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Preventive Health Care: Take Control of Your Health

Posted on: Thursday, 10 November 2005, 03:01 CST

By Anonymous

THERE ARE MANY FACTORS IN LIFE that can't be controlled - the weather, the passing of time, your family history and genetics - you do, however, have control over your lifestyle. '.

But why worry? Just live your life now and worry about the future later, right? Wrong.

What you do now affects the quality of your life in the future. see what tests you should take - and changes you should make - in your 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and beyond to ensure the healthiest lifestyle possible.

Good health is about so much more than simply staying alive. It's about a better quality of life as you age. The sooner we start living well, the better off we'll be in the long run.

What, exactly, does "living well" mean?

You've heard it a million times. If you smoke, quit. Wear sunscreen when you're outside. Follow a healthy diet. Move your body. Get regular physicals. Do not drink if you are or might be pregnant. Find an outlet for unresolved stress and anxiety.

Develop healthy habits now and you'll be thanking yourself down the road.

TWENTIES

"There are a lot of things we can all do to ensure good health," says Dr. James Young of Fairview Cedar Ridge Clinic, a family medicine clinic in Apple Valley. "A key part of that is getting in to your health care provider periodically to check in. The current recommendations are every five years for men and every three to five years for women."

At these appointments, your health care provider should check your blood pressure, height and weight, and ask about high-risk behavior such as smoking and drinking.

Men in their twenties don't tend to think of cancer as a health risk, but it's important for this age group to do regular testicular self-exams. Cancer of the testicles is actually more common among younger men than middle-aged men. If diagnosed early, it can almost always be cured.

Women age 18 (or even younger if they're sexually active) should be getting Papanicolaou (Pap) smears to test for the presence of cervical cancer. According to Dr. Young, starting at the age of 20, women should also have a clinical; breast exam during their annual exam.

Sexually active men and women should consider getting tested for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). According to the NAPSnet article, "Diagnostic Testing: A Safe Bet, Decade by Decade," there are more than 15 million new cases of STDs annually, with two- thirds occurring in people younger than 25. Without treatment, up to 40 percent of women with a chlamydia infection can suffer pelvic inflammatory disease and potential infertility.

Both men and women in their twenties should eat a healthy, balanced diet, avoid high-risk behavior (smoking and drinking), wear moisturizer and sunscreen, drink a lot of water, get plenty of calcium and start exercising on a regular basis. Every ten years, men and women should get a booster shot against tetanus and diptheria.

THIRTIES

Women in their thirties will experience a slower metabolism as the percentage of lean muscle tissue, decreases and fat increases. In order to maintain a steady weight, women in this age group should follow a low-fat diet rich in vegetables, fruits and whole grains, eat in moderation and step up their workout routine.

After the age of 30, a woman's bones start losing calcium, which can lead to osteoporosis. To avoid this, women should take 1500 milligrams of calcium each day to prevent fractures, vitamin D to maintain bone density, and vitamin C to help absorb calcium and iron. Women should be building bone mass now with calcium-rich foods.

A woman between the ages of 30 and 35 should also consider getting a baseline mammogram. If there is a history of breast cancer, she should have her first mammogram at age 30, then another mammogram every two years (or as often as her doctor recommends).

"Around the age of 35, men should get their cholesterol checked with a blood test," says Dr. Young. "This is important as men tend to be at higher risk than women for the development of coronary artery disease, which can lead to heart attack."

Men should also be checking for testicular cancer, and women should be doing monthly self breast exams to check for any lumps.

Women who are planning to start a family should get the recommended 400 micrograms of folate or folic acid, an essential B vitamin that protects fetuses from birth defects. Folate can be found in green, leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, bread, cereal or multivitamins. Folic acid is used by a woman's body to make healthy new cells for her baby.

Once a woman becomes pregnant, the pregnancy or vaginal delivery can weaken the bladder and pelvic floor muscles, leading to urinary incontinence, says Dr. Suzette Sutherland of Metro Urology, a full- service, multi-specialty practice of 20 urologists throughout the Twin Cities.

"If the incontinence negatively impacts the individual's quality of life, then it is worthy of treatment," she says.

Many conservative (non-surgical), as well as minimallyinvasive surgical options are available to women of all ages to correct such conditions.

FORTIES

Men in their forties should have a rectal examination. Prostate cancer-detectable with a rectal examination-is, the leading fatal cancer in non-smoking men in their forties. Two routine screening tests commonly used to detect prostate cancer are the digital rectal exam and prostate-specific antigen blood tests.

A woman in her forties is slowly losing bone mass rather than building it. Strength-training (weight and resistance) and weight- bearing exercise (walking, swimming, dancing), in addition to a healthy diet of calcium-rich foods, should be a priority in keeping bones healthy.

Men and women in their forties should check their skin for signs of skin cancer, and reduce the fat they consume to protect against stroke, cancer and heart disease. An electrocardiogram at age 45 is an effective test of heart health.

Employees of Guidant Corporation, an industry leader in cardiovascular technology, know the power (and vulnerability) of the heart. The first step in lowering heart disease is to know your risks, says Annette Ruzicka of Guidant. Risk factors include smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, a family history of heart disease, physical inactivity and stress. "Take control of these risk factors if you can," she says.

During this decade, both genders may also be screened for diabetes.

Vaccinations such as the flu shot, Lyme disease shot and tetanus booster can help protect against some illnesses.

FIFTIES

A Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT), used to detect blood in the stool (an indication of colon cancer), should be scheduled for men and women at age 50. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S., and when caught in its earliest stages, is one of the most curable cancers.

A test, called a colonoscopy, will also likely be ordered during a colon cancer screening. This test only needs to be done every 10 years unless a polyp or other problem is found, says Dr. Young. (If there is a problem, the test might need to be repeated every three to five years.) A provider might also perform a digital rectal exam to assess for hemorrhoids, fissures, and in men, the presence of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or prostate cancer.

A woman's chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer increases as she ages, so regular mammograms continue to be crucial.

Many women in this age range go through menopause. For smokers, menopause may occur at an earlier age than average. The greatest bone loss for women occurs when "the change" begins. Exercise can boost physical and emotional health for women facing menopause, and it's very important to get adequate amounts of vitamin D and calcium.

Other tests and screenings during this decade include an ECG every two years, a glaucoma screening, regular blood pressure and cholesterol screenings, skin checked every year, and an annual lung exam for those who smoke.

SIXTIES AND BEYOND

Men and women who have learned to incorporate good nutrition and exercise into their routine are more likely to enjoy good health and independence in the golden years. A calcium-rich diet can continue to slow bone loss and prevent osteoporosis.

At age 65, men and women should get a pneumonia shot and start getting annual flu shots.

Women should also be screened for osteoporosis using a DXA (also known as DEXA) scan to look at bone mineral density in the spine and hips.

"From the age of 65 on up, the recommendation is that patients see their health care provider yearly or biannually," says Dr. Young.

No matter how old you are, regular checkups are crucial to maintaining health. A great resource for preventive health care is The Pocket Guide to Good Health for Adults, found on the website www.ahrq.gov/ppip/adguide/, says Dr. Mark Yeazel in Family Medicine and Community Health at the University of Minnesota Medical School.

The website provides tips on what to ask your doctor, which tests and shots you need, and prevention charts for keeping track of your health care, among many other useful resources.

"Colorectal cancer, when caught in its earliest stages, is one of the most curable cancers."

Copyright Minnesota Monthly Publications Nov 2005

Source: Minnesota Monthly

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