Diabetes can adversely impact triggering long-term complications in women's health, particularly through their various phases including pregnancy, post-partum, lactation, and menopause. To diagnose diabetes, you can go for blood tests such as fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) test.
Thyroid tests are equally important for women, however, often ignored. It impacts the health of women in numerous ways. Sometimes sudden weight gain or weight loss can be a significant indicator of the thyroid condition. Tests to undergo for thyroid include TSH (Thyroid-stimulating hormone) test or the T4 (Thyroxine) test or the overall thyroid profile test.
Due to an overburdened lifestyle, women are often vulnerable to hypertension. Therefore, it is highly important that women, particularly those above age 35, should get their blood pressure vitals checked at regular intervals of time.
Lipid test measures levels of good and bad cholesterol, total cholesterol, and triglycerides which is essential for every woman. Having excessive levels of cholesterol can result in the risk of heart problems and even stroke at one age because cholesterol can accumulate in the blood vessels. For this test, one needs to fast for eight hours and is recommended after the age of 30 years.
Since women require sufficient levels of Vitamin D for healthy bone growth and an efficient immune system, as well as for protection against diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and certain types of cancer, it is crucial for women to check their Vitamin D levels.
To ensure early detection of cervical cancer, women over 30 years old should visit their gynaecologist regularly for a full pelvic exam and a Pap smear test.
Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths in India, emphasising the importance of early detection. Every woman should undergo regular screenings, including a yearly mammogram for those over 40 and monthly self-examinations.
Women are frequently affected by osteoporosis, which weakens and makes their bones fragile. This condition worsens after menopause due to lower oestrogen levels, which impacts bone formation and maintenance. Women are advised to undergo a bone mineral density test called the DEXA scan. Experts suggest undergoing this test every five years once a woman turns 40.
A vital blood test helps identify various health conditions, including anaemia, infections, and blood disorders. Along with that, monitoring reproductive health is an essential component of CBC testing for women as it can detect heavy menstrual bleeding by detecting low haemoglobin levels.
Allergies can have adverse effects on both the mother and the developing foetus, and certain allergy medications may not be safe during pregnancy.