Women Over 40 Are Urged to Get 5 Lab Tests as Midlife Risks Go Unchecked
Updated
Updated · mindbodygreen · Jun 29
Women Over 40 Are Urged to Get 5 Lab Tests as Midlife Risks Go Unchecked
2 articles · Updated · mindbodygreen · Jun 29
Summary
Five tests highlighted for women over 40 are ApoB and Lp(a), fasting insulin, vitamin D and ferritin, a full thyroid panel, and free and total testosterone with SHBG.
95,000-participant research cited in the report links ApoB to heart attack and mortality risk beyond LDL alone, while menopause-related estrogen declines can also raise Lp(a) and cardiovascular danger.
Fasting insulin is presented as a key gap in routine care because insulin resistance can develop years before A1C worsens and may contribute to hot flashes, night sweats and atherosclerosis.
Vitamin D deficiency affects more than 4 in 10 U.S. adults, the report says, while low ferritin and thyroid dysfunction can mimic perimenopause symptoms even when standard hemoglobin or TSH results look normal.
The article argues these labs are rarely included in annual wellness panels, leaving women to request them directly for more proactive monitoring through perimenopause and beyond.