7 health tests you need to consider in your 30s to stay healthy later in your life

Ageing is a natural phenomenon. As your age increases, changes in your body also start appearing. Changes in your body also affect your general health. After 30 years of age, your body starts losing more bone mass than what it is actually producing. Thus, it would be best if you considered health as your priority at all ages and stages of life. There are multiple health tests that you must religiously take after the age of 30 to ensure good health as you age.

Your primary concern in life should be your health. You must have often seen people with several health issues as soon as they cross 30 years of age. The 30s are the crucial years for your overall health. Thus, it would help if you took the utmost care of yourself during this time. This involves regular health check-ups as well. Routine health tests aid in the early diagnosis of any disease. Early diagnosis gives ample time to the doctor to manage, treat, and monitor the disease.

So what are the health tests that one must consider undergoing after the age of 30? This is a common question that must have arisen in your mind. So here is a list of 7 health tests that you must consider in your 30s.

Blood pressure test

The force exerted by your blood on the wall of your arteries is known as blood pressure. Blood pressure is measured in terms of millimetres of mercury, that is, mm Hg. High blood pressure is often asymptomatic, but prolonged fluctuation in blood pressure can lead to several health complications. Thus, you must get your blood pressure test done regularly when you reach your 30s. The normal value of blood pressure is 120/80, that is, 120 mm Hg should be your systolic pressure, and 80 mm Hg should be your diastolic pressure. The prolonged high blood pressure causes hypertension which increases your risk of stroke or heart attack. Thus, due to various health complications, the American heart association (AHA) recommends that one should monitor their blood pressure routinely.

Cholesterol screening test

Cholesterol is a waxy substance responsible for building healthy cells in your body. However, excess cholesterol levels increase your risk of cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, cholesterol levels act as an important biomarker for heart diseases. The cholesterol levels can be detected by laboratory tests or with the help of home kits. Cholesterol screening tests are important and should be checked routinely after the age of 30. The cholesterol levels are measured in the form of total cholesterol level, bad (LDL), and good (HDL) cholesterol levels. The normal cholesterol levels in your blood also differ depending on your age and gender. The normal cholesterol levels according to age and gender. The optimum levels of cholesterol in your blood based on your gender and age are tabulated below.

S.No.	Age	Gender	Total cholesterol	LDL cholesterol	HDL cholesterol
1.	< 19 years	Both males and females	< 170 mg/dL	< 110 mg/dL	> 45 mg/dL
2.	> 20 years	Males	125 - 200 mg/dL	< 100 mg/dL	> 40 mg/dL
3.	> 20 years	Females	125 - 200 mg/dL	< 100 mg/dL	> 50 mg/dL

Sexually transmitted diseases screening

The occurrence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) like HIV is often common in your 30s due to increased sexual activity. The sexually transmitted infection can affect not only your fertility but overall health as well. STD can often be asymptomatic during the early stages. This makes the STD screening test important. As per the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), sexually active individuals must get their STD test done atleast once a year. 

Body mass index (BMI) screening test

The BMI screening test indicates your health and wellness through your weight. BMI screening is an easy test that indicates your body fat. Routine evaluation of BMI prevents you from several life-threatening diseases of the heart.

Diabetes test

Diabetes or increased blood sugar levels is one of the most common disorders in the early 30s. A diabetes screening test is an easy test you can do yourself. As per the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), there are several diagnostic tests for diabetes like random plasma glucose test (RPG), HbA1C test, fasting plasma glucose test (FPG), and postprandial blood sugar test.

• The fasting plasma glucose test measures the sugar level in your blood early in the morning when you have an empty stomach after fasting for 8 hours.
• The random plasma glucose (RPG) test is an emergency test conducted when you can’t wait till the next day for your test. 
• The postprandial blood sugar (PPBS) test determines the blood sugar levels after 2 hours of having a meal. 
• The HbA1c test reports the average blood sugar level for the past 3 months. Since an average test result for the last 3 months is obtained, it is considered the most important and accurate parameter to monitor your diabetes. 

The optimum blood sugar levels depend on whether or not you have diabetes. The average normal blood sugar levels in diabetic, non-diabetic, and prediabetic individuals are tabulated below:

S.No.	Group	Fasting Blood Sugar Level (mg/dL)	Postprandial (PP) Blood Sugar Level (mg/dL)
			Just after eating	2 hrs after eating
1.	Normal	70 - 100	170 - 200	< 140
2.	Early diabetes	101 - 126	190 - 230	140 - 200
3.	Diabetes	> 126	230 - 300	> 200

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease (NIDDK) and the American Diabetes Association (ADA), the normal blood sugar levels for prediabetic, diabetic, and non-diabetic individuals when tested for diabetes through the HbA1c test are summarised in the table below:

S.No.	Group	Blood Sugar Level
1.	Healthy (Non-diabetic)	Less than 5.7%
2.	Prediabetic	5.7% to 6.4%
3.	Diabetic	6.5% or more

Eye health screening

It is very important to monitor your vision and the proper functioning of the eyes as you start aging. The eye health screening is a test that gives a better insight into the health condition of your eyes. The early detection of eye conditions is essential to prevent the development of more serious eye complications. 

Bone density screening

The bone density starts reducing with your age. This makes your bones weak leading to joint pain in your body. Thus, it is often recommended that you get a DEXA scan done is often recommended once you reach 30 years of age. This scan helps predict the overall health of your bones and helps predict bone disorders like osteoporosis. 

Takeaway

Health is important, and it is always better to prevent the occurrence of any disease than to take measures to cure it at a later stage in life. Getting your routine tests done once you reach 30 years of age is always a good idea. Now that you know the health check-ups that you must get done in your 30s make sure that you get these tests done at regular intervals.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• What are the lifestyle tips that make you healthy in your 30s?

Certain lifestyle modifications can ensure good health even in your 30s. These health tips include:

• Regular exercise in the morning
• Manage stress and anxiety
• Get regular health check-ups done
• Maintain healthy weight
• Take care of your bone health
• Reduce sugar intake
• Apply sunscreen regular
• Know your family history

• What diet should be followed in your 30s?

A lot of changes in your body occur at the age of 30. Thus, you must take a nutrient-rich diet high in vitamin B6 and omega-3 fatty acids.

• What body changes occur in the 30s?

At the age of 30, you tend to have loose lean tissue, you lose cells from your body organs, and muscle loss or atrophy are some common changes that might occur in your body.