You want to live a long and healthy life. Start early! Regular check-ups in your twenties and thirties can head off some major health problems before they become problems. Here are some basic things you should do to keep an eye on your health before you turn forty.
- Watch that weight. Get on the scale — you don’t have to do it every week, but do it. Once every few months, if you don’t seem to have any weight changes going on. But if you’re continually buying the next size up when you go shopping… you may need to consult the scale a little more often. Too much weight puts you at risk for a lot of health problems later in life.
- Check that blood pressure. It should be part of your yearly physical anyway.
- Get your cholesterol checked. You should know your numbers. It’s worth the prick of a blood test to know your cholesterol levels. You should have a check every five years or so — more frequently if you have problems.
- Your skin is your body’s largest organ. Check for new or unusual moles — they could be warning signs of skin cancer. Ask your doctor to give you a skin check every three years or so.
- Make sure your immunizations are current. Ask your doctor when your boosters are due.
- Keep an eye on your eyes. Especially if you have vision problems. A yearly eye check-up is ideal; your insurance company may cover the visit and give you money towards glasses if you need them.
- Don’t forget your choppers. A yearly dental cleaning and exam is ideal. If you have troubled teeth — frequent cavities, receding gums, other periodontal disease — you may want to go in for a check-up every six months.
- WOMEN: Make sure you get a yearly breast exam, pelvic exam, and Pap smear. No, it isn’t much fun. Yes, it can protect you from cancer and other dangerous diseases.
- MEN: Make sure you get a yearly testicular exam. Also not fun. But testicular cancer is the leading form of cancer in young men — it is curable if it can be caught early.