7 Crucial Health Tests for Moms and Moms to Be
Motherhood is a blessing, and it’s no wonder many women will take the monumental into this stage of life. The newfound title carries a lot of weight and respect. If you’re planning to start a family or already have a child, you appreciate the weight of responsibility this role carries. Your little one looks up to you and they see a guiding star. For this reason, stay fit and healthy for them, and provide a happy home.
While it’s not always possible to define your health, there’s a lot you can do to protect yourself from opportunistic diseases. One of the best ways to promote your health is by taking regular tests. They say information is power, and this aptly applies to your health. With the right health data, your doctor can build a personalized treatment plan.
This post looks at some essential health tests every mom should take. This is an important step in providing the best care for your child. After all, you can only provide the best care for your child if you’re healthy yourself.
Blood Pressure Test
Some health risks of high blood pressure include heart attack/failure, vision loss, sexual problems, kidney disease/failure, and other health complications. As a mother, you don’t want to fight such health problems while taking care of your bundle of joy.
An accurate blood pressure reading gives you and the doctor a good idea of your health. These regular tests reveal if you’re at risk of heart attack and stroke. The biggest problem with high blood pressure is that there are no symptoms. Without regular tests, you might discover this serious condition when it’s too late.
Pap Smear
Cervical cancer is one of the most devastating health risks for any woman. This terminal condition turns your life upside down, affects your quality of life, and can affect other parts of your body. For this reason, every woman should get a pap smear that collects cells from her cervix to detect cervical cancer early. This is the most recommended test for all women over 30 years. For a mom, get a pap smear every three years. Early detection of precancerous cells can help with effective treatment. There are advanced cancer treatments, but they only work if there’s an early diagnosis.
Blood Sugar Screening/ Diabetes
A blood sugar test measures the amount of sugar, or glucose, in your blood. This is an important test to determine the risk of type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Your doctor recommends the test if you have high blood pressure (130/80 mm Hg or above), are overweight (body mass index (BMI) greater than 25), or if you have a family history of diabetes.
The tests tell if you need to change your diet, start exercising, or whether you need to take diabetes medication. Early diagnosis helps you manage your blood sugar levels and avoid complications such as cardiovascular disease, nerve damage (neuropathy), eye damage (retinopathy), and hearing impairment.
If you’ve to turn up the volume of the TV, twist your body to hear, or find too many missed calls, these are signs you need a hearing test besides diabetes testing.
Mammogram
Breast cancer is another debilitating medical condition that can affect moms. With screening mammograms, many women have had an early diagnosis with accompanying successful treatment.
This technology is more effective than the ordinary touch with your fingers when looking for lumps in the breast. If you have a history of breast cancer in your family, start taking mammograms early. From the age of 50 years, breast screening is advisable every two years.
Cholesterol Testing
For a long time, high cholesterol was never highlighted as a health risk. The lipids are essential for building cell membranes, hormones, and vitamin D. These are critical for normal body function. However, a very high level of lipids poses a health risk.
These high levels leave you vulnerable to the risk of serious health conditions. They can narrow the arteries, and increase the risk of stroke, heart attack, peripheral arterial disease (PAD), coronary heart disease, and physical activity (angina). Some of the risk factors of high cholesterol include smoking and poor eating habits.
With regular cholesterol checks, you can get a tailored treatment that includes dieting, exercising, and medication. If you have risk factors such as gestational diabetes and polycystic ovarian syndrome, do the tests early. From 40 years old, moms should get these tests yearly.
Physical Exam
How is your physical health? Can you cope with motherhood’s rigors or do you tire fast? Motherhood comes with heavy demands on your body and your doctor wants to ensure you’re physically fit to cope. Whether you’re trying to conceive or you have had a child, a physical exam is critical to give your doctor a clearer picture of your overall health.
Some factors considered in these tests include height, weight, and BMI. In a world where people are less active, obesity and overweight prevalence are at an all-time high. In 2019, over 1.9 billion adults aged 18 years and older were overweight.
The physical exam also includes a review of your medical history, an assessment of symptoms of common diseases for your age, listening to your lung condition, and other health aspects. The idea is to understand the state of your health and catch any illnesses at an early stage.
Dental Checkup
For a mom, it’s easy to forget your own dental problems as you fuss over your family’s health. Unfortunately, the effects of poor dental health will show with time and they won’t be pretty. With advances in dental technology, dental checkups, and procedures are more comfortable today.
Get regular checkups and leverage the latest dental technology to restore that beautiful smile. It’s easier for your dentist to catch the problems early for more effective treatment.
There’s so much joy in motherhood and you don’t want your health to hinder this glorious experience. Of course, motherhood comes with myriad challenges, but if you’re in good health, you can cope with all these. With these medical tests, you can monitor your health and provide the best care for your children.
