Regardless of what age you are, but especially when you turn 50, having regular health checks is vitally important if you wish to live to a healthy and happy old age. Anyone with a family history of certain diseases such as heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes should be particularly aware. There may be a variety of reasons why you choose not to bother your doctor, and while ideally regular health checks should be undertaken by a health professional, there are certain things you can check for in the privacy of your own home. Here are our suggestions for a DIY health check test.
Are you able to climb two flights of stairs without becoming unduly short of breath? Do you have any chest pains when you climb stairs? If you do, see your doctor. There may be an underlying cause – something as simple as anaemia, but there may be an issue with heart or lung disease.
Measure your weight, using bathroom scales, and your height, then check the results against a BMI (body mass index) calculator online. A BMI of 20 to 25 is considered normal. Anything less than 20 is underweight, and more than 25-30 overweight. If you are more than 30, you are considered obese.
You can also measure the girth of your tummy at the navel - it should be less than 37 inches.
You can buy blood pressure monitors online or from a chemist, or you can sometimes borrow them from your local medical centre. At rest, measure your blood pressure and pulse. Your BP should be around 130/80, with a pulse rate of between 60 and 100. Take readings over the course of a week. If your BP is persistently more than 140/90, then you probably have high blood pressure. A pulse rate of less than 60/min may be considered normal or it can indicate an underactive thyroid. A pulse rate over 100 per min will need further investigation.
You can also check your pulse by placing your index and middle fingers on the underside of your opposite wrist, just below the base of the thumb. Count the beats for one minute.
You can buy test kits for blood sugar, cholesterol, urine, and blood in your stools etc., from many high street chemists. A blood sugar of over 7 may indicate diabetes. A cholesterol of over 6 would be considered high. Your urine test should be negative for albumin, glucose and blood. If any of these are positive, then you should see your doctor.
You should be able to read books (near vision), and read car number plates (distant vision), if necessary with glasses. If there is any blurring, see your optician for a test.
You should be able to hear a ticking watch held near your ears.
Women of any age should check their breasts on a regular basis so that they quickly recognise when something is abnormal for them as individuals. Firstly, stand and look at your breasts in a mirror. Are there any changes, such as dimpling, redness, or scaling of the skin or nipples? Take a note of the usual differences between your breasts.
Secondly, lie down and raise your right arm above your head. Use the three middle fingers of your left hand to feel all over your right breast, beginning at the armpit. Repeat with your other breast. Report any lumps or anything unusual to your doctor as soon as possible.
If you notice any moles, freckles, blemishes or spots that seem to be changing, growing, or bleeding, then see your doctor. Most types of skin cancer are treatable when caught early. Any sores that fail to heal within three weeks also warrant further investigation.
Oral cancer is on the increase. A simple check means opening your mouth and looking for persistent white patches, or sore red areas on the tongue, especially any sore areas that don’t heal in a few weeks. Bleeding and inflamed gums can be an early warning of gum disease or gingivitis, which if left untreated, can cause mouth abscesses and destroy the fibres that secure the teeth to the gums. Frequent mouth ulcers and bleeding gums may be a symptom of diabetes, anaemia or vitamin C deficiency.
Check for any changes in bowel habits. You should have at least one per day. If you go two or three days without a bowel movement, consider whether you’re eating enough fibre. See your doctor if constipation or diarrhoea continue for more than two weeks. If there is any sign of blood (although this can be due to piles), talk to your doctor, especially if you see a black tarry substance in your stools.
Check the colour of your urine. You’re ideally hoping to see a light yellow liquid. Darker coloured liquid means you’re not drinking enough and this can result in kidney disease and skin problems. As we get older, we tend to feel less thirsty but we still need fluid. Aim for at least eight small glasses of fluid every day.
We all lose a certain amount of hair everyday (usually around 50 to 100 strands) but if yours is falling out faster than this, this can be caused by low iron or protein levels.
A final recommended DIY check is your fingernails. Do they crack or chip easily, or look yellow and cloudy? This may mean you have nutrient or mineral deficiencies. As we get older we need to eat plenty of healthy fats – things like avocados and olive oil.
Remember - If you have any concerns at all, please make an appointment to see your doctor at the earliest opportunity.
Created by Tom Vermeersch (bio)
Tom Vermeersch is a certified Psychologist and Bach flower expert with more than 30 years of experience.
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Regardless of what age you are, but especially when you turn 50, having regular health checks is vitally important if you wish to live to a healthy and happy old age. Anyone with a family history of certain diseases such as heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes should be particularly aware. There may be a variety of reasons why you choose not to bother your doctor, and while ideally regular health checks should be undertaken by a health professional, there are certain things you can check for in the privacy of your own home. Here are our suggestions for a DIY health check test.
Are you able to climb two flights of stairs without becoming unduly short of breath? Do you have any chest pains when you climb stairs? If you do, see your doctor. There may be an underlying cause – something as simple as anaemia, but there may be an issue with heart or lung disease.
Measure your weight, using bathroom scales, and your height, then check the results against a BMI (body mass index) calculator online. A BMI of 20 to 25 is considered normal. Anything less than 20 is underweight, and more than 25-30 overweight. If you are more than 30, you are considered obese.
