HEALTHWATCH
Annual maintenance
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An annual check-up is not a luxury to be undertaken only if you have a bit of spare time. It has to be actively scheduled into your life, says Dr. SANJIVA WIJESINHA.
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REUTERS
WHEN I served the Army Medical Corps many years ago, I remember that all our vehicles — from ambulances to staff cars — had to regularly undergo what was called "Preventive Maintenance".
Regular assessment
Considering the harsh conditions and rough handling to which military vehicles were subjected to, it was sensible to ensure that they were regularly assessed and remedial action undertaken so that their efficient working life would be extended as long as possible.
Recalling those days, I find myself wishing that my patients would take as good care of themselves as the Army did of its vehicles.
Taking care of one's body and making sure of having a "preventive maintenance at least once a year is a sensible way of extending one's life and ensuring that one's body doesn't breakdown unexpectedly.
This advice applies to people of all ages. An annual check-up is not a luxury that you should undertake only if you have a bit of spare time. It has to be actively scheduled into your life.
Sadly most of us - the younger we are the more this is applicable - see our doctor only on the rare occasions that we fall ill. Sad because if you see your doctor regularly, potential problems can be detected early and many serious illnesses diagnosed before they reach the incurable stage.
When you go the doctor for a check-up, the important things to check are:
Blood pressure
High blood pressure (hypertension) can lead to a heart attack or stroke, both of which are common causes of death in India. Measuring blood pressures is painless; it does not require any injections or needles and can be easily done in the doctor's office. If your blood pressure is high, discuss with the doctor the changes you need to make in your diet or lifestyle to reduce it. Lowering elevated high blood pressure does not always mean that you have to take medication.
Cholesterol
This is a waxy fat carried in the bloodstream. It gets deposited on the inner wall of the arteries and can clog your circulation. So having high circulation can lead to heart disease by narrowing your arteries and reducing blood flow to vital organs. If you have a history of cardiovascular diseases (heart attacks, strokes or high blood pressure) in your family, it is imperative that you get your cholesterol checked because the tendency to high cholesterol runs in families. Finding out early means you can take steps to bring your cholesterol down. Checking your cholesterol can be done by a simple blood test.
Diabetes
If you are overweight, over forty or have a parent or brother/sister with diabetes, you have a good chance of developing this serious condition, which if uncontrolled will end up damaging your heart, kidneys, eyesight and sexual function. In its earliest stages, diabetes does not cause symptoms and you can have it without knowing it. Diabetes is said to be present if the amount of sugar (glucose) in your blood is too high and your doctor could do a simple blood test and check if you have high blood sugar.
Remember your doctor is there to assess, advise and assist you, not just to fix you up when things break down.
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