From 45 Onwards
At 45, you might think that your life is well and truly settling down, you’ve got routines and you know what you like. Well, you’ll need to get used to some new things, and keep track of some new health checks!
- Cholesterol (from 45 up, at least every 5 years)
Testing your cholesterol and your triglyceride levels involves the doctor taking a blood sample from you following a 10-12 hour fast. This is analysed to measure how much of each of these fats exist in your blood. High levels of these mean you have a greater chance of developing a disease like a heart attack or a stroke. Again, if you’re of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander heritage, doctors recommend starting these tests from 35 years of age, instead of 45 years.
- Heart Disease and Stroke (from 45 up, at least every 2 years)
Doctors will collect data about your body and your lifestyle to determine your chances of developing a cardiovascular disease in the next five years. These details might include age, gender, cholesterol level, lifestyle choices like smoking, and whether you have diabetes. Everyone should have these risk factors looked over by their doctors every two years, from the time that they’re 45 years old.
- Osteoporosis (from 45 up, every 12 months)
Osteoporosis is a medical condition that causes your bones to become fragile and brittle. It’s often caused by hormonal changes common as you age, as well as from a lack of calcium and vitamin D. Doctors begin to look for signs of osteoporosis from the age of 45, and aspects like your age, and any family history are all considered. These checks should be done every 12 months, or if you feel as though you’ve had an unusually large number of bone breaks.
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