Bob's babydoll 07-20-2006, 05:44 PM Although I'm a pretty healthy person, the fact that my co-worker just passed away at 35, well...scares me. I'm 33. I shamefully admit it's been years since I've been to the doctor for a checkup. I've decided to make an appointment for myself, just to make sure everything is working properly. I know the basic "tests" such as blood pressure and cholesterol, but are there any other tests I should specifically ask to be done? I'm especially concerned with the health of my heart, being that heart disease is one of the leading causes of death for women, and my co-worker's death was heart related. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks!
Anjiana 07-21-2006, 11:28 AM Although I'm a pretty healthy person, the fact that my co-worker just passed away at 35, well...scares me. I'm 33. I shamefully admit it's been years since I've been to the doctor for a checkup. I've decided to make an appointment for myself, just to make sure everything is working properly. I know the basic "tests" such as blood pressure and cholesterol, but are there any other tests I should specifically ask to be done? I'm especially concerned with the health of my heart, being that heart disease is one of the leading causes of death for women, and my co-worker's death was heart related. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks!
Screening Tests: What You Need and When
Screening tests, such as colorectal cancer tests, can find diseases early when they are easier to treat. Some men need certain screening tests earlier, or more often, than others. Talk to your doctor about which of the tests listed below are right for you, when you should have them, and how often. The Task Force has made the following recommendations, based on scientific evidence, about which screening tests you should have.
Cholesterol Checks: Have your cholesterol checked at least every 5 years, starting at age 35. If you smoke, have diabetes, or if heart disease runs in your family, start having your cholesterol checked at age 20.
Blood Pressure: Have your blood pressure checked at least every 2 years.
Colorectal Cancer Tests: Begin regular screening for colorectal cancer starting at age 50. Your doctor can help you decide which test is right for you. How often you need to be tested will depend on which test you have.
Diabetes Tests: Have a test to screen for diabetes if you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
Depression: If you've felt "down," sad, or hopeless, and have felt little interest or pleasure in doing things for 2 weeks straight, talk to your doctor about whether he or she can screen you for depression.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Talk to your doctor to see whether you should be screened for sexually transmitted diseases, such as HIV.
Prostate Cancer Screening: Talk to your doctor about the possible benefits and harms of prostate cancer screening if you are considering having a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test or digital rectal examination (DRE).
Should You Take Medicines to Prevent Disease?
Aspirin: Talk to your doctor about taking aspirin to prevent heart disease if you are older than 40, or if you are younger than 40 and have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or if you smoke.
Immunizations: Stay up-to-date with your immunizations:
Have a flu shot every year starting at age 50.
Have a tetanus-diphtheria shot every 10 years.
Have a pneumonia shot once at age 65 (you may need it earlier if you have certain health problems, such as lung disease).
Talk to your doctor to see whether you need hepatitis B shots.
What Else Can You Do To Stay Healthy?
Don't Smoke. But if you do smoke, talk to your doctor about quitting. You can take medicine and get counseling to help you quit. Make a plan and set a quit date. Tell your family, friends, and co-workers you are quitting. Ask for their support.
Eat a Healthy Diet. Eat a variety of foods, including fruit, vegetables, animal or vegetable protein (such as meat, fish, chicken, eggs, beans, lentils, tofu, or tempeh) and grains (such as rice). Limit the amount of saturated fat you eat.
Be Physically Active. Walk, dance, ride a bike, rake leaves, or do any other physical activity you enjoy. Start small and work up to a total of 20-30 minutes most days of the week.
Stay healthy~
Healthy Women Below-->
Anjiana 07-21-2006, 11:40 AM Screening Tests: What You Need and When
Screening tests, such as mammograms and Pap smears, can find diseases early when they are easier to treat. Some women need certain screening tests earlier, or more often, than others. Talk to your doctor about which of the tests listed below are right for you, when you should have them, and how often.
The Task Force has made the following recommendations, based on scientific evidence, about which screening tests you should have.
Mammograms: Have a mammogram every 1 to 2 years starting at age 40.
Pap Smears: Have a Pap smear every 1 to 3 years if you have been sexually active or are older than 21.
Cholesterol Checks: Have your cholesterol checked regularly starting at age 45. If you smoke, have diabetes, or if heart disease runs in your family, start having your cholesterol checked at age 20.
Blood Pressure: Have your blood pressure checked at least every 2 years.
Colorectal Cancer Tests: Have a test for colorectal cancer starting at age 50. Your doctor can help you decide which test is right for you.
Diabetes Tests: Have a test to screen for diabetes if you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
Depression: If you've felt "down," sad, or hopeless, and have felt little interest or pleasure in doing things for 2 weeks straight, talk to your doctor about whether he or she can screen you for depression.
Osteoporosis Tests: Have a bone density test at age 65 to screen for osteoporosis (thinning of the bones). If you are between the ages of 60 and 64 and weigh 154 lbs. or less, talk to your doctor about whether you should be tested.
Chlamydia Tests and Tests for Other Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Have a test for Chlamydia if you are 25 or younger and sexually active. If you are older, talk to your doctor to see whether you should be tested. Also, talk to your doctor to see whether you should be tested for other sexually transmitted diseases.
Should You Take Medicines to Prevent Disease?
Hormones: According to recent studies, the risks of taking the combined hormones estrogen and progestin after menopause to prevent long-term illnesses outweigh the benefits. Talk to your doctor about whether starting or continuing to take hormones is right for you.
Breast Cancer Drugs: If your mother, sister, or daughter has had breast cancer, talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking medicines to prevent breast cancer.
