How Women Over 30 Can Address Their Health Proactively

For most people, hitting the milestone of 30 years heralds the start of experiencing changes in the body and its overall function. This is also the age when holistic wellness and self-care becomes paramount. This is especially true for women, as crossing the age of 30 is when the body starts reacting to otherwise minor inconveniences and external factors more seriously. While a woman doesn’t undergo drastic changes at this age, it is usually the point at which she notices lasting effects of any form of negligence towards her health and body. Therefore, for all women, women's health should be the top priority.

For instance, post 30, it is common for women to start losing muscle mass gradually. If left unchecked, this weakens the body and her ability to stay physically fit becomes a lot trickier. This leads to a higher risk of developing a serious health condition known as osteoporosis. To avoid this and other such health conditions, it is important to employ a proactive strategy toward women's health and healthcare.

Some common practices include daily workouts, better nutrition, frequent health check-ups and working towards eliminating unhealthy habits. While these can be employed by women earlier in their life, they become crucial after the age of 30 and onwards. On the occasion of International Women’s Day, here are a few practices women can rely on to prioritise healthcare post 30.

Follow a strength training routine

Since women begin to lose muscle mass at a steady pace after crossing 30, this problem can affect several areas of healthy living. For one, women are likely to get weaker and sustain bodily injury more frequently. The muscle loss also increases the risk of osteoporosis, which causes bones to become break and susceptible to easy breakage. All of this can be avoided by following a strength training routine.

This helps women prevent loss of muscle and has the added benefit of building bone density. This is crucial to preventing osteoporosis. Moreover, as the body ages, metabolism also begins to slow down and maintaining a healthy weight can be difficult. Having a workout routine helps in this regard as well, as it increases the number of calories burned and allows women to meet weight goals healthily.

Test for human papillomavirus (HPV) periodically

Experts recommend that women over 30 get tested for HPV every few years. This is because the human body can easily fend off the virus during the earlier years in life. But, with age, this ability to fight off the virus without treatment decreases and the existence of high-risk HPV strains are closely linked with cervical cancer. To stay ahead of such complications, women should get regular pap smears done. This also helps with addressing menstrual health as gynaecologists can identify potential problems and recommend care plans more effectively.

Maintain annual appointments

To stay healthy for longer, women need to maintain regular appointments with key specialists. Whether it is a general physician or a gynaecologist, going in for an appointment at least once a year is important to track bodily changes. Often, these check-ups reveal problem areas and can be crucial to preventive care. Moreover, a doctor is likely to recommend a range of health screenings to rule out possible issues including:

• Breast exam and mammogram
• Blood sugar test
• Thyroid screening
• Lipid screening

Focus on nutrition

Considering the increased risk of osteoporosis, women need to ensure that their dietary nutrition intake is on point. In this regard, calcium must be an essential part of their diet plan. Women should either visit a specialist to help draft a diet around their preferences and allergies or consume some of the more common sources of calcium such as cheese, fruit, milk or yoghurt. Talking to a doctor can also help women start the right course of supplements.

Understand the role & effect of hormones in Women's Health

It is quite common for women to experience frequent fluctuating moods and bodily changes as they age. Hormones are the primary reason for this, and it helps to know the role these play in maintaining wellbeing. This helps women to visit the right specialist when the need arises.

• Estrogen is important for childbearing but also works by helping women keep cholesterol in check and improve bone health.
• Progesterone is crucial for menstrual health and a deficiency in it can cause irregular periods, spotting and uterine bleeding.
• Testosterone contributes to muscle strength, the body’s bone density and a woman’s sex drive.

As a woman ages, she must ditch the reactive healthcare approach for one that is centred on preventive care. Her active involvement in healthcare is a great way to minimise health issues and goes a long way in improving overall wellbeing. In fact, it best that women find a health specialist that empowers them to achieve their goals, live life to the fullest and be the pillar of strength for family and friends. Today, women can do this with ease by using the Bajaj Finserv Health App.

This digital tool is loaded with features that help women access healthcare without any hassles. With it, women can find the best doctors in their city, book appointments online, and also opt for virtual consultation via chat or video. Women can also use facilities like medicine reminders and store medical records virtually apart from finding health plans that offer discounts at leading hospitals, pharmacies and labs.

This Women’s Day, Bajaj Finserv Health makes addressing the specialised medical needs of women a little simpler. Women can get gynaecology, dermatology and orthopaedic teleconsultations on Bajaj Finserv Health for free. What’s more, on availing this perk, women get an Rs. 500 Nykaa voucher too! All she needs to do is download the app for free on Google Play or the Apple App Store today.