5 Medical Tests Every Boomer Woman Should Have

By Marlo Sollitto, AgingCare.com contributing editor

Women tend to take care of everyone else in their lives, at the expense of their own health. Oftentimes we don’t maintain doctor visits for ourselves; we forget to exercise and to eat nutritiously. We allow ourselves to become drained.

“Routine tests are our best defense for early diagnosis of disease and in turn, higher successful treatment rates if something is detected. Women need to make their health a priority. Testing is an important piece of the health care puzzle – especially since diagnostic test results influence as much as 70 percent of healthcare decision-making,” Dr. Agim Beshiri, M.D., Medical Director at Abbott. (abbott.com)

But how do you know what tests you really need, and which you can skip? Dr. Angela DeRosa, president and chief managing officer of DeRosa Medical, P.C. (derosamedical.com) says, “Preventative health screenings are crucial but often confusing for my female patients.”

Every woman is different. So discuss with your doctor what tests, in addition to the standard ones, are appropriate tests are for you to undergo, based on family history, lifestyle and other factors. However, both doctors recommend that every woman have the following tests.

Medical Tests Every Caregiver Should Have originally appeared on AgingCare.com.

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By Marlo Sollitto, AgingCare.com contributing editor

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Natalie S.

10:47AM PST on Feb 5, 2013

Thank you for highlighting the highest risks for women's health.

February 5
send a green star

Siti R.

2:57AM PST on Nov 12, 2012

thanks, will share!

November 12
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Samir N.

5:10AM PDT on Oct 24, 2012

Useful info. thanks.

October 24
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Jules W.

3:55PM PDT on Oct 14, 2012

Thank you for sharing.

October 14
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Pat M.

1:30AM PDT on Oct 14, 2012

Will continue to get the mammograms , I just turned 65, Thanks for the info

Leena K.

9:59PM PDT on Oct 13, 2012

Thanks.

October 13
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Kathy K.

5:09PM PDT on Oct 12, 2012

October 12
send a green star

Vicky P.

5:05PM PDT on Oct 12, 2012

thanks :/

Heather M.

10:19PM PDT on Oct 11, 2012

October 11
send a green star

Linda B.

7:46AM PDT on Oct 11, 2012

Good to read the posts since mine last night. Yes, we are supposed to be a government "of, by, and for" the people, not the corporations.

When we looked into getting an individual plan through Blue Cross Blue Shield, (since they are the one company required to cover pre-existing conditions), we learned we would have had to pay a $10,000 deductible before coverage would start, in addition to having to pay monthly premiums. When you are out of work, you pay for necessities, like the molar I had pulled yesterday, instead of for what could have prevented it. You keep thinking not having insurance is a temporary situation. People don't realize that being without health insurance can happen to anyone.

It's unfortunate that, as a society, we would care more about filling potholes in roads than preventing people from falling through loopholes and "doughnut holes" in health care plans. Romney is saying, if elected, he would "Repeal and Replace" the Affordable Care Act, that was enacted under the Obama administration, and which will no longer allow insurance companies to deny coverage to people with pre-existing conditions after 2014. 2014 is long enough to have to wait for affordable health care-- because some things can't be replaced.