You can also measure the girth of your tummy at the navel - it should be less than 37 inches.
You can buy blood pressure monitors online or from a chemist, or you can sometimes borrow them from your local medical centre. At rest, measure your blood pressure and pulse. Your BP should be around 130/80, with a pulse rate of between 60 and 100. Take readings over the course of a week. If your BP is persistently more than 140/90, then you probably have high blood pressure. A pulse rate of less than 60/min may be considered normal or it can indicate an underactive thyroid. A pulse rate over 100 per min will need further investigation.
You can also check your pulse by placing your index and middle fingers on the underside of your opposite wrist, just below the base of the thumb. Count the beats for one minute.
You can buy test kits for blood sugar, cholesterol, urine, and blood in your stools etc., from many high street chemists. A blood sugar of over 7 may indicate diabetes. A cholesterol of over 6 would be considered high. Your urine test should be negative for albumin, glucose and blood. If any of these are positive, then you should see your doctor.
You should be able to read books (near vision), and read car number plates (distant vision), if necessary with glasses. If there is any blurring, see your optician for a test.
You should be able to hear a ticking watch held near your ears.
Women of any age should check their breasts on a regular basis so that they quickly recognise when something is abnormal for them as individuals. Firstly, stand and look at your breasts in a mirror. Are there any changes, such as dimpling, redness, or scaling of the skin or nipples? Take a note of the usual differences between your breasts.
Secondly, lie down and raise your right arm above your head. Use the three middle fingers of your left hand to feel all over your right breast, beginning at the armpit. Repeat with your other breast. Report any lumps or anything unusual to your doctor as soon as possible.
If you notice any moles, freckles, blemishes or spots that seem to be changing, growing, or bleeding, then see your doctor. Most types of skin cancer are treatable when caught early. Any sores that fail to heal within three weeks also warrant further investigation.
Oral cancer is on the increase. A simple check means opening your mouth and looking for persistent white patches, or sore red areas on the tongue, especially any sore areas that don’t heal in a few weeks. Bleeding and inflamed gums can be an early warning of gum disease or gingivitis, which if left untreated, can cause mouth abscesses and destroy the fibres that secure the teeth to the gums. Frequent mouth ulcers and bleeding gums may be a symptom of diabetes, anaemia or vitamin C deficiency.
Check for any changes in bowel habits. You should have at least one per day. If you go two or three days without a bowel movement, consider whether you’re eating enough fibre. See your doctor if constipation or diarrhoea continue for more than two weeks. If there is any sign of blood (although this can be due to piles), talk to your doctor, especially if you see a black tarry substance in your stools.
Check the colour of your urine. You’re ideally hoping to see a light yellow liquid. Darker coloured liquid means you’re not drinking enough and this can result in kidney disease and skin problems. As we get older, we tend to feel less thirsty but we still need fluid. Aim for at least eight small glasses of fluid every day.
We all lose a certain amount of hair everyday (usually around 50 to 100 strands) but if yours is falling out faster than this, this can be caused by low iron or protein levels.
A final recommended DIY check is your fingernails. Do they crack or chip easily, or look yellow and cloudy? This may mean you have nutrient or mineral deficiencies. As we get older we need to eat plenty of healthy fats – things like avocados and olive oil.
Remember - If you have any concerns at all, please make an appointment to see your doctor at the earliest opportunity.
Do you care too much about what others think? Do people really think about others so often? Why? Read on here!
Stress can be both good and bad; it’s up to you how you look at it. But too much stress can be dangerous. Read more about stress in this article!
Read the complete article
It's not always easy to tell if someone has depression. While some signs such as sadness, pessimism and withdrawal from social interaction are easy to recognise, other symptoms may be less obvious. And some people are very good at hiding their depression - even from themselves!
Going back to school during a pandemic is a new experience for everyone, and it's understandable if children are feeling anxious about it. We take a look at some of the issues and how you can help your child to get ready for returning to the classroom.
Have you considered yoga? There are many advantages to practicing yoga. It is a holistic practice benefitting you physically, emotionally & mentally.
Do you sometimes feel your achievements are not the result of your hard work and skill but are just luck? And do you fear that one day, someone will reveal you as an imposter or fraud? You might have imposter syndrome!
Do you ever feel lonely? Do you think it’s possible to be happy by yourself? Being happy by yourself is perfectly feasible. We’ve come up with a list of helpful tips for you to consider that turns being alone into a positive state of affairs. Read our advice here.
Do you find that every Spring you feel that it is time to make a new start, to make a new you? This ‘spring-cleaning’ we all yearn for is deeply ingrained within all of us.
No one feels confident all the time! But whether at work, as a parent or in your relationships, appearing confident is the secret to success. Follow our tips, and you'll appear more confident in any situation.
Facing the loss of a family member or close friend is probably one of the most difficult challenges that life throws at us. When we've lost a partner, parent, brother or sister, we're likely to experience intense grief.
Bach Flowers are not medicinal but harmless plant extracts which are used to support health.
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