Life in your 20’s can be absolutely crazy, for a lot of different reasons. You may be in school, you may be working full-time, you may be starting or in the middle of a serious relationship, or you may be figuring out how to live on your own for the first time. No matter what you are going through, this transition from being a teenager to being a fully-functioning adult member of society can be a little hard to navigate on your own. It’s easy to forget about the small but important things, which include your health. So what health checkups should you make sure that you remember?
Cardiovascular Health
If you maintain a healthy weight and exercise regularly, it’s unlikely you’ll have any cardiovascular health concerns. Heart attack and stroke are relatively rare conditions for younger adults. However, if you have a family history of heart problems, you need to be on the lookout for warning signs. You should also be checking your blood pressure on a regular basis. This can also be an indicator of whether you are having heart problems, or if you need work on living a healthier lifestyle. Just because you are at a good weight does not mean that you are in shape. Your doctor will check up on all of these things every time you have a physical, which means that it is important not to skip these.
STD Testing
If you are sexually active, this check-up is incredibly important for you to keep up on. Sexually transmitted diseases are no joke, and they can cause problems ranging from discomfort to serious health concerns. While you may be able to diagnose some STDs on your own, you may not recognize some of the symptoms. Additionally, sometimes STDs are asymptomatic, meaning that there are no signs. Make sure you get tested for STDs at least once a year. It is also recommended that you get tested before you start having sex with a new partner.
Immunizations
As a young adult, you may have the opportunity to travel for school or vacation that you may not have had before. It’s important to make sure that you stay up on your vaccines and immunizations. It’s also important that you update any childhood immunizations that you received that may have expired. Additionally, if you are pregnant or have health concerns, it may be important to get immunizations to prevent complications. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has a list of recommended vaccines based on age and health conditions.
There is a lot of things you need to worry about as a young adult, but don’t let your health get pushed off to the side by something else. Your body is one of the most important things in your life, and you need to make sure that you take proper care of it.