How do I know when I need a physical?

Health Tip:

The screening tests that are recommended for each age group can be found on the National Institute of Health's website. Although the recommendations for screening can often vary from one doctor to the next, the NIH is considered the absolute, unbiased medical authority on screening for diabetes, cancers, and high blood pressure.

I am often amazed at how many of the medical conditions we face today can be prevented through screening. And yet, there seems to be a lot of confusion as to what tests we should have, and when. For example, did you know as women we only need to have female exams every 2-3 years if all is normal? Or that we should all have cholesterol screening yearly? Or that everyone should have a colonoscopy at age 50? In fact, colon cancer is almost always preventable if we had the appropriate screening. The problem is that many people don't see the value of going to a doctor unless they are sick... it's like the idea is that doctors are there for sick people. But, the more we understand about the body, and the longer we live, the clearer it becomes that screening is the most important thing we can do to protect our health. The absolute authority on what tests we should do is found at : http://www.nih.gov/

One of the saddest things I have found in working in healthcare is that many people don't realize how important it is to protect their health, and often don't come to the clinic until they are having heart disease symptoms..or, their blood pressure or diabetes is causing symptoms. This usually is enough to change their attitude about screening.

George came to the office many years ago with complaints of back pain. It didn't take long to realize that he had uncontrolled blood pressure, high cholesterol, and a mass on his abdomen. He was hospitalized immediately and found to have kidney failure, diabetes, amongst other things. It wasn't until all these conditions were controlled that his back pain could even be evaluated. Thankfully, everything was still treatable, and he was sent home weeks later. After that experience,  George became the biggest advocate for screening tests. I can almost still hear him telling all the patients in the waiting room how important it is to get their screening tests.

It makes sense that we must protect and be proactive in caring for this body that God has given us. As Christians, we understand that this body is a temple that God indwells ( 1 Cor 6:19). While we have pain, tears, and illness in this life, we know that one day we will be given perfect bodies- but, until then, we are challenged to treasure this body and care for it, knowing that it is God's gift to us!.