By Raju Shanmugam, MD, Advocate Medical Group
In my career as a physician, I see many patients whose health problems could have been avoided with a little bit of preventive self-care and maintenance. Don’t let an illness sneak up on you! Paying attention to your health — even when you feel fine — can make staying well easier in the long term.
Regular screening tests and checkups with a doctor are good ways to take control of your health. These exams can make it easier to spot problems early, when treatment is often more effective. They might even prevent a problem from developing in the first place.
Before your checkup, you should review your family medical history. Your doctor will want to know if close relatives had health conditions such as heart trouble, stroke, diabetes, or cancer. Also, tell your doctor about any changes in your own health. That includes new lumps, skin changes, pain, dizziness, sleep problems, or changes in eating, bowel, or urinary habits.
Your doctor can then recommend which preventive health services and screenings you should have and when you should have them.
Which Screenings Are For You?
Some of the screenings I recommend include:
- Cholesterol: Starting at age 20, all adults should have their cholesterol tested every five years. High cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease. This test is a must if you use tobacco, are obese, or have diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, or blocked arteries. Testing is also advised at this age if a man in your family had a heart attack before age 50 or a woman had one before age 60.
- Blood pressure: Have this checked at least once every two years, starting at age 18. High blood pressure increases risks of heart and kidney disease and stroke.
- Diabetes: If your blood pressure is higher than 135/80 or you take medicine for high blood pressure, you should get screened for diabetes. Diabetes can cause problems with your heart, brain, eyes, feet, kidneys, nerves, and more.
- Colorectal cancer: Most adults should have their first exam at age 50. Ask your doctor which of several available tests are right for you.
Women should also consider screening tests for breast cancer, cervical cancer, and osteoporosis. Ask your doctor whether a mammogram is right for you based on age, family history, general health, and personal concerns. Your age and health history determine how often you should have a Pap test. A bone density scan should be done at least once, beginning at age 65.
Men should talk to their doctor about the risks and benefits of prostate cancer screening. Also, men who are between ages 65 and 75 and who have ever been smokers should ask about screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm.
Consider preventive medicine. If you’re a man 45 or older, ask your doctor if you should use aspirin to help prevent heart disease. If you’re a woman 55 or older, ask if you should take aspirin to avoid a stroke.
Protect yourself from potentially life-threatening complications of the flu by getting a yearly flu shot. Also ask your doctor what other vaccinations you might need — such as a pneumonia shot if you’re 65 or older.
If you tend to be sedentary, move more! Do your best to be active for at least 2½ hours every week. Include activities that raise your breathing and heart rates and strengthen your muscles.
Tobacco and excessive alcohol consumption are vices that you could do without. Know the risks of drinking alcohol. If there’s any chance that alcohol may be hurting your health, ask your doctor for help. Don’t smoke. If you’ve tried unsuccessfully to quit in the past, don’t be discouraged. It often takes several attempts to quit for good.
The old saying about “an ounce of prevention” has a lot of truth in it. To find out which screenings and immunizations are recommended for you, make an appointment to see your doctor. If you don’t have a regular doctor, it’s a good idea to get one. Check out local physician referral services, or ask your friends or family members for their recommendations.
Dr. Shanmugam is a family medicine physician with Advocate Medical Group at the Advocate BroMenn Outpatient Center in Bloomington. For an appointment, call toll-free 1-800-3-ADVOCATE (1-800-323-8622).
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