Even though your 20s are the best times to feel young and carefree, you must not take your health and fitness for granted. According to experts, what you eat, how you live and the way you treat your body at a young age paves the way for medical conditions in the later years.

Even if you are exercising on a regular basis, trying to eat right and even reserving me-time to relax and recharge during your busy day, there are a few important health screenings you must undergo to help detect and treat any diseases and conditions which otherwise can develop later.

According to experts, there are different checks and screens that can be appropriate at different ages. However, some depend on family history. Five important ones for the women include:

Doctors recommend that women should begin getting their pap tests starting the age of 21, and it should be repeated at least every three years.

HPV co-testing with Pap should begin at the age of 30 and you should be re-screened at least every five years.

The HPV test checks cells for infection with high-risk virus types that cause cervical cancer. The Pap test - also known as a Pap smear or cervical cytology, collects cervical cells so they can be checked for changes caused by HPV which if not treated in time can turn into the dreaded cervical cancer – the second most frequent cancer among women in India.

Most of the time STDs are symptomless – which means you can either pass it to your partner or get it from them without knowing. If you are pregnant, it can also harm your fetus or the baby after it is born.

According to doctors, sexual health screenings should begin as soon as you become sexually active, or sooner if possible. It is also important to discuss STDs and pregnancy prevention with a doctor and get the entire information even if you are not sexually active. If you ever have unsafe sex or share injection drug equipment, you should get tested for HIV at least once a year.

This can be done in a very non-invasive fashion, and testing can be done if needed.

With cases of type 2 diabetes spiking among young people, especially in India, experts recommend getting blood sugar test screenings done as early as possible. If you are prediabetic you can stop it from becoming a full-blown condition with the help of required lifestyle changes, which includes your diet.

According to doctors, diabetes screenings should begin at age 25 and be repeated every three years if you have no risk factors. Screening will be earlier or more frequent if you have a family history, are overweight or have obesity, have high blood pressure or a history of heart disease.

After you turn 25, you should talk to your doctor about an individual risk for breast cancer and whether testing is needed to determine any potential threats to your health. Experts say regular breast self-examinations are a good way to become familiar with your breasts and monitor any changes that occur.

If there are any differences or concerns that you have you must report them to your doctor for timely follow-up and maximum protection. Experts say for those women with a personal or family history of breast or ovarian cancer, genetic testing can help you determine if you carry the BRCA gene - which increases the likelihood of breast cancer.

Many youngsters today are being diagnosed with high blood pressure levels at a young age, mostly due to lifestyle, diet, lack of exercise, and even their genes. And so, according to doctors, have your blood pressure checked at least once every year to monitor your risk of heart disease and stroke.

If your top number (systolic) is between 120 and 139, or the bottom (diastolic) is between 80 and 89, get your blood pressure checked annually.

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