The first step to living a healthy life is getting to know the status of your health. It can be a very scary thing to face, but it is a very necessary thing nonetheless. Self-care is the primary goal, so stay aware of these critical components that should be checked on a periodic basis.
Heart Health
Let’s face it, we Americans love us some fast food and backyard barbecues; especially on the weekends. But, if one is not careful, this behavior can lead us right down the path to cardiovascular disease. To maintain a healthy life, it is important to be aware of the symptoms that are indicative of cardiovascular disease(CVD).
A high fat diet coupled with a lack of exercise can lead to the symptom of high blood cholesterol. High blood cholesterol can clog the arteries and increase the risk of developing a blood clot.
High blood cholesterol is only one symptom of CVD; as there are many others. Knowing the symptoms can be an initial start at identifying CVD, but this is not a DIY project. The best way to determine the presence of CVD is from one of the following methods:
- Blood test
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Exercise stress test
- Echocardiogram (Ultrasound)
- Nuclear cardiac stress test
- Coronary angiogram
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Coronary computed tomography angiogram (CCTA)
The methods above should only be performed by professional healthcare providers to get the most reliable results, but there are certain home-testing kits available for those that prefer not to immediately visit a doctor. However, it is imperative to schedule an appointment as soon as possible if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:
- chest pain
- frequently feeling dizzy or light headed
- numb legs or arms
- irregular palpitations
- swollen limbs
- Chronic fatigue
Live a healthy life by scheduling your lab work today!
Oral Health
Oral