It strikes me that we give this greeting every year but does it actually mean anything? Can you control how happy you may be today or throughout the year, and does someone saying that to you necessarily make any difference? Probably not.
On the other hand I really do want you to have a wonderful year. So how can we improve the odds that you will? Well, good health is obviously one factor and that is something everyone can work on.
The resolutions to exercise more and lose weight are undoubtedly valid, year in and year out. But what else?
Have you charted your family history yet? Ask everyone questions about the health of your relatives and predecessors you may be surprised how much you don't know. Be sure to write down all the verified information, sometimes this can give you a footprint of possible health concerns within your family so you know what to work on. Armed with a chart of your family history you can design a preventative strategy for living longer and better.
Check your health records and go ahead and schedule your health maintenance exams for the whole year, now, while you are thinking about it. Things like physical exams, pap smears, mammograms, blood work and colonoscopies can all be scheduled up to a year out. Schedule your dental and eye visits as well.
Throughout the year I am going to be discussing the importance of different vitamins so you can see if your regimen needs to be adjusted. You can also do a blood test to completely evaluate your vitamin status, if you like.
Have you already had your flu shot? If not, forget the rumors and get it out of the way. When you get ill in the winter, you miss time out of work feeling lousy and unproductive. You have to drag yourself to the doctor and may spread germs to other family members. It can also lead to more serious consequences like pneumonia. Almost all insurances cover the flu shot now. However, even if they didn't it would still be a bargain, by the time you factor in your co-pay and how much you spend experimenting with over-the-counter products that may or may not help.
I believe the most important aspect of being healthy is being informed. Patient education is by far one of my most important jobs as a physician. So please continue to read my blog and ask questions. Let's prevent ill health before it starts ............ together.
Have a healthy New Year, and you will be happy!
Sincerely
Dr. Tuakli
The Anti-Aging and Longevity Institute Blog, Hormone replacement for men and women. Staying healthy with both traditional and alternative medicine.Travel and current affairs and everything else that affects you day to day.
Showing posts with label Routine Health Maintenance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Routine Health Maintenance. Show all posts
Monday, January 1, 2018
Sunday, July 2, 2017
Why you need a physical
Summertime is a great time to get a physical. You probably already do this for your kids since they need them for summer camps, return to school, start college or for various sports activities. But what about you? Many adults do not seem to realize that they also need an annual physical. Adults often ask me why they need one or even "what is a physical exam?".
The purpose of getting an annual exam is simple: to make sure that you are healthy and to pick up anything that is wrong in enough of a timely fashion to be able to correct it i.e before it kills you.
Sometimes people say "but I feel fine" that's a good thing, the goal is to keep it that way. Sometimes I think patient's are disappointed when nothing is wrong almost as if their physical was not needed. At which point I point out that they should be happy; they have done what they are supposed to do for themselves and their families and they have reason to smile!
I would like to give you examples of a few real patients who have saved or prolonged their lives by getting a physical when they were not aware that anything was wrong.
A 45 year old female patient was found to have a cancer on one of her kidneys, it was taken out and now more than 10 years later she still shows up for her annual physical. She is doing fine.
A gentleman in his mid seventies started to come to me to control his blood pressure and I suggested he have a physical. The protein in his urine tipped me off and a renal ultrasound showed that he too had kidney cancer and it was just beginning to spread. Fortunately he is also doing well now.
Several people of all ages have discovered that they are pre-Diabetic or even Diabetic while getting a physical. Women are often unaware that their thyroid gland is under active and one male patient was discovered to have thyroid cancer.
A gentleman in his late 50's was found to have bone cancer, another skin cancer and one patient was not even aware of how bad the hearing was in one ear because he didn't pay attention to it.
Oftentimes patients will casually mention a symptom which ends up being a major problem yet they have had it for years.
If you are planning to get any surgery or a colonoscopy you will need a physical.
We also update your shots when you come for a physical. You will be reminded what things you need to do for routine health maintenance such as mammograms, bone density, pap, colonoscopy etc and discuss your family history so you know what to look out for.
I could continue but I won't, I think you can see that a physical is a good idea for everyone so if you haven't had one in the past 12 months, please call for an appointment.
Be well, see you soon
Dr. Tuakli
The purpose of getting an annual exam is simple: to make sure that you are healthy and to pick up anything that is wrong in enough of a timely fashion to be able to correct it i.e before it kills you.
Sometimes people say "but I feel fine" that's a good thing, the goal is to keep it that way. Sometimes I think patient's are disappointed when nothing is wrong almost as if their physical was not needed. At which point I point out that they should be happy; they have done what they are supposed to do for themselves and their families and they have reason to smile!
I would like to give you examples of a few real patients who have saved or prolonged their lives by getting a physical when they were not aware that anything was wrong.
A 45 year old female patient was found to have a cancer on one of her kidneys, it was taken out and now more than 10 years later she still shows up for her annual physical. She is doing fine.
A gentleman in his mid seventies started to come to me to control his blood pressure and I suggested he have a physical. The protein in his urine tipped me off and a renal ultrasound showed that he too had kidney cancer and it was just beginning to spread. Fortunately he is also doing well now.
Several people of all ages have discovered that they are pre-Diabetic or even Diabetic while getting a physical. Women are often unaware that their thyroid gland is under active and one male patient was discovered to have thyroid cancer.
A gentleman in his late 50's was found to have bone cancer, another skin cancer and one patient was not even aware of how bad the hearing was in one ear because he didn't pay attention to it.
Oftentimes patients will casually mention a symptom which ends up being a major problem yet they have had it for years.
If you are planning to get any surgery or a colonoscopy you will need a physical.
We also update your shots when you come for a physical. You will be reminded what things you need to do for routine health maintenance such as mammograms, bone density, pap, colonoscopy etc and discuss your family history so you know what to look out for.
I could continue but I won't, I think you can see that a physical is a good idea for everyone so if you haven't had one in the past 12 months, please call for an appointment.
Be well, see you soon
Dr. Tuakli
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