IMPORTANT HEALTH SCREENINGS

•Heart Disease

As part of your annual physical exam, include blood tests for high cholesterol and triglyceride levels that could indicate a buildup of plaque in your coronary arteries. Also, have your blood pressure checked a minimum of once per year, because untreated hypertension also contributes to coronary artery disease.

••Diabetes

High blood pressure could also signal a rise in blood sugar levels. If your blood pressure is 135/80 or higher, ask your doctor for a blood glucose screening test. Also check for diabetes if you have increased thirst, frequent urination, unexplained fatigue or blurred vision.

•••Bone Health

Women of any age are more prone to osteoporosis than men and should ask their health care provider when it is time to have their first bone density test. Menopausal and post-menopausal women should be tested every two years.

••••Cancer

Women should be checked on a regular basis for breast, uterine, ovarian, colorectal and skin cancer. Ask your physician how often testing should be performed based on your family medical history and your individual lifestyle.

•••••Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Sexually active women of any age should be tested yearly for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, hepatitis, genital herpes, human papillomavirus (HPV) and HIV. Testing is especially important for women with multiple sex partners.

You can read about retinoids all day, but if you don’t try them you’ll never know just how fantastic they can make your skin look. Over-thecounter products are fine, but prescription-strength creams offer major help for acne, wrinkles and skin diseases, such as psoriasis.

••Prime

Makeup primer not only fills in small wrinkles to provide a smooth base for your foundation, it also helps soak up natural oils that soak through makeup alone… and what could possibly be worse than being “shiny?”

••• Learn to love what nature gave you. Instead of constantly battling whatever type of hair you might have, give in and go with the flow. Curly, straight or anywhere in between, find the products and cuts that enhance your hair’s natural beauty.

If you waited until the last second to do your toenails, don’t fret about drying time. Just quickly submerse your toes in a small bowl of ice water. Instantly dried nails every time.

•••••Moisturize

Women working indoors in Florida need to make sure they use enough moisturizer on their skin. Air-conditioning systems take the moisture out of office air and dry skin quickly. Also avoid toohot showers, which also dry out your skin.