Health Overhaul – It’s Time For A Check Up!

Research was recently released that stated people take more care of their pets than they do themselves. Research commissioned by Bluecrest Health Screening found that almost half of UK adults pay for health checks and appointments for their pets. However, only 1 in 10 (11%) would invest in a medical check for themselves.  I can see that being true. I’d be much more likely to spend the money to take my pet to the ER than myself.

And it isn’t until something becomes too painful to deal with do we finally head to the doctors. Instead, we sit and ask Dr. Google, or search through the forums to find someone who had the same symptoms and went to the doctors for answers. And if they had the answer, then you don’t need to head to the Drs. When you say it, it sounds silly, yet here we are.

So, if you aren’t going to head to the doctors office, then you probably need to make sure that you are taking care of yourself properly. Here are some things to consider if you’re horrible about taking care of yourself like I am:

Dehydration

The amount of water you need to drink will vary from person to person. Although you will find most recommendations are between 5-8 glasses a day. People underestimate just how much water their body needs. We lose water every second from breathing, moving, urinating, sweating, and more. There are two ways to check how you’re doing in terms of water drinking. 

1. Gently pinch the skin on the back of your hand, hydrated skin will ping back into place pretty quickly. 
2. The color of your wee will be a great indicator. The darker it is, the more dehydrated you are. 

In order to up your hydration, you need to make a conscious effort. Get an app for your phone or set reminds every hour and keep your reusable water jug topped up. When you think you’ve drank enough, drink some more.

Sleep Test

We are pretty much all tired all of the time. That’s what being an adult is all about right? Wanting to take all the naps you stupidly passed up as a kid? But some people suffer while they are asleep and they don’t realize it. If you have someone who has told you more than once you sound like you are struggling in your sleep, you should ask the Dr to get you checked out for sleep apnea. If you find that you are often waking during the night, it is worth considering how late in the evening you had eaten, and if you have anything on your mind. 

If you’re tired, in a more than what might be typical for most people, you might want to do the spoon test. All you’ll need, as the name suggests is a spoon and a metal tray. It is best to do this in the daytime. Find a quiet relaxing spot, your bedroom is probably best. Hold the spoon in your hand, over the top of the spoon and lay down. The question you are trying to answer is how quickly after laying down, do you fall asleep. When you fall asleep you will drop the spoon, it will make a noise loud enough to rouse you from your slumber. Check the time straight away and work out how much time has gone by if it took less than ten minutes you need to work on ways to improve your evening sleep. 15 minutes and over you are probably alright. Weird right?

Lumps and Bumps

Real talk people. You should regularly check breasts or testicles weekly for any new lumps. If you need a refresher for the breast check :

Place a pillow behind the shoulder of the breast you are going to check and put the corresponding hand behind your head. I.e., when checking left breast, your left shoulder will be propped up, and the left hand tucked behind your head. Work your fingers in small gentle circles from the armpit all the way down and around the breast. Use different pressures. Swap sides. Do this weekly. 

Testicle check – hold one testicle between the thumb and fingers and rolls gently between. Feel and look for any hard lumps or smooth round lumps that may have changed since the last check. Repeat with the other side. 

If you are typically quite regular with your periods and something changes, you should get in touch with your doctor. There are many reasons for this, but if you are worried about the causes of infertility, then the sooner you get in touch, the better. Nobody knows you better than you.

Thyroid

Many people have undiagnosed thyroid issues. If you are fatigued, feel blue and colder than most people – it might be worth checking out. Record your armpit temperature over the space of a few days. You should see a steady 97.8 (32 degrees Celcius) to around 98 or so. If it is much lower or much higher after a week, then it is time to make an appointment to get checked out. 

Cold Spots

Have you ever noticed when you have stomach cramps the skin in that area is a little cold? In a bid to take better care of the organs that might be struggling the sweat glands on the skin in that area will stop working. Run your hands over your torso and see if there are any spots that feel a little cooler than others. 

Nails

Your nails can tell you a lot about how your body is doing. Pale nails might hint at anemia, heart issues and malnutrition, white nails and nail beds hint at liver problems. Nails that are prone to cracking or splitting are often linked with thyroid disease. Of course, nails can only give you part of the story, and if you are worried, then you need to have a chat with your doctor. 

Your body is very good at telling you there is a problem, and often it tells you long before there is any pain. If you feel not quite right, or you see that you have a few symptoms, then it is always worth having a chat with a doctor. Dr. Google isn’t always very helpful and can cause much more anxiety than heading to the doctors to get checked out properly.