Dr Samantha Wild, GP at Bupa Health Clinics, on the four key screenings every woman should be having:

Cardiovascular check-ups

Keeping on top of your blood pressure and cholesterol profile is one of the main ways to monitor your overall health, especially as heart problems can be difficult to spot before it’s too late. “Regular checks of your blood pressure to make sure it’s not too high are important,” says Wild. “You want your blood tests to show high levels of HDLs (good cholesterol) and low levels of LDLs (bad cholesterol). Eating avocado, fish, nuts and vegetables all helps, as does regular exercise.”

Diabetes risk score

“Type 2 diabetes can become a serious condition, linked to heart and kidney disease, but catching it early in a blood test can help you manage the sugar in your blood to keep it at a safe level,” says Wild. Go to riskscore.diabetes.org.uk to take a quick questionnaire that will calculate your diabetes risk and suggest next steps.

Mental health screening

“Our mental health is just as important as our physical health, and conditions like depression and anxiety can be debilitating,” says Wild. She recommends speaking to a doctor sooner rather than later, when we feel under strain so they can suggest lifestyle changes or look into medication where needed.

Cancer screening

“It’s so vital that we attend our NHS cancer screenings as early detection can help save your life,” says Wild. Cervical screenings are offered every three years for 25- to 49-year-olds and every five years for ages 50-64. Breast screenings are offered at 50-71, and bowel cancer screenings for 54- to 74-year-olds via a home-testing kit.

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