Six Tests You Should Get At The Age Of 50

Whether you’re just reaching that golden age of 50 or you’re already past it, there are some key health tests you should be getting at this age to ensure that you are staying healthy and living your best life in the years ahead.

Many people overlook these tests, which is a shame because they really can help provide insight into your health and help you take measures that could perhaps prevent certain complications down the road.

Which tests should you focus on? Here’s your line-up.

Blood Pressure Test

Most people are already on top of having blood pressure tests done because this is a fairly routine test that is done whenever you visit the doctor for any sort of health complaint.

If it’s been awhile since you’ve had a blood pressure test, however, now is the time to get one. Your blood pressure levels can tell a lot about your health, and if they are high, it’ll be important to make some lifestyle changes to better control it.

The good news is that blood pressure can be impacted by your diet and exercise plan, so it’s often within your power to change.

Colorectal Cancer Screening Test

At the age of 50, this test becomes more important. As much as this may be the last thing you want to be thinking about, you should get checked when you turn 50 and then checked again every 5 years. If you have a family history of cancer or have had cancer before, you may need to get checked even more frequently. Talk to your doctor about your options.

EKG (Electrocardiogram)

If you’ve never had an EKG done, don’t be surprised if your doctor recommends it when you hit the age of 50. This is a great test to check for any early signs of heart disease. Given how prevalent heart disease is in today’s society, it’s something that you definitely don’t want to skip out on.

If there are any signs of a rhythm problem, your doctor can then do further testing as needed and prescribe any modifications you may need to make to your routine, either to promote health or to be safe as you exercise.

Cholesterol Test

Another routine test that most people have done when they reach 50 is to have their cholesterol checked. You don’t need to worry about having to go on a cholesterol-free diet. The body does need some cholesterol each and every day.

There are also many things that can impact your cholesterol level besides how much cholesterol you are eating. For instance, your stress level can actually increase your cholesterol numbers, as could the amount of sleep you get each night.

Furthermore, your sugar intake will have a large impact on your cholesterol reading, so get out of the thinking that it’s only dietary fat that you need to concern yourself with. Very often, going on a very low-fat diet is actually one of the worst things you could do as it often means you’ll be eating far more simple and refined carbohydrates.

By taking a cholesterol test, you’ll see exactly where you stand and can then go about making any adjustments to your lifestyle from there, if needed.

TSH Thyroid Test

Gaining weight as you get older is often a commonly accepted ‘fact of aging’, but it shouldn’t be. The primary reason that adults gain weight as they get older is often because they are less active and begin losing lean muscle tissue. This causes their metabolic rate to slow down, and as a result, they begin to gain weight if they don’t adjust their eating habits.

But in other cases, the causes of weight gain are due to a change in thyroid hormones. If your body is not making as much thyroid-stimulating hormone as it used to, this could cause your metabolic rate to slow down as well, and a similar effect will occur.

If you’ve gained weight recently or you are feeling rather tired, sluggish and cold all the time, you should get your thyroid tested. Even if you aren’t feeling those things, you should still get it tested to be on the safe side.

It’s a simple blood test, so it’s an easy one to have done. If you are experiencing issues, the doctor will likely put you on a synthetic form of thyroid hormone that you will then take every day to keep your thyroid in check.

Blood Sugar Levels

You might be doing everything possible to minimize how much sugar you are eating and think that you are right on track. This does not mean, however, that you should avoid having your blood sugar levels checked at the age of 50.

Just like with your cholesterol, there are many things that can impact your blood sugar levels beyond just your food intake. While food does play the biggest role, it’s not the only factor weighing in.

Stress, sleep, activity levels, and your genetic history can also come into play. Get it checked so you know the numbers. Then you can respond as needed. Incidence rates of diabetes are going up, so this isn’t something that you want to take lightly.

So, there you have some of the most important tests to take when you hit the age of 50. Make sure that you are paying close attention to these because they really will tell doctors a lot about your health and ensure you get the proper health care you need in order to live a long and healthy life.