Your 40s can be a busy time – you might be juggling work or family demands – and finding time for yourself can be difficult. That said, now is one of the most important life stages to make time for your health.
From your 40s, doctors recommend getting regular check-ups to monitor your risk of developing chronic disease and to help prevent problems later down the track. You may also find that monitoring your health could inform your lifestyle choices for the better in years to come.
Here are the recommended health checks for your 40s and how regularly you should get them.
Skin cancer checks
It's recommended you monitor your skin regularly and visit your GP if you notice any changes or suspicious spots. If you have a personal or family history, you should monitor your skin every 3 months and visit your health practitioner for a full skin examination every 6 months. If you’re not sure about how to monitor your skin, ask your GP.
Dental check-ups
The Australian Dental Association recommends that if you have good basic oral health you should visit your dentist every 6–12 months. However, your dentist will advise if you need to visit more regularly. Plus, Members with eligible extras cover can get 100% back on up to two dental check-ups at a Members’ Choice Advantage dentist every calendar year, including x-rays (if clinically required).*
Mental health
There are no current recommendations for regular mental health checks, but if you are concerned about your mental health, you should seek support from your health practitioner. Learn more about understanding mental health and ways to seek help on our Better Minds hub.
Testicular check
You should examine your testicles for lumps or bumps and if you feel anything unusual get it checked out immediately. There’s no routine screening for testicular cancer but it’s one of the most curable cancers if found early, so understanding how your testicles typically feel and look is important so you know when to visit your doctor.
Breast check
The Cancer Council recommends regularly monitoring the look and feel of your breasts to help identify any changes. You will be invited by BreastScreen Australia to have a free breast screen from the age of 50, however, you can still access free breast screening from the age of 40. If you notice any unusual change, make sure to speak with your doctor.
Osteoporosis
If you are a postmenopausal woman over 45, your doctor may ask you some screening questions to assess your risk of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis occurs when bones lose minerals such as calcium more quickly than the body can replace them, leading to a loss of bone density making them thin and fragile.
Heart disease risk assessment
Once you reach 45 (or over 35 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people), doctors recommend having a cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk assessment every 2 years. CVD includes heart disease, stroke and blood vessel diseases. Your doctor should test your blood pressure and cholesterol and ask you questions about your general health. If you already have risk factors of CVD, it’s a good idea to get checked from 40. There are also things you can do to reduce your risk.
Blood pressure check
Doctors advise getting your blood pressure checked every 2 years if you’re over 40. Or more regularly if your blood pressure is high, or you have a family history of high blood pressure, strokes or heart attacks.
If you're getting your blood pressure checked at your local pharmacy, make sure you share your results with your GP. They can use this to help determine your overall risk for heart disease and stroke and give you advice on how to reduce these risks if needed.
Eye test
Optometrists typically recommend getting an eye test every two years. However, your optical health professional will advise if you need to visit more regularly. If you’re eligible, Medicare may subsidise your eye check once every 3 years, and Medibank members with eligible extras get 100% back on optical items (up to your annual limit) at any recognised provider. Some services like lens coating are excluded and waiting periods apply.~
Monitoring your blood sugar
Blood glucose (sometimes referred to as blood sugar) is the most common kind of sugar found in the blood. It is the main source of energy for most of the body’s organs and tissues and an essential source of fuel for the brain. It’s a good idea to check your blood glucose levels every 3 years from the age of 40 if your blood glucose levels are normal. However, if you have prediabetes you should be checked every year. You can also assess your own risk by completing a diabetes risk assessment online.
Cholesterol test
A cholesterol test will measure levels of cholesterol and other fats in the blood like triglycerides. When we have high levels of bad cholesterol (LDL-cholesterol) and triglycerides – sometimes due to an excess of saturated fats in the diet – it can clog the arteries and lead to heart disease and stroke. If you’re over 45 (or over 35 for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people), you should have your cholesterol checked once every 5 years. Or every 1 to 2 years if you have a higher risk of CVD.
Cervical screening test
Cervical screening tests are recommended every 5 years unless advised otherwise by a doctor. From 1 December 2017, cervical screening tests replaced pap smears to screen and identify those at higher risk of cervical cancer, as they look for signs of HPV. If you get cervical screens and are aged between 25-74, you can be screened through the National Cervical program, which provides the option for all people eligible for cervical screening the choice to collect their own screening sample.
When was your last thorough health check?
If you're 45-49 years old and have a family history or risk factors of chronic diseases, you might qualify for a comprehensive health assessment subsidised by Medicare. The health assessment determines your risk of chronic disease and helps you to make healthy lifestyle changes to reduce your risk of disease developing.
Top 5 tips for staying healthy in your 40s
1. Eat well
It is important to have a balanced diet for good health and nutrition. Eating a wide variety of nutritious foods every day, including fruit and vegetables, grains, lean meats, poultry and fish, as well as milk, yoghurt and cheese (and limiting saturated fat, added salt, sugar, and alcohol) will help protect you against many chronic diseases. Plus, eating well will help you maintain a healthy weight and help to reduce risk factors for things like heart disease, high blood pressure, type-2 diabetes, sleep apnoea, and arthritis.
2. Watch your drinking habits
Everything in moderation, right? This couldn’t be truer for alcohol. Drinking too much, too often, can do significant harm to our health. The recommended amount is no more than 10 standard drinks a week and no more than 4 standard drinks on any one day. Or cutting out alcohol entirely will open up a whole new level of appreciation for better moods, sleep, skin and much more.
3. Keep moving
There are endless benefits to doing exercise, not only for your physical health but your mental health too. Doing at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity on most days of the week will help reduce your risk of chronic disease and can help with recovery from illnesses or conditions. What’s more, exercise releases chemicals like endorphins and serotonin that improve your mood and mental wellbeing. Any physical exercise in your 40s is better than none!
4. Quit smoking
Quitting smoking can be hard, but once you put the cigarette down, you’ll begin to see changes in your health, not to mention the money you’ll save. You can get support to quit smoking from service such as Quit Now or Quitline or you can chat to your doctor about medicine you can try.
5. Take care of your mind
Feeling good is different for everyone, but usually, it’s about being balanced in four key areas of your life: physically, socially, emotionally and mentally. Taking care of your mental wellbeing will help you live better.
Remember, if you have any questions or concerns about your health it's always best to chat with a GP. Eligible Medibank members with hospital cover can also call the Medibank 24/7 Nurse Phone Service±, or the 24/7 Medibank Mental Health Phone Support line± for mental health and wellbeing support.
Eligible Medibank members can access a range of programs and research trials designed to manage their health conditions and provide access to more affordable care options.
Complimentary health checks now available
We're always looking for ways to help our members, that's why we are trialling complimentary health checks over the phone with Registered Nurses for members with Hospital and Extras cover.^
