Take time for health and wellness self-care
From the start of the pandemic, health care professionals across the country have been concerned with the impact of missed preventive screenings and disease management would have on patient outcomes. The American Association for Cancer Research shared over 10 million preventive screenings were missed in the first year of the pandemic, potentially leading to negative impacts down the road. The number of cancers that would have been caught in stage 2 are presenting in stage 4.
The other areas that have also been negatively impacted by deferring care are heart disease, diabetes, joint replacement and behavioral health. As people struggled to stay active, the average person gained 29 pounds during the pandemic, increasing their probability of having greater challenges with the multiple health concerns.
There is a great anonymous quote that states, “If you don’t take time for your health/wellness, you will be forced to take time for your illness.” With that in mind, we believe everyone wants to be healthy but does not necessarily know where to begin. In a Kaiser Health Tracking Poll, 92% of Americans believe it is important to have an annual physical, but only 62% actually do. If you only see your primary care provider when you are sick, you could be shortchanging your health. Now is a great time to schedule your annual wellness visit to spot potential problems before they become more serious. Regular visits with your provider help to establish your unique baseline. What’s normal for one person might not be for another. So having your own track record for blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels will help your provider spot any early signs of trouble.
These are some health screening guidelines from the National Institute of Health that can help you are your journey to wellness based on age:
General adult physicals
• Ages 19-21, once every 2-3 years
• Ages 22-64, once every 1-3 years
• Over 65, once a year
Guidelines for everyone
• Even if you’re in good shape, take regular preventive steps to stay that way.
• Have your blood pressure checked every two years.
• Make sure important vaccinations are up to date: Tetanusdiphtheria-pertussis immunization booster within the last 10years; chickenpox if you’ve never had a vaccination or the disease; measles-mumps-rubella if you weren’t inoculated as a child; meningitis if you’re under 24 and never had a vaccination; hepatitis A or B if you’re at high risk; annual flu shot; COVID 19vaccine or booster
After age 40
• Have cholesterol screenings every five years.
• Screen for colorectal cancer with a fecal occult blood test every year or a colonoscopy every 10 years.
After age 55
• If you’re a current smoker or quit fewer than 15 years ago, have regular lung cancer screenings.
• After 60, get an annual shingles vaccination.
• After 65, have a pneumococcal vaccination.
• Also, check in with your doctor if you’re feeling depressed, have questions about medication or want advice on how to lose weight or quit smoking. He or she can share clinically-proven strategies that will work with your lifestyle and minimize risks.
Guidelines for women
In addition to the screenings everyone needs, women should have an annual pelvic and breast exam.
Women between ages 18 and 29
• Ensure you have a complete HPV vaccination.
• Get a pap smear to test for cervical cancer every three years.
Women between ages 30 and 49
• Get a pap smear every five years.
• Consult your doctor about whether you should have mammograms.
Women between ages 50 and up
• Get annual mammograms until age 75.
• Have a pap smear every five years until 65 or 70.
• Test for bone density with a DEXA scan after age 50.
• After menopause or if you’ve had a hysterectomy, your doctor may recommend a different screening schedule.
Guidelines for men
Until age 50, most men can follow the general health guidelines. This is a great time to take some baseline measurements for comparison later.
Men ages 50 and up
• Have a bone density (DEXA) scan. (Although osteoporosis is more commonly associated with women, men can suffer bone loss as well.)
• Ask your doctor whether you should have prostate cancer screening given your family history.
• After 65, if you do or have smoked, get an ultrasound to screen for abdominal aortic aneurysms.
Under the Affordable Care Act, most insurance will cover the entire cost of procedures such as immunizations, cancer screenings, and blood tests. So if you haven’t had a regular checkup recently, make an appointment now. Remember to take time for your health/wellness now so you will not be forced to take time for your illness later.