Living Healthy
What’s Your Number?
Important Health Numbers You Should Know! By Charlotte Williams and Williams Wellness Consultants Can I Get Your number? As soon as we are able to speak, we cannot wait to tell people how old we are. We hold up a couple of fingers and declare to the world “I’m two” or “I’m three”. From that time forward, our lives are filled with numbers; birth date, social security number, telephone number, and pin numbers to name a few. As we get older, it is critical that we become familiar with some other important numbers in our lives. It is vital that we know our several key health numbers. Six of the main numbers that are significant health indicators include weight, waist size, cholesterol, blood pressure, thyroid and BMI. You can find out this information during a physical at your doctor’s office. Some of the information can also be gained during worksite wellness visits or health fair screenings. 30 is the new 20 In a day and age where image is everything, there is a great deal of focus on looking young and feeling young. In fact, the latest expression is 30 is the new 20, 40 is the new 30 and so on. Once we reach our 30’s, 40’s and beyond, being ‘Grown and Sexy’ is less about how one looks and more about a person’s health status. There are specific check ups that men and women need at certain ages and stages of life. Instead of focusing on the lips and thighs or biceps and triceps of a potential mate, the real question may be what is his or her blood pressure or cholesterol? The following charts will provide guidelines for recommended screening tests that will keep you healthy. Please consult with your healthcare provider for more information.
Both Men & Women Screening Test
Ages 18-39
General Health: Full checkup, including weight and height
Discuss with your doctor or nurse.
Heart Health: Blood pressure test
At least every 2 years
Cholestrerol test Diabetes: Blood sugar test
Ages 40-49
Ages 50-64
Ages 65 or older
Monthly mole self-exam; by a doctor every year.
Discuss with your doctor or nurse.
Discuss with your doctor or nurse.
Once every 2 years
At least every 2 years
Atleast every 2 years
Start at age 20, discuss with your doctor.
Discuss with your doctor or nurse
Discuss with your doctor or nurse
Discuss with your doctor or nurse.
Discuss with your doctor or nurse.
Start at age 45 then every 2 years
Every 3 years
Every 3 years
HIV test
Get this test at least once to find Get this test at least once to find out your HIV status. out your HIV status. Reproductive Health: Sexually Both partners should get tested Both partners should get tested Transmitted Disease (STD) tests for STDs, including HIV, before for STDs, including HIV, before initiating sexual intercourse. initiating sexual intercourse. Colorectal Health: Fecal occult blood test
Get this test at least once to find out your HIV status. Both partners should get tested for STDs, including HIV, before initiating sexual intercourse. Yearly
Discuss with your doctor or nurse Both partners should get tested for STDs, including HIV, before initiating sexual intercourse. Yearly
Colonoscopy
Every 1o years
Every 10 years Both should get tested for STDs, including HIV, before sex
Rectal exam Eye and Ear Health: Eye exam Hearing test Skin Health: Mole exam Oral Health: Dental exam Mental Health Screening
Discuss with your doctor or nurse. If you have any visual problems; at least one exam from ages 2029, two exams from ages 30-39. Starting at age 18, then every 10 years Monthly mole self-exam; by a doctor every 3 years, starting at age 20. One to two times every year
Discuss with your doctor or nurse.
Every 5 to 10 years
Every 2-4 years
Every 2-4 years
Every 10 years
Every 3 years
Monthly mole self-exam; by a doctor every year.
Monthly mole self-exam; by a doctor every year.
Monthly mole self-exam; by a doctor every year.
One to two times per year
One to two times every year
One to two times every year
Discuss with your doctor or nurse.
Discuss with your doctor or nurse.
Discuss with your doctor or nurse
Discuss with your doctor or nurse
HUAMI MAGAZINE
AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2009
38
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