Are You Due for Your Checkup?
When it comes to visiting the doctor, many of us tend to ignore the routine care and maintenance of our bodies, reserving such appointments solely for times of illness. If we’re honest about it, we can tend to be more fastidious about following the maintenance schedule for our automobiles!
Friend, your body is an irreplaceable vehicle—the only one you’ll get to own this side of Heaven. It’s time you thought more seriously about its upkeep.
Below I’ve provided an “inventory” of tests and exams which are prudent to add to your annual health To-Do list. While guidelines can change somewhat from time to time, this is a great starting place to get your body back into a regularly scheduled maintenance routine.
BOTH SEXES
- BMI or Body Mass Index– annually, if your weight fluctuates. (Do this yourself by using this link to the BMI calculator on my website found under Free Resources.)
- Blood panels– (CBC, differential, renal, liver) annually
- Blood sugar– (*A1C test, fasting glucose) annually, more frequently if you have diabetes or pre-diabetes
- Circulating lipids- (cholesterol, HDLs, LDLs, triglycerides) annually
- Urinalysis– annually (checks for urinary tract infection, kidney disease, and diabetes)
- Blood pressure- annually, more frequently if you suffer from cardiovascular disease or take heart medications
- Colonoscopy– First examination at the age of 50, earlier if you suffer from polyps, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or inflammatory bowel disease, or if you have a personal or family history of colon cancer. Repeat every 10 years, or according to your doctor’s advice.
- Bone density- women at 65 years of age, men at 70
WOMEN
- Self-breast exam– monthly, just after your period has ended (if you are pre-or peri-menopausal).
- Professional breast exam-annually, by gynecologist or breast surgeon
- Mammography– annually after the age of 40. If you have a family history of breast cancer, follow your doctor’s recommendations for earlier screenings.
- PAP smear/test- every two years beginning at age 21. If you’ve had 3 normal Pap tests in a row, you can space this out to every third year.
MEN
- Prostate exam– annually beginning at the age of 50
Time is on your side when it comes to preserving your health. Why don’t you pick up the phone today and schedule some of these overdue appointments?
*While the A1C test may not be one of the “regular” tests your doctor orders, ask for it by name. It’s critical in the early detection of blood sugar metabolism problems.