Whether each morning starts with a frantic hunt for your keys or you're so organized that you have automated reminders to send birthday cards, one thing is for sure...it's hard to keep tabs on your health when every medical test and screening has its own guidelines. To help you out, here are a few that need your attention.  Take a look and then start scheduling your appointments.

• Blood sugar. Decades of eating the wrong food (think chocolate, hot dogs, fries -- you get the picture) plus weight gain (often due to hormone changes) may have overworked your poor pancreas. It can't keep up and that can lead to diabetes. Starting at age 45, be sure to get a fasting blood sugar test, and then at least once every three years.

• Breast exam and mammogram. You're probably checking your breasts at home regularly and your doctor does an exam annually, but most experts recommend adding a mammogram to the mix somewhere after age 40 or 50. Not all breast cancer experts agree. When to start? Work with your doctor to decide.

• Blood pressure. Don't be surprised if your blood pressure starts rising now -- that's common. Fortunately, you can lower your blood pressure through diet, exercise, and medication. It's worth the effort. Lower blood pressure is a key factor in longevity.

• Cholesterol profile. Take heart: this simple blood test can save your life. One in five Americans has high cholesterol, a condition that leads to heart attacks or strokes - diseases that claim a life every 33 seconds! If you have high cholesterol, protect yourself by changing your diet and taking medications such as statins.

• Stepping on the scales. You blissfully enjoyed chips and hamburgers while ignoring your expanding waistline, but the scale doesn't lie. Pay attention to the results: being overweight puts you at high risk for developing a number of diseases, including diabetes and heart disease.

• Pelvic exam and pap. Yes, you still need these -- especially if you're sexually active. Ten minutes of mild discomfort pays big dividends in protecting you from cancer and sexually transmitted diseases.

• Looking for moles. Those years of getting "a healthy tan" can lead to something not so healthy -- skin cancer. Luckily, most skin cancers are curable. So don't forget to ask your doctor to check your skin for unusual moles or skin changes once a year.

• Protecting your eyes. Having trouble reading or working at the computer? It's not unusual. Be sure to get your eyes examined regularly -- every two years until age 60 -- to check for common problems like presbyopia, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. Go more often if you have vision problems or risk factors for eye problems.

• Checking your immunizations. Ask your doctor if you need a tetanus booster shot, and whether you should consider a flu shot.

Schedule a visit to your dentist, and call your doctor to see if there are important tests you should take. By investing an hour or so with the doctor now, you may be able to add years to your life.   

Source:  WebMD 

The only thing worse than getting your period is not getting your period. The anxiety, the trip to the drugstore for a pregnancy test, and the confusion that sets in when the test comes back negative is worse than any case of cramps.   

And while a lot of women don't talk about it, almost all of us have been there. Missing a period is very common, And luckily, most of the time, it's harmless and only your body's way of showing you some TLC.     

When you undergo a lot of stress, your body may not ovulate and have a period.  That stress could come from your job, your boyfriend, or even your workout. Excessive exercise-and the stress it causes on your body-can lead to missed periods. In one study, a quarter of elite female athletes reported a history of missing periods, and runners led the pack.   

What's more, menstrual cycles can go MIA even if you're on a medication that's supposed to regulate them. Birth control pills and the Mirena IUD can make your endometrial lining so thin that sometimes there's nothing to shed. That's also true for 28-day packs of birth control complete with placebos and some oral contraceptives with placebo pills spaced further apart that are designed to make you only get your period every few months. And it's fine, as your body isn't ovulating when you're on hormonal contraceptives anyway. If you discontinue use of BC, remember it may take six or more months for your periods to get back on schedule.  

When to Worry

Even more concerning is that serious health conditions could be behind your MIA menstrual cycle. Among the most common is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal imbalance that makes ovulation infrequent or stops it altogether and that can increase the risk of endometrial cancer. The uterine lining builds up every month but is not shed. Over time it can thicken and cancerous changes can occur. PCOS is the most common cause of female infertility in the United States, and while its exact cause is unknown, early diagnosis and treatment can help reduce the risk any long-term complications such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.   

Eating disorders and too-low BMIs can also cause missed periods.  

According to the National Institutes of Health, having a body fat percentage lower than 15 to 17 percent increases your chances of missing periods for an extended period of time. The body isn't in the shape to carry a pregnancy, so the brain tells your ovaries to shut it down. And even if your BMI doesn't get too low, super-speedy weight loss can send your periods on hiatus.

If you do visit your gyno about a case of the missing period, it's important to go armed with a calendar of any menstrual cycles you have had, as well as a list of any other symptoms as well as health and lifestyle changes that have occurred recently.  And whatever you do, don't stress about it. It won't make your period come back any faster.   

Source: Shape Magazine

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