Health checks in your 20s and 30s

When you’re in your 20s and 30s, your health might not be a top priority. But no one is invincible. Establishing good health habits early on gives you the best chance of enjoying a longer, healthier and happier life.

One key action is ensuring you get the right health checks when you need them to help prevent, detect and address any potential problems.

Here, we look at key health issues that you should be checking in your 20s and 30s, from high blood pressure to mental health.

Undiagnosed medical issues can have a snowball effect on your health. Left unaddressed, they can get worse and harder to treat over time.

The purpose of a health check is to detect these potential issues at an early stage, so they can be managed as best as possible.

Your GP can examine your health and look at your lifestyle and medical history. They may also recommend further checks or screenings based on things like:

• age
• weight
• ethnicity
• pre-existing conditions
• family history.

It’s a good idea to request a health check from a GP you’re comfortable with, and who’s familiar with your medical history.

Performed by: GP

Frequency: At least every 2 years

Why: When the heart pumps at a higher pressure over many years, it can weaken your artery walls. High blood pressure has no symptoms and can lead to stroke, heart problems and kidney damage.¹

As well as age, several factors can put you at risk of high blood pressure. These include:

• poor diet (including too much salt)
• obesity
• low physical activity
• overconsumption of alcohol.

Performed by: GP

Frequency: As directed by your doctor

Why: Type 2 diabetes causes high blood glucose levels which, if left untreated, can lead to serious long-term complications.

If you’re of First Nations descent, have a history of polycystic ovary syndrome or gestational diabetes, or you meet other risk factors such as a family history of diabetes, you may need to have your blood sugar levels checked regularly.

Performed by: GP

Frequency: As directed by your doctor

Why: High levels of cholesterol in your blood can lead to heart disease, and it’s common for doctors to suggest cholesterol checks for people who are over 30. While older age is certainly a key consideration, other risk factors for developing high cholesterol include:

• poor diet
• low physical activity
• smoking
• a family history of high cholesterol
• being overweight or obese.²

Performed by: GP or gynaecologist

Frequency Every 5 years, or as recommended by your GP

Why: It’s recommended that women and people who are transgender or gender diverse who have a cervix and are over the age of 25 have regular cervical screening tests (CST), which has replaced the Pap test. This can detect the human papillomavirus (HPV) in cervical cells, which in rare cases can lead to cervical cancer.

Having an HPV vaccine does not replace the need for a CST, as the vaccine doesn’t protect against all cancer-causing types of HPV. If you dread getting a CST, you’ll be glad to hear that you can now self-collec your own sample when you visit your GP.³

Performed by: Yourself and your GP

Frequency: Regular self-checks

Why: People of every age should get to know their breasts and risk factors of breast cancer (such as family history), so that any changes can be more easily identified over time.

Things to look out for include:

• changes in the size or shape of your breasts or nipples
• skin changes such as redness, dimpling, lumps or lumpiness.

You may need to take an ultrasound screen or a mammogram. However, mammograms are less effective for younger people because their breast tissue is generally denser and can show up as white on an X-ray.⁴

Performed by: Dentist or oral hygienist

Frequency: As needed

Why: You may already floss, brush twice a day and limit sugary foods for good oral health. But regular preventive dental check-ups and cleanings are important too.

Did you know that poor dental health can affect not only your teeth and gums, but can also lead to diseases throughout other parts of your body?⁵

See your dentist as soon as possible if you have a toothache, bleeding gums or dental trauma. But also make sure you book in regular check-ups to ensure everything is in good order.

Performed by: Yourself, your GP or dermatologist

Frequency: Self-check regularly

Why: Australia has one of the highest skin cancer rates in the world, with melanoma the most common cancer for people aged between 15 and 29. But, more than 90% of melanoma cases can be treated successfully if detected early.⁶

Get to know your skin and check it regularly to catch any suspicious lumps or spots as early as possible. You should pay particular attention to your arms, legs, face, back, neck, shoulders and the backs of your hands. Look for any moles, spots, lumps or patches that:

• change size, shape and/or colour
• become inflamed, itchy or painful
• bleed or crust
• don't heal after 4 weeks.

If you notice any of the above skin changes, talk to your doctor for further investigation.

Performed by: GP and sexual health clinics

Frequency: Depends on how sexually active you are and your methods of contraception

Why: Most sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are bacterial or viral infections that are passed from one person to another via body fluids (including from a pregnant person to their baby). Many STIs can be easily treated with antibiotics, but if left untreated some can lead to serious health problems, including infertility and cancer.⁷

Early diagnosis of STIs is important to ensure proper treatment and avoid ongoing health problems and spreading the infection. If you’re at risk of STIs, consider getting check-ups at a sexual health clinic every few months. It’s also recommended you get tested after unprotected sex with a new partner, or if your partner has had other sexual partners.

Performed by: Yourself and your GP

Frequency: Around every 4 weeks

Why: Did you know that the average age of a testicular cancer diagnosis is 36?⁸

People of all ages should check their testes regularly. If found and treated early, testicular cancer has a high cure rate. This is particularly important for those at higher risk, those who had undescended testes at birth or those who are infertile.

You can self-examine for any unusual lumps or swelling. The test is quick and simple: Using your fingers and thumb, feel the testes one at a time. Not all lumps or swelling will be cancerous, but if you do notice any changes or pain, see your GP as soon as possible.

Performed by: GP

Frequency: At least every 2 years

Why: Carrying extra weight, particularly around the waist, can increase your risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some cancers.⁹

Measuring your waist-to-height ratio is a good way to calculate your body fat distribution. You can do this by dividing your waist circumference by your height. For example, 80cm (waist circumference) ÷ 170cm (height) = 0.47, which is an ideal waist-to-height ratio.

Ideal	0.4 to 0.5
Increased risk	0.5 to 0.59
Greatly increased risk	>0.6

If you’re at risk of developing heart disease, you’ll need to have your waist circumference and weight checked every 6 to 12 months.

You can also estimate your total body fat by calculating your body mass index (BMI), which divides your weight by your height.

A BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is considered healthy for most young and middle-aged adults. However, this measurement can be inaccurate for pregnant people, children, older people, athletes or very muscular people. It may also need to be adjusted for some ethnic groups, including people of Asian, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent.

Performing both a waist-to-height and BMI measurement together can give you a clearer picture of your weight profile and potential health risks.

Performed by: Yourself and your GP

Frequency: As symptoms occur

Why: Most people experience stress from time to time, but too much of it can lead to physical and emotional problems that may affect your ability to function properly. So, it’s important to stay on top of things.

If you’re concerned about your mental health, you can always reach out for help. You may talk to your friends or loved ones or consult your GP, who may refer you to a qualified mental health professional. Your GP may also ask you to fill in an anxiety and depression checklist, known as a ‘K10’.

If yours or someone else’s life is in danger, dial 000 immediately.

Visit the Australian Government’s Department of Health and Aged Care website for Cervical Screening Test self-collection information.

Beyond Blue offers 24/7 mental health information and support online and on the phone at 1300 224 636. Their K10 Test is available online.

Lifeline Australia is a 24/7 crisis support service available online and over the phone on 13 11 14.

13YARN offers a national crisis support line for First Nations People on 13 92 76. The support line is available 24/7.

1800Respect is a 24/7 support service for people experiencing domestic violence. You can find support, counselling and information online or on the phone at 1800 737 732.

PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia) supports the mental health of parents and families online and on the phone at 1300 726 306.

MensLine is a counselling service for men. You can get 24/7 support online and on the phone at 1300 78 99 78.

QLife offers LGBTQIA+ peer support online and over the phone on 1800 184 527.