5 blood tests you MUST go for at 40

Here's how a simple blood test done every year can change your life for good!

Even a simple blood test that hardly takes 5 minutes can help detect sexually transmitted diseases or conditions like anemia or even diabetes. And if you are opting for a special health check-up package, then don't forget to include these 5 common blood tests. These are a must once you hit 40.

#1 Anemia: It can be caused due to various reasons like deficiency of vitamin B12, folic acid or iron. While lack of adequate intake of mineral and vitamins and poor immunity as you age is one of the reasons, hormonal changes that occur as your turn 40 is another factor that increase your risk of anemia. And thus, blood tests to detect the levels of these vitamins and minerals in the body are recommended as you age. Here are 6 tests to check if you are anemic or not -

• Complete Blood Count (CBC)
• Vitamin B12 test
• Serum Iron test
• TIBC (Total Iron Binding Capacity)
• Transferrin Saturation/Iron Saturation test
• Ferritin test

#2 Diabetes: With a sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy eating habits, you are at risk of suffering from type 2 diabetes. And thus, it is recommended that you should get tested for blood sugar levels. These tests are a must in women who are pregnant, have a family history of diabetes, overweight or are physically inactive. The tests to check your blood sugar levels include --

• Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) test
• Oral Glucose Tolerance (OGT) test
• HbA1c or glycated hemoglobin test

#3 Thyroid: If you are overweight and above 40, then you must undergo a thyroid profile test. It helps in the diagnosis of various thyroid diseases like hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, thyroid cancer and thyroiditis. In this, the blood levels of thyroid hormones are tested such as -

• Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) test
• FT4 (Free Thyroxine) test
• FT3 (Free triiodothyronine) test
• TPO-Microsomal antibody
• ATA-Thyroglobulin antibody

#4 STDs: Be it hepatitis B and C or HIV, a simple blood test can help you to detect the disease at an early stage and thus, aids in better treatment. So if you are 40 and have an active sex life, it is better to get an annual health check-up. Although these viral diseases can be diagnosed based on the symptoms, in some cases symptoms are visible in the later stage of the disease. Blood tests for STDs usually include HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B, syphilis, herpes, chlamydia and gonorrhoea.

#5 CBC: And last but not the least, a complete blood test that acts as the basis for the diagnosis of common viral infection to serious diseases like malaria or tuberculosis. These tests are not only quick but also easily fit your bill. Although these tests are usually recommended based on the symptoms, an annual health package including CBC is not a bad idea as it might help in the early diagnosis of a bacterial or viral infection. It includes the analysis of --

• RBC (Red Blood Cell) count
• WBC (White Blood Cell) count
• Platelet count
• Haemoglobin count
• Peripheral smear
• ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate)

How about gifting yourself an annual health package on your 40th Birthday? Not a bad idea at all!

You may also like to read:

• Is your heart healthy at 40? These tests help you find out
• 6 cancer screening tests you should do before you turn 40!

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