Aspirin: Talk to your doctor about taking aspirin to prevent heart disease if you are older than 45 and have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or if you smoke.
Immunizations: Stay up-to-date with your immunizations:
Have a flu shot every year starting at age 50.
Have a tetanus-diphtheria shot every 10 years.
Have a pneumonia shot once at age 65.
Talk to your doctor to see whether you need hepatitis B shots.
What Else Can You Do To Stay Healthy?
Don't Smoke. But if you do smoke, talk to your doctor about quitting. You can take medicine and get counseling to help you quit. Make a plan and set a quit date. Tell your family, friends, and co-workers you are quitting. Ask for their support. If you are pregnant and smoke, quitting now will help you and your baby.
Eat a Healthy Diet. Eat a variety of foods, including fruit, vegetables, animal or vegetable protein (such as meat, fish, chicken, eggs, beans, lentils, tofu, or tempeh) and grains (such as rice). Limit the amount of saturated fat you eat.
Be Physically Active. Walk, dance, ride a bike, rake leaves, or do any other physical activity you enjoy. Start small and work up to a total of 20-30 minutes most days of the week.
Stay at a Healthy Weight. Balance the number of calories you eat with the number you burn off by your activities. Remember to watch portion sizes. Talk to your doctor if you have questions about what or how much to eat.
Drink Alcohol Only in Moderation. If you drink alcohol, one drink a day is safe for women, unless you are pregnant. If you are pregnant, you should avoid alcohol. Since researchers don't know how much alcohol will harm a fetus, it's best not to drink any alcohol while you are pregnant.
A standard drink is one 12-ounce bottle of beer or wine cooler, one 5-ounce glass of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits.
Screening Test Checklist
Take this checklist with you to your doctor's office and fill it out when you have had any of the tests listed below. Talk to your doctor about when you should have these tests next, and note the month and year in the right-hand column.
Also, talk to your doctor about which of the other tests listed below you should have in the future, and when you need them.
__________________________________________________ ______________
Last time I had the following screening test: (mm/yy) My next test for: (mm/yy)
Mammogram _________ _________
Pap smear _________ _________
Cholesterol _________ _________
Blood pressure _________ _________
Colorectal cancer _________ _________
Osteoporosis _________ _________
Chlamydia _________ _________
__________________________________________________ _______________
Stay healthy~
Faith 07-21-2006, 08:31 PM Anjiana, I am in awe of you for posting these lists. You've covered everything so thoroughly and so clearly. Thank you!!
Diabetes Tests: Have a test to screen for diabetes if you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
This is the only thing I would disagree with. I was diagnosed with diabetes (Type 2) DESPITE having normal blood pressure and cholesterol.
Men & Women: Get the simple "fasting blood glucose" test for diabetes if you have any of the typical symptoms...
thirst
dry cracked skin
dry eyes
"fruity" smelling breath
blurry vision
unexplainable fatigue
unusual weight loss or gain
... or if you have any of the risk factors that can lead to developing diabetes...
a parent or sibling with diabetes
overweight
physically inactive
extreme prolonged stress in your life
At the time of my diagnosis, I had several of these symptoms and factors... I had probably been living with diabetes for years already. Yet I was utterly ignorant about this disease, so I never put two and two together, nor ever asked my doctor for the simple glucose test... until I reached a crisis point.
Now through medication, diet, exercise, and stress management, I can keep my diabetes in good control. BUT... and this is a big BUT... that tardy diagnosis probably has shortened my life expectancy by several years. I wish I had known I was at risk, DESPITE the fact that my blood pressure and cholesterol were (and still are) normal.
Science Goddess 07-22-2006, 01:01 AM Although I'm a pretty healthy person, the fact that my co-worker just passed away at 35, well...scares me. I'm 33. I shamefully admit it's been years since I've been to the doctor for a checkup. I've decided to make an appointment for myself, just to make sure everything is working properly. I know the basic "tests" such as blood pressure and cholesterol, but are there any other tests I should specifically ask to be done? I'm especially concerned with the health of my heart, being that heart disease is one of the leading causes of death for women, and my co-worker's death was heart related. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks!
Make sure that you have a decent rapport with your doctor, and that this person is someone you feel comfortable chatting with about all of this.
I would recommend asking your doctor what s/he thinks you should have done.
This is a good reminder BBD. I only go to the doctor when I'm sick and for my annual exam since I take the pill because I like to think that I live a pretty healthy lifestyle. But...you reminded me that I haven't had my cholesterol checked in years,. Not good, since my Dad has high cholesterol (genetic, not from diet). I can just see me being one of those statistics: Mountain bikes, runs, lifts weights, size 3...dropped dead in front of her computer, posting on some relationship forum about 23-year old boys' tushes.
BBD, be sure that you're having your annual girlie exam, even if you don't take the pill. (Important, in my opinion.)
As for your heart, hopefully you're exercising on a regular basis, eating as right as you can most of the time, and being happy.
And, for the last few years, every doctor I've seen (I had some female problems last year and saw a few) has told me that taking a daily multi-vitamin is one of the most important things that you can do for your overall health.
Bob's babydoll 07-23-2006, 12:45 PM Anjiana, Faith and Science Goddess,
Thank you all for the thorough advice. I will certainly remember this when I go for my appointment. (Aug 4) :)
Bob's babydoll 08-05-2006, 08:20 PM Hi all,
just wanted to let eveyone know my physical went well. Dr. Govi is very personable and I instantly felt comfortable with him. He declared me a "very healthy woman". *sigh of relief* I do have to go back in a few weeks for some routine blood work. I couldn't get it done yesterday because I have to fast for 8-12 hours. That's going to be torture! :eek:
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