​40s—taking the world by storm

Moving into your 40s is a time of transition. You're balancing your life and career, keeping up with your busy family and possibly caring for aging parents. You are also more confident and ready to enjoy new opportunities.

You may be noticing changes in your overall metabolism, energy level, bone and muscle strength, and hormone levels. Focusing on healthy eating, exercise, stress management and preventative screenings could improve how you feel in the years to come. An active approach to wellness in this decade can make a difference in your 50s and 60s, and could decrease your risk for many diseases.

If you don’t have one already, it’s important to find a physician to partner with you on your path to health and wellness. Your doctor can assess your current health status, recommend screenings and treat any symptoms or conditions.

Recommended screenings

Staying healthy is a combination of caring for yourself and getting the right medical care decade by decade. Here is a guide to help you keep track of recommended routine screenings:

Health screenings in your 40s:

• Annual blood pressure test

• Annual eye exam with baseline disease screening

• Annual flu vaccine

• Annual wellness visit

• Clinical breast exam every year

• Mammogram every one to two years
  

• Regular dental exams and cleaning

• Thyroid checked at age 35 and every five years
  

• Annual skin check

• Cholesterol screening

• Fasting plasma glucose test every three years starting at age 45

• Pap test and HPV test with pelvic exam every five  years
  

Health tips

Maintaining a healthy, balanced life is about making small, daily changes. Here are some health tips for your 40s:

• Do not smoke

• Drink alcohol in moderation
  

• Eat well

• Form a relationship with a physician you like and trust and have regular exams

• Get 1,000 mg of calcium with 600 IU of vitamin D per day

• Get 30 minutes of exercise daily

• Get 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night

• Maintain a healthy body weight

• Protect yourself from sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies

• Reduce stress
  

• Watch for signs of depression

• Wear sunscreen
  

Conditions and services in your 40s

As a women, you may develop different health issues throughout your life that need medical attention. Below is a quick reference about medical conditions and services in your in your 40s.