Health checks to ask your doc for this year
STARTING the new year right should include focusing on your health, and not only when you’re feeling symptoms. It’s a fact that many women never visit a practitioner outside of their gynaecologists, unless there’s some health condition that forces them elsewhere. But gynaecological health is not all you should be focusing on, after all, that’s just one area of your body.
Registered Nurse Antoinette Becker-Foster says these are some checks you should also be focusing on for this year.
A mental health check
Depression, feelings of isolation, anxiety and any issues you have, should not be brushed under the rug. Talk to your GP about what you’re feeling and get a referral to the right expert. Your GP may also be able to prescribe meds for anxiety and stress conditions, so it doesn’t hurt to ask. There’s no reason to battle mental health issues on the down low, when there are meds to help you feel better, and function.
Thyroid function test
It’s a referral area, but the thyroid function tests are a series of blood tests used to measure how well your thyroid gland is working. You know you need the test if you’re dealing with significant, unexplained weight changes; mood swings; fatigue; are always hot or cold; have missed periods and pregnancy has been ruled out; have brittle hair, swelling in your joints, puffy face, or swelling at the base of your neck. Ask your GP for a referral.
Heart health check
If you’ve been experiencing chest tightness or pressure, discomfort, pain in your arm, coldness in your legs or arm, ask your doctor about getting your heart checked. Your doctor may listen to your heart, measure your heart rate and check your blood pressure, and suggest a blood test to check the levels of sodium, potassium, albumin and creatinine in your blood. Abnormal levels could suggest problems.
Diabetes check
If your vision has changed, and has got blurry, and you’re experiencing increased urination, feeling extreme hunger, extreme thirst, and have itchy, dry skin, these are warning signs of diabetes.
Cholesterol check
The only way to know whether you have high cholesterol is to get your cholesterol checked through a simple blood test. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says most healthy adults should have their cholesterol checked every four to six years. Some people, such as people who have heart disease, diabetes, or a family history of high cholesterol, need to get their cholesterol checked more often.
Bone density test
As women age, they begin to develop issues with their bones. Ask your doctor about a bone density test, to scan for osteoporosis or thinning of your bones. Screening for osteoporosis is recommended for women who are 65 years old or older and for women who are 50 to 64 and have certain risk factors, such as having a parent who has broken a hip, the CDC says.
