When it comes to women's health, there are a lot of factors that should be taken into consideration. Women have different health needs than men and treatment plans and preventative care should reflect these different needs. When it comes to health tests, there are some tests that women should be getting on a regular basis. Here are three important screenings that women should be talking to their women's health physician about. Getting these tests could potentially save your life.

Pap Smears

Pap smears, or Pap tests, are essential starting in early adulthood. A Pap smear analyzes cervical cells for signs of cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is very treatable when caught early, so early detection is key. Regular Pap smears can catch changes in cervical cells that may indicate cancer. It's recommended that you get a Pap smear once every three years from age 21 to 65. If you are over the age of 30, you can opt for a Pap smear and HPV test once every five years instead. Pap smears are an essential test that every woman should get.

Mammograms

Nearly one in eight American women will develop breast cancer over the course of their lifetimes. Like with any other type of cancer, early detection makes a huge difference in your outcome. The earlier the cancer is caught, the higher your chances of survival. One important screening that women should talk to their healthcare providers about is a mammogram. Mammograms take X-ray images of the breasts and can catch tumors early on in their development. Starting at age 40, women are encouraged to get mammograms. From ages 45 to 54 they are recommended once per year, and once every two years after the age of 55.

Blood Pressure

One thing that many women do not know is that heart disease is the leading killer of women in the US. One thing that greatly increases your risk of heart disease is high blood pressure. Unfortunately, high blood pressure has little to no symptoms. Because of this, having blood pressure checks on a regular basis is a must for all women. Heart disease is often a silent killer. Regular blood pressure checks can help you stop this disease in its tracks. Blood pressure checks are recommended at least every two years starting at the age of 20.

When it comes to women's health, there are a few screenings that women should be receiving on a regular basis. Pap smears and mammograms are essential screenings for cervical cancer and breast cancer. Heart disease is also a major threat to women. Regular blood pressure screenings can help detect this disease in its early stages. 

Reach out to an office like Johnson  City Ob-Gyn to learn more.