Health Checks for Over 40s

Here in Australia, we usually access to hospitals and GPs and a range of free pathology and other health checks. Much of which is free.

For those over 40 years old, several measurable markers can indicate health issues now or on the horizon if we don’t do something about them. These health checks can be part of our regular self-care and help prevent future disease, suffering, and financial cost.

While I work as a Naturopath and focus on nutrition, herbal medicines and lifestyle, we are a complementary health modality. We work well with many other types of health practitioners, including our modern public and private health system.

So here are a few ideas to remind you of what is available, and hopefully inspire you to use them.

Gender health gap

Men are less likely than women to get a health check or even to have a regular GP until at least their 40s. By this time, their blood pressure and/or cholesterol might be creeping up, joint pain, and mental health issues might have developed. It’s never too late to get a doctor’s opinion on your general health and have a regular GP look after annual and other regular testing. 

Women are more likely to visit GPs (and Naturopaths) but are more likely to get their health concerns dismissed or trivialised by medical practitioners. In our 40s and 50s, everything might be put down to perimenopause. 

Both men and women need to be proactive about health as we get older- and once we get past 40, we often notice we can’t get away with what we used to be able to! It’s harder to bounce back from alcohol binges, late nights, poor eating, and even travel. 

While I encourage you to make use of our world-class health system, I do also encourage you to realise its limitations, and the humanness of the people who work in it. Doctors have their own biases and blind spots. If you feel you are not being heard, I recommend standing up for yourself, seeing another practitioner, or insisting they take your symptoms more seriously.

Blood pressure

As we get older, our blood pressure tends to creep up. For men, it can start rising in their 30s. For women, it’s usually after menopause once the protective effect of oestrogen diminishes.  High blood pressure is one of the most significant risk factors for cardiovascular disease and is worth doing something about. It can also make you feel generally unwell. 

Normal blood pressure is about 120 – 129/80 – 84 mmHg, and high blood pressure is diagnosed over 140 -145/90 – 99 mmHg. This type of blood pressure can often be helped considerably with diet and lifestyle changes. Higher blood pressure (over 160/100 mmHg) may also need medication while working on the diet and lifestyle. 

Our blood pressure varies over the day and even from moment to moment. A single high reading doesn’t mean you have high blood pressure. That’s why your blood pressure should be taken several times at least a minute apart, when relaxed and without talking.

Blood Sugar

If you have put on some weight, or had gestational diabetes, or are not active, or you just haven’t had it checked in a while, it’s worth getting your blood sugar checked. We have a T2 diabetes epidemic, yet many people with diabetes don’t even realise they have it. There is now more awareness of the lifestyle factors contributing to higher blood sugars and insulin resistance, although its not always easy to make the changes needed. Being aware if you tip into the pre-diabetes range can be a helpful jolt to remind you to look after yourself well and perhaps make significant changes in your diet and lifestyle. 

Dental health

Our dental health is surprisingly linked to the health of…our heart, our brain, our immune system, our whole body. Dental disease is linked to cardiovascular disease and T2 diabetes. Having chronic dental/gum infections is a drain on the body. Pathogens can travel from the mouth to other parts of the body. We can brush and floss daily, but a good regular dentist you trust is a great resource.

Skin Check

Having a partner is a significant benefit for skin cancers, because a partner is more likely to notice a new mole, or a changing one, in places we can’t see. Whether we have a partner or not, there are skin-check clinics everywhere nowadays, and it is well worth an annual visit once you are over 40. It takes 10 minutes, but can save your life. Melanomas are one type of cancer that has a high survival rate if caught early.

Eye check

Unfortunately for most of us, our vision becomes less acute as we get past 40, and we often need glasses, at least for reading. However, a regular checkup with the optometrist can also pick up other eye conditions that become more common as we age- glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration. In Australia we can get a free eye check every two years.

Mammograms

I know many health-conscious women feel concerned about the radiation from regular mammograms- and it is wise to be aware of your cumulative radiation load as it’s never good to have too many xrays. However, the radiation is a small fraction of what it used to be. Statistically, the benefit of breast screening (early intervention) outweighs the risks, (on a population level). 

I got my first mammogram a couple of years ago (age 53) because I had regular jabbing pain in one breast, causing me some anxiety. The mammogram showed a white mass in the other breast- the jabbing place was considered nothing! But I ended up with a biopsy which showed that the white mass of concern on the xray was simply calcium deposits. My mind was put to rest, knowing I had many calcium deposits in my breasts and nothing worse. 

You have a higher risk if you have breast- or prostate- cancer in your family. A mammogram is recommended for all women over the age of 50, every two years and every one year if you are at higher risk. I have also had a breast cyst- a lump in a breast- years ago- and was sent off for an ultrasound, which is apparently normal practice.

Breast Thermography is an alternative that I have also had, but is not covered by Medicare, and there is not as much evidence around it. It can also be difficult to access.

Bone Density Tests

These are also somewhat contentious, as they are another x-ray, however may be of some benefit. Again as women’s oestrogen levels fall through menopause, so does their bone density. Knowing your starting point can be useful. Too low bone density can lead to osteoporosis. While your bone density loss is a long term thing, with its peak density being around age 30, knowing it is low when you are 50 can be helpful, because you can slow down bone loss with diet and exercise. There is much that can be done beyond ‘“calcium supplements and weight-bearing exercise”. We don’t just want dense bones, we want strong, flexible bones. People of Asian descent have lower bone density than Caucasians, but less osteoporosis.

Bowel Screening

In Australia we have a free bowel screening test kit sent to us every two years once we turn 50. This test is free, and it saves lives. This test is a bit icky to do, it involves you taking a small bit of stool sample, but it is not that big a deal and it costs you nothing to do it- and can detect early signs of bowel cancer. I really encourage you to do it rather than toss it in the bin. 

Prostate Cancer test

This is recommended for men over 50 every two years. It is the most common cancer for men, and it has a 100% survivability if caught early. 

Basic regular blood tests

Do you know how your iron levels are (in particular your ferritin, your stored iron?) Either too high OR too low can both be problematic.

When was the last time you had a basic liver function test (fatty liver is getting more common even in those who don't drink alcohol)?

How about Vit D, or thyroid, or cholesterol?

As much as we grumble about our public health system, it does some really good things, and we have access to some of the best medical support in the world. While we know the medical profession doesn’t usually take a wholistic view- it is good at some things, and those things are well worth using. 

Prevention and early detection, are always going to be better than trying to deal with health issues years after the first signs. It is a part of good self care- a part of taking responsibility for our own well-being. The medical system doesn’t have a lot of time to teach you how to lower your blood pressure or sugar with diet and lifestyle modifications. They may give you a few tips, but changing lifelong habits is not quite so simple as being told to eat better and exercise more.

For most people, who don’t take much responsibility for their own health and wellbeing, the medical system can lead to more and more medications as they age I work in a pharmacy part time and I have seen people on 20 or more medications. We don’t want that! That’s where naturopathy, herbal, nutritional and lifestyle medicine come in. By taking responsibility, using the medical system for its strengths, taking note of test results or signs and symptoms, and adjusting our nutrition and lifestyle, making friends with some herbs…we can avoid a whole lot of problems later on and have healthy golden years and good quality of life.