- Women in their 30s tend to ignore symptoms of potential health problems.
- Unexpected weight gain, hair loss, and unusual moles are all things you should be on the look out for as your 20s come to an end.
- Preventative care can help you avoid serious health issues.
Welcome to your 30s: the point in your life when you finally feel like a full-fledged adult. With age comes wisdom, and nothing is wiser than focusing on your health. But because many women spend this decade juggling careers, pregnancies, children, and marriages, it’s not uncommon for their personal health concerns to be placed on the backburner. This is a big mistake.
The Office on Women's Health recommends that all women in their 30s get preventative health care by scheduling their yearly well-woman visits, as well as any tests and vaccines recommended by their medical providers. It’s also imperative to begin listening to the signals your body sends to let you know that something may be wrong. Ignoring health issues will only make them harder to treat.
Here are some health warnings you should watch out for as your 20s come to an end.
Weight gain that feels impossible to take off
Unwanted weight gain is an unfortunate reality for women of all ages, but as your metabolism begins to slow down in your 30s, these pounds can be more difficult to lose. The National Women's Health Resource Center suggests that women in their 30s maintain an exercise program that includes aerobic activities, like walking, jogging, or biking, in order to stimulate their slowing metabolisms. Additionally, try to eat a healthy diet that is low in saturated fats, high in fruits and vegetables, and make an effort to avoid processed and junk foods.
There are instances, however, when your metabolism isn't to blame for packing on the pounds. According to Health, if you are exercising, have healthy eating habits, and still having an exceptionally hard time losing weight, you may have an underactive thyroid, a hormone imbalance, or even a food intolerance. Don’t simply assume that weight gain is a natural part of your aging process. Visit your doctor for regular check ups and request lab work to make sure your hormone and thyroid levels are where they are supposed to be.
New or changing moles or spots on the skin
Those hours you spent at the beach, by the pool, or in the tanning bed may start to catch up with you in your 30s. The American Cancer Society reports that melanoma, is one of the most common cancers in people in their 30s and younger – particularly in women. If melanoma runs in your family, you may be at risk at an even younger age.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), untreated melanoma can grow and spread quickly to other parts of the body, which can be deadly. The AAD website recommends that you seek medical attention if you experience any of the following warning signs:
- New or changing mole, freckle, age spot, or patch on your skin, including a growing patch of thick skin that resembles a scar.
- Dark streak under a fingernail or toenail
- Band of darker skin around a fingernail or toenail
Additionally, the Melanoma Research Foundation wants you to remember the ABCs of skin cancer:
- Asymmetrical Shape - Melanoma lesions are often not symmetrical in shape.
- Border - Melanoma lesions usually have irregular borders that are difficult to define.
- Color - Check for moles with more than one color (blue, black, brown, tan, etc.) or an uneven distribution of color. Benign moles are usually a single shade of tan or brown.
- Diameter - Watch for moles greater than 6 millimeters in diameter (about the size of a pencil eraser).
- Evolution - If you notice recent changes in color, shape or size of your mole, have it checked immediately by a dermatologist.
Trouble getting pregnant
The American Pregnancy Association notes that fertility typically begins to decline in your mid-30s. Less frequent ovulation, lower quality and quantity of eggs, a decrease in cervical fluid, and increased risk of chronic health problems as you age can contribute to this decline.
But, sometimes, your age isn't the cause of infertility. You may be experiencing a hormone imbalance, have a tumor or cyst, or have undiagnosed problems with your thyroid glands.
Seek medical advice if you have trouble becoming pregnant, as it may be related to a treatable condition.
Unexplained or abnormal vaginal bleeding
It’s normal to get a heavy period or experience an irregular cycle from time to time. Often stress is the culprit and your body will regulate itself. But as you enter perimenopause, typically in your early 40s, you may start to regularly experience very heavy periods due to decreased progesterone and increased estrogen, according to the Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research. But, if this happens in your 30s, it could be a sign of a more serious issue.
Dr. Steve Vasilev, medical director of Integrative Gynecologic Oncology at Providence Saint John's Health Center, previously told INSIDER that abnormal bleeding can possibly mean “serious changes like polyps, tumors, or even cancer as you get beyond 35 years of age.” In addition, Vasilev warned that if you are spotting between periods, it could mean pregnancy, and bleeding after sex could be a sign of infection, pre-cancer or even cervical cancer.
Hair loss
Most women lose between 50 to 100 hairs a day according to the AAD. But, excessive hair shedding (telogen effluvium) or hair loss due to the follicle no longer growing (anagen effluvium) are red flags of a serious issue. Although stress and childbirth are the most common causes of hair loss in your 30s, this may be a signal that your body is lacking important nutrients.
Dr. Heather Wickless tells Health that when she sees a patient in her 30s experiencing hair loss, it is usually due to an iron deficiency. Because menstruation can deplete a woman’s iron supply, it is recommended that they take 18 milligrams of iron per day, about 10 more milligrams than men.
Healthline explains that hair loss can also be a sign of a vitamin D deficiency. It’s estimated that up to one billion people worldwide have a vitamin D deficiency, which is linked to diabetes, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, and breast and colorectal cancers according to Prevention. Vitamin D is also essential for absorption of calcium in the body, and maintaining bone strength. A study found that over 50% of women treated for bone loss have inadequate vitamin D levels.
New or worsening respiratory issues
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) nearly 18% of women between the ages of 25 and 44 are smokers. Although most cigarette-related lung problems are diagnosed among older adults, women who smoke in their 30s are still at risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease, emphysema, stroke, leukemia, asthma, pneumonia, and tuberculosis. A 2012 study in The Lancet found that quitting smoking before you turn 40 helps reduce more than 90% of the excess mortality (number of deaths) caused by continuing smoking, and stopping before age 30 years avoids more than 97% of it.
In addition to lung problems, OB-GYN Dr. Judith Volkar of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center told TODAY that smoking can also affect a woman’s ability to conceive, as well as the health of her fetus.
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