get the report rechecked at frequent intervals.

4. Eye Examination

Problems like partial loss of vision, myopia, presbyopia, glaucoma and cataract start surfacing with age. Women approaching their 40s must get their eyes checked at regular intervals from an experienced ophthalmologist to understand the symptoms of these problems before they become too mammoth to handle. An ophthalmologist would check the pressure in the woman's eyes, thereby predicting chances of glaucoma. Eye tests become even more important if the woman in concern is suffering from diabetes because such women are more prone to cataract.

5. Teeth Examination

Dental examination is important for the early detection of oral cancer. Oral cancer is a very common kind of cancer and may prove to be fatal. Furthermore, dental checks can detect and correct problems like tooth decay, receding gumline, etc. It must be mentioned that women who drink regularly, smoke excessively and those who are addicted to sugar are more prone to these diseases and they must visit the dentist more often.

6. Heart Check-up

Women, especially after menopause, become easy preys to heart diseases. Heart strokes claim a lot of lives among women and this can be attributed to the fact that women often ignore a heart check-up. Heart check-up at regular intervals should be a part of a woman's life even in her late twenties. Overweight women, women with a family history of hypertension, smokers and alcoholics must get their hearts checked at regular intervals.

7. Test For Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is also a very common disease that may affect women. Tests should begin when a women hits her 40s and must continue into the late 60s. However, after this period, this test may be discontinued. Furthermore, if a woman has had her uterus and cervix removed for reasons unrelated to cancer there is no need for a test.

8. Lipid Profile

One of the most effective ways to track your heart-disease risk is to check your cholesterol levels. Elevated cholesterol not only raises your odds of a heart attack or stroke, but also has been linked to gallbladder disease. A lipid profile would give you an accurate description about the low density lipoprotein (LDL or bad cholesterol), high density lipoprotein (HDL or good cholesterol) and triglyceride levels.