Four Essential Blood Tests After Forty

Doctors recommend maintaining a balance between 'good' and 'bad' cholesterol, especially after the age of forty, when the body's ability to get rid of harmful fats decreases. While a healthy diet and regular exercise help regulate levels, some people may need fat-lowering medications.

1. Kidney Function Test The kidneys work to purify the blood of toxins and regulate the balance of salts and fluids, and any dysfunction in their performance directly affects the body's health. Elevated levels may indicate the beginning of chronic kidney disease, which often shows no symptoms until advanced stages. Therefore, it is recommended to undergo regular testing for early detection and prevention of complications such as heart disease and high blood pressure.

2. Blood Sugar Test This test monitors the blood sugar level over the past three months and is the best way to detect prediabetes or diabetes. High results indicate that the body is not using insulin efficiently, which increases the risk of nerve, eye, and kidney damage. Doctors confirm that reaching the age of forty represents a major turning point in a person's life, as our bodies begin to undergo clear physiological changes that can reveal a lot about our age and future health.

In this context, Dean Egit, a general practitioner and chief executive of the local medical committee in Doncaster, UK, noted that regular blood tests after forty are one of the best ways to monitor the body's internal condition and detect any health problems in their early stages before they develop.

Here are the four most important blood tests recommended for everyone over forty to maintain optimal health, according to a report published by the British 'Daily Mail':

1. Lipid and Cholesterol Test This test helps measure the levels of good cholesterol (HDL), bad cholesterol (LDL), and triglycerides in the blood. High levels of bad cholesterol lead to the buildup of deposits in the arteries, increasing the risk of heart and brain strokes and high blood pressure.

2. Kidney Function Test This test measures the level of creatinine in the blood, which is an indicator of the kidneys' efficiency in getting rid of waste. For prevention, it is recommended to follow a balanced diet, reduce sugars and saturated fats, and maintain a healthy weight and regular physical activity.

3. Glycated Hemoglobin Test This test monitors the blood sugar level over the past three months and is the best way to detect prediabetes or diabetes. High results indicate that the body is not using insulin efficiently, which increases the risk of nerve, eye, and kidney damage.

4. Blood Pressure Measurement High blood pressure is one of the most common 'silent' problems after forty, as it often shows no symptoms. Healthy values range between 90/60 and 120/80 mmHg, while high blood pressure of 140/90 or more is a cause for concern.