Dr Jaime Lee: Health-checks for women over 40

ARTICLE

1 May 2026

3 min read

As your body ages, it changes and so do your health needs. AIA Ambassador Dr Jaime Lee recommends nine key health checks to help women understand their physical, emotional, and mental health as they explore life in their forties and beyond.

Women over 40 are often carrying a lot – mid-career demands, growing children, ageing parents, and the deeper questions that tend to surface at this age: Who am I becoming? What’s my purpose?

Navigating all of that creates stress, and when that stress becomes chronic, it doesn’t stay in the background. It floods the body with hormones that suppress immunity, elevate blood pressure, thin the bones, impair brain function, and increase the risk of diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. The stakes are real.

But knowing your health changes the equation. When you understand your own baseline – your sleep, your mood, your digestion – you can spot early warning signs and act before things escalate. It also helps to have a trusted GP and psychologist who knows you before a crisis hits. Think of it as insurance you take out before the house is on fire.

If you’re ready to tune in to your physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing in your forties, here’s my checklist of nine health checks you can turn into healthy habits.

1. Mental and emotional health check-ins

Mental health is the foundation of overall wellbeing for women over 40. Regular mental health sessions can help you process emotions, manage stress, and take care of your mental wellbeing.

Book a 60 to 90-minute session with a therapist. If you don’t have one, a GP is a great starting point. They can assess your needs and refer you for Medicare-rebated psychology sessions.

2. Annual GP check-up

A yearly check-up with your GP provides a clear snapshot of your overall health and helps detect changes early. This usually includes:

blood pressure
cholesterol and glucose
heart health and diabetes risk
breast and skin checks
blood tests for liver, kidney, and blood health

Your GP might suggest other tests as well, depending on risk factors, results, and any family medical history you may have, as they may require more frequent visits to support healthier lifestyle choices.

Additionally, as an AIA Vitality member, you can complete your free AIA Vitality Health Check at participating partner pharmacies and receive up to 8,000 points per membership year.

3. Annual skin checks

Australia has some of the highest rates of skin cancer and melanoma in the world. A yearly skin check helps map your moles and track changes over time, allowing for early treatment if needed. This is especially important if you have fair skin or a personal history of skin cancer.

4. Cervical cancer screening

Cervical screening tests detect human papillomavirus (HPV), which can cause cervical cell changes.

From 40, continue booking regular cervical screening tests with your GP, or make an appointment to self-collect. If there are no cervical changes that require monitoring, you’ll just need to repeat the screening every 5 years to stay on top of this preventable cancer.

5. Breast self-checks, and breast checks with a GP

Breast cancer affects around 1 in 7 Australian women. Get into the habit of doing regular breast self-checks every 3–6 months so you recognise what feels normal for you. If you notice any changes, like lumps, puckering, or discharge, book in to see your GP.

6. Mammograms for breast cancer screening

Routine mammograms usually begin at age 50 with invitations routinely through BreastScreen Australia, but women aged 40-49 can choose to have a free mammogram even without an invitation.

Speak with your GP to determine the right timing based on your personal and family history.

7. Bone density tests

A bone density test (DEXA scan) measures bone strength and is especially important if you’ve experienced menopause in your forties, as hormonal changes increase your risk of osteoporosis. Your GP can refer you for a bone density test and recommend follow-up intervals based on your results.

8. Annual dental check-ups

Regular dental check-ups protect the health of your teeth, gums, and mouth.

9. Regular eye tests

From 40, you may start to notice changes in close-up vision due to presbyopia. Eye exams every 2–3 years can monitor this and screen for glaucoma and other conditions, especially if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, or a family history with eye disease.

Lifestyle habits that support healthy ageing

Health checks are only one piece of the wellbeing puzzle.

Alongside your health check checklist, try adopting these small but important lifestyle habits to help you stay healthy and age well as you head through your forties and beyond.

Give yourself daily “me” time to rest and reset. Every day, try to give yourself 15 minutes to practise mindfulness or dance around to your favourite playlist.
Pursue interests and hobbies that spark joy and energy.
Invest in healthy relationships and social connections – with friends, mentors, and colleagues.
Move your body 3–5 times a week. Even walking for 30–60 minutes every day is a good habit to avoid a sedentary lifestyle.
Meditate for 5–10 minutes every day.
Eat a healthy, balanced diet.
Prioritise getting 7–8 hours of quality sleep each night.
Drink 2 litres of water a day.
Reduce or avoid alcohol and quit smoking.

Your forties can be a powerful, meaningful decade. With the right information, habits, and health team, you can navigate it with confidence and continue to thrive for many decades to come.

Dr. Jaime Lee

Dr. Jaime Lee is the Founder and CEO of Health Quotient, a company dedicated to transforming workplaces around the world by inspiring individual health and whole organisational renewal through leadership keynotes, workshops and mentoring. With experience as a medical doctor, public health specialist, corporate strategist, speaker and facilitator, Dr. Jaime works with global companies to help them sustain high performance teams in an integrated and healthy way.

Disclaimer:
Copyright © 2026 AIA Australia Limited (ABN 79 004 837 861 AFSL 230043). This is general information only, without taking into account factors like the objectives, financial situation, needs or personal circumstances of any individual and is not intended to be financial, legal, tax, medical, nutritional, health, fitness or other advice. The source information of the articles is current as of the date of publication and may be subject to change. While the information contained herein is believed to be accurate, AIA Australia expressly disclaims any and all liability for representations or warranties, expressed or implied, contained in, or for omissions from, the information.

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