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> January 2010
Time for a Health MOT ? The
majority of New Year's resolutions revolve around health and fitness.
Good Health is something that most of us, myself included, take for
granted until we are forced to take stock. You never know what’s round
the corner, even if you're doing all you can to stay fit and healthy.
As we hit our forties
and fifties most of
us will have made
some kind of health resolution, whether it's improving our diet or
giving up smoking – it is also the perfect time to undergo a few basic
health checks.....
Health check 1 -Your stomach.As
a guide, if your waist is more than 33in (women) and 37in (men) then
you are getting into the obese range. More than 40in across the belly
button is dangerously obese. For a more accurate guide, check your Body
Mass Index (BMI). To calculate this, simply divide your weight in kg by
your height. If the figure is between 25 and 29.9 you're overweight, if
it's over 30 then you are obese. GP Surgeries, Healthcentre's and
Pharmacy's can help you with this.
Get healthy;Half of
all women are overweight or obese compared with two-thirds of men. Obese
people of all ages are at risk of serious problems, including heart
disease and diabetes. The risk can be reduced by weight loss through
exercise. In some cases all it takes is a brisk 15-minute daily walk to
lift you right out of the high-risk group for heart disease.
Health
check 2- Your bowel.Look for changes in your bowel habits.
If you have constipation one minute, then diarrhoea and/or blood in your
stools, you must see your GP straight away.
Get
healthy;These may be symptoms of bowel cancer, the
second-biggest cancer killer in Britain. But the symptoms are often
indications of less sinister conditions, such as Crohn's disease,
irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, or piles. If you notice anything
wrong see your doctor as soon as possible.
Health
check 3- Your Blood Pressure.This is one check you'll have
to go to your GP or Pharmacist for. Have your blood pressure checked
every three years if you're under 40 and yearly if you're over. (At the
same time you could ask your doctor for a cholesterol test.)
Gethealthy- Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a major cause of
heart disease. It blocks arteries and is a huge killer. Serious symptoms
include tunnel vision and blood in your urine. Men are three times more
likely to suffer from this under the age of 65 than women. A lot of
people mistake cardiac pain for indigestion. But if indigestion remedies
don't work or the pain comes on with exercise or you feel sick, it's
more likely to be your heart. Regular examinations for men and women and
essential checks for people aged over 40.
Go
for a Smear Test - Most women should be going for
regular cervical smear tests. They are important because there's no
other way of knowing whether there are any changes to the cervix. Smear
tests detect abnormalities in the neck of the womb that could lead to
cancer. A smear test is not a test for cancer itself but a way of
spotting abnormal cells. Under the NHS's cervical screening programme,
women between 20 and 64 are called for smear tests every three to five
years.
Check your Breasts - Health experts
advise that women perform regular breast examinations, to understand how
they change over the menstrual cycle.
Being breast aware doesn't mean following a strict,
complicated routine. You simply need to be aware of changes in your
breasts and to consult your GP if you find anything unusual or are
worried. Remember that early detection greatly increases your chances of
surviving breast cancer. Get to know what your breasts look and feel
like normally. Do this by looking and feeling in the way that makes you
feel most comfortable - in the bath, shower, when dressing, standing or
lying down.
Men - be prostate aware-Monitor
how often you go to the toilet at night and whether you have trouble
passing water or have blood in your urine. This may be a sign that the
prostate is enlarged. If it is, it may be cancerous. Prostate cancer can
be detected with a simple prostate specific antigen (PSA) test at your
local surgery. Prostate cancer claims 10,000 men a year - four times as
many deaths as women with cervical cancer.
If
your health does take a knock, how do you find the best person to put
you back on the road of recovery - fast?As with most things, you should go see your doctor
and consult with him/her about any Orthodox Medicine treatment or
Alternative Methods you may be considering.
Complementary Therapies can help improve your
levels of fitness, energy and well being. A great addition for the New
Year! Mind and body are inseparable and our physical health is very
important for our overall sense of wellbeing. Our mental health can be
affected by our physical health and vice versa and this is why it is
vital that we take a holistic approach to recovery.
There are
many ways we can all promote and protect our physical and mental
health: Aromatherapy, Reflexology, Indian Head Massage(to name a few)
are wonderful treatments to boost your motivation and commitment for the
year ahead.
Whilst every intention has been made to
make this article accurate and informative it is intended for general
information only. The medical conditions in this article are not
intended as a substitute for the advice of your doctor or a qualified
medical practitioner. If you have any concerns regarding your health you
should seek the advice of your doctor immediately.
To book a
Complementary Therapy treatment; call Connect Physical Health Centre on
0161 434 6664
