To be in good health and be in shape, one needs to stay active physically and mentally in addition to daily, proper nutritional intakes. Depending on your age bracket, it is good to know the following: your cholesterol and blood sugar levels, blood pressure readings and weight, immunization status, and family history of illnesses or cancer. Depending on your lifestyle, you may need to be checked for sexually transmitted disease regularly; if you smoke, a regular imaging study may be warranted; regular alcohol and illicit substance consumption may require frequent monitoring for misuse and, thus, need for help; and, if you’re depressed, you may need treatment before it gets worse. Another thing to consider in your endeavor to live longer is to avoid bodily harm from physical trauma such as accidents or assaults by others.
For those of you who already have health issues such as diabetes, hypertension and heart disease, make sure you’re following your health care providers and specialists regularly to monitor your status, including frequent blood work tests and having your medications reviewed for any possible drug interactions. All the necessary screenings need to be followed, including bone densitometry to evaluate bone loss; mammograms and pap smear recommended for certain women; and, depression and alcohol screening.
For elderly individuals, it is wise to have regular screenings for your driving skills, your visual and auditory acuity, and your memory capability. Your home situation needs to be assessed periodically to see if you have adequate social and financial support.
If you have any further questions on these matters, please contact our office for further details.
