Hey friends! As a nurse, I see a wide range of habits regarding how often people choose to utilize the healthcare system. Though modern medicine has a lot of valuable tools for screening and treatment, the most powerful tool is in your hands: prevention! I don’t know about you, but I would much rather lessen the chances of a problem occurring, than attempt to patch it up after the fact.
Though, unfortunately, there are many ailments that are not preventable due to genetics or unforeseen accidents, a large number of chronic diseases can be avoided through lifestyle choices. These include regular exercise (at least 20 minutes of moderate intensity work a day!), a balanced diet (check out Charity’s blog on Macros ), avoidance of smoking and drug abuse, moderated alcohol use, and regular dental cleanings (infections from your teeth can end up in your bloodstream!). Even if you currently live with a chronic disease, prevention could involve minimizing your risk of future complications (such as a diabetic regularly monitoring their blood sugar and administering insulin appropriately).
So, if I’m a generally healthy adult who already does these things, with no physical complaints that affect my quality of life, do I even need to see a doctor regularly? I would argue yes. The main purpose of a primary care provider who is seeing a healthy patient is to determine what screening tests may be appropriate based on their risk factors. A large number of cancers are asymptomatic until the end stages, particularly cervical, breast, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers. Screening tests directed by a primary care doctor such as mammograms, pap smears, testicular exams, colonoscopies, and A1C blood tests may detect these before they are too severe to effectively treat. If health insurance is a barrier for you seeking care, check out The National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (https://nafcclinics.org/) to see what free screenings services are offered near you.
Is there any screening I can do myself at home? Of course! Regularly checking your weight is an easy one. BMI charts can be found with an online search: just check that your combined height and weight fall within the recommended category. Though more people have scales in their homes than BP cuffs, blood pressure is also an important one (roughly 1/3 of adults have high blood pressure!) . You can buy an automatic cuff for your home or check your local pharmacy for a public monitor. Generally a safe pressure is when the top number is less than 130 and the bottom number is less than 80. And don't forget skin checks. Pay attention to new moles or spots that appear on your body, and keep track of any changes over time. A gradual increase in size, changes in color, asymmetrical shapes, and particularly bleeding are all signs that you should get that skin checked out.
Stay healthy :)
Author: Cara Graham
Comments