3 Tests every woman needs to take

Three simple tests could save your life. Dr. Oz reveals what they are, and why you need to take them today. You wouldn’t drive your car for 5, 10 or 20 years without getting a checkup. So why would you do it to your body? It’s crucial to know your body’s condition to prevent three of America’s biggest killers – heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Here, Dr. Oz shares how to do so with 3 simple tests available through your doctor or pharmacist. Now more than ever, you have the power to detect and fight those diseases, improving your health and maybe even saving your life.

 

Test 1: A Comprehensive Weight and Fat Assessment 

A comprehensive weight and fat assessment is more than just standing on a scale and counting the pounds. This seven-in-one test gives you insight into your overall health by measuring the following: Body Weight, Body Mass Index (BMI), Body Fat Percentage, Body Age, Resting Metabolism, Visceral Fat, and an important measurement that may be new to you, Skeletal Muscle. And while you may assume men are more concerned about muscle mass, knowing your percentage of skeletal muscle is just as crucial for women. In fact, skeletal muscle is the secret key to your body’s ability to burn fat over the long term and lose weight. Your doctor can tell you your ideal percentage based on a variety of factors, but generally women should shoot for close to 30%, while men should be closer to 35%. If your percentage is too low, it’s time to ramp up your muscle mass. 

 

Test 2: Blood Pressure

Heart disease is the number-one killer of women, yet when it comes to blood pressure – a major contributor to heart disease – so many people continue to go unchecked and undiagnosed. Healthy arteries are vital for transporting blood through your heart and to the rest of your body. Above-normal pressure puts too much force on your arteries, and can lead to arterial damage, including weakening, scarring, risk of plaque build-up and blood clots, and overall coronary artery disease. High blood pressure is associated with the development of life-threatening conditions such as stroke, kidney failure, and type 2 diabetes. An ideal blood pressure reading should be 115/75; anything over 140/90 is considered hypertension, while prehypertension is any reading in between.

 

Test 3: Blood Test for Glucose and Cholesterol 

This painless, finger-prick blood test measures both your blood sugar levels and cholesterol. The best part? You don’t have to fast beforehand!  If you haven’t eaten within a couple hours, your blood sugar levels should be between 70 and 100. A measure of 100-125 is considered prediabetic, and 126 means you’ve got diabetes. If you’ve eaten recently and your blood sugar level reads above 200, it also places you among the 80 million Americans living with diabetes. And as the sugar builds up in your body due to insulin resistance, it acts like shards of glass, scraping away at the walls of your arteries, leaving them severely weakened. You can take two supplements to temper the effects of diabetes. Many type-2 diabetics are naturally low in magnesium, which is important for regulating blood sugar levels. Taking 400 mg a day of magnesium supplements can help manage blood sugar levels. Additionally, taking 200 mcg of chromium polynicotinate supplement daily can improve how insulin works in your body, going so far as to bring pre-diabetics – people in the 100-125 blood sugar range – back down to healthy levels. Your cholesterol levels should also be below 200. Anything higher should prompt a trip to the doctor’s office. In addition to the treatment she or he recommends, add coconut oil to your meals as a substitute for butter and other unhealthy, saturated fats. In fact, adding just 1 tablespoon to your diet per day will help raise your HDL, or healthy cholesterol levels, to protect your arteries. Remember, there are a million excuses to avoid taking these tests. Maybe you’re too busy with family, work, or even just afraid to find out what the results may be. But the sooner you know the status of your body, the sooner you’ll be able to turn it around and experience the best health of your life. 

 

Excerpts from http://www.doctoroz.com