It's a brand new year, and many of my patients are arriving for their annual checks. Maybe you're scheduled to see your doctor for your annual physical too. I always like in order to remind my patients of that old Ben Franklin proverb - "an ounce of prevention may be worth a pound of deal with. " Nothing could be truer where your life is concerned. Prevention, however, comes in many forms, from making sure you get the world-class nutrition, rest, and exercise to being proactive and above all medical tests to screen for some possible issues.
If you're over the age of 50, the following assessments are smart-thinking health screens:
Complete Physical Exam: This involves the following:
• weight taken
• urine sample
• heart and lungs checked by listening by using stethoscope
• blood stress taken
• routine EKG and find out chest x-ray
Important Blood Studies: Routine blood work is almost always done with a physical exam. This is having a CBC, or complete bloodstream count, that measures hemoglobin/hematocrit, red blood cell indices which can screen for anemia, and white blood cells which can warn of an yeast. The differential in having a CBCmeasures different components for that blood to see where abnormalities may lie.
A BUN, or blood, urea, nitrogen, measures how well your kidneys are working. Electrolytes, monitors sodium, potassium, magnesium, chloride levels and feature if you're dehydrated, deficient in these crucial minerals, or possibly, retaining water as can happen in heart or kidney disease.
A hemoglobin A1c, test measures glucose levels in your blood. Too high (over 6. 0) can mean a possible diabetes and in actual fact prediabetic condition. Thyroid testing can screen for a too low thyroid which could cause depression, weight obtain, fatigue, cold intolerance, and slow heart beat. Too high thyroid can cause palpitations, anxiety, intolerance alongside heat, arrhythmias and be a reason for heart disease. C-reactive protein and/or homocysteine amounts are markers for inflammation and possible heart disease. Cholesterol screening can show if you are at high risk for heart conditions depending on HDL and LDL levels.
Immunizations: A tetanus toxoid needs to be updated every 7 eons. This is important especially if you work around your house or you work with where you might come in contact with rusty nails, metal, dirty conditions etc. Also, if you are at risk for obtaining flu and/or pneumonia, you may want to get a Pneumovax vaccine for pneumonia and an influenza vaccine.
Colon Screening: That could be Hemoccult stool cards (especially if you notice blood during toileting) and/or cash colonoscopy to screen related to polyps or possible all the other colon abnormalities. If you've got a family history of colon cancer and/or have been experiencing changes in colon cleanse habits, pain, etc, it is important to have a colonoscopy.
Skin Cancer Screen: Especially if you spend a good deal of time in the sun and/or see liver spots or other darkened parts of skin, or changes in moles body building.
Just For Women: In addition to the above, women over age 50 need these particular tests:
• WC (waist circumference): The cut off is 35". Higher than that and you will be at risk while combating metabolic syndrome and/or cardiovascular disease that may affect most women during menopause. Usually, overweight/belly fat is the culprit and risk decreases if you can get below 35".
• HPV with Pap: Also known as DNA with Pap. About that test screens for HPV, or human papillomavirus, the virus responsible for cervical cancerous. This test is routinely negative for more than 95% of women that happens to be tested but can improved cervical cancer early. If negative, testing every 3 years is acceptable.
• Pelvic Exam: Checks the state of the uterus, ovaries, rectum, and exactly how well your pelvic internal organs are supported. Generally, a stool blood test is more than simply done. Or, if you want, you can be assigned the Hemoccult cards and win them home and the actual sample testing yourself and return the invitation to your doctor's office that is to be read for results.
• Breast Exam: Likely you are visiting self-exams at home a great deal, but a breast exam made by your doctor should be done at least once or twice a year.
• Bone Density Evaluation. This is a extremely quick, noninvasive, painless test where you lie on a table along with a scan runs slowly on your body and measures the density associated with an bones. If you is a small boned/framed low weight woman you need closer monitoring for calcaneus health.
• Hormone checking: Should be done to determine for individuals menopausal or premenopausal, and/or if hrt may be needed about your symptoms. Bioidentical hormone replacement uses natural sources of estrogen to alleviate warnings.
• Mammogram/Thermography: Women warrants a screening mammogram through age 50. If you are not in an unsafe group (carry the BRCA gene and/or pick an appropriate family history of breast cancer) you can wait 2-3 years without getting another one. Thermography is a new breast cancer screening device that utilizes heat sensing to space abnormalities. Many health practitioners experience it is safer than permanent mammograms.
• Just For a man: Men over age 50 also need the following specific tests:
• PSA, or Prostate gland Specific Antigen: This screens for possible cancer of the prostate. However, not all elevated PSA tests mean cancer of the prostate. Sometimes a condition described as Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy may cause the PSA to be elevated yet the tissue is noncancerous.
• Capital t: Should be done especially if you are experiencing fatigue, depression, low libido. If you've low testosterone, or "low T", additionally you can replace with testosterone consumes or using natural medicine.
Some of my patients joke that obtaining older means getting more and more medical tests. I'm never going to sugar coat it; the list is a bit lengthy. The good news is always, if testing is stopped regularly, you can be sure you are on the right track in your city quest to stay healthy long in to old age. The greatest plus, however, is that you are able to find problems early enough for just about any successful outcome in dealing them. In fact, some of my patients, after his / her yearly exam and medical tests, go out and make merry or give themselves an unforgettable treat! Works for as i!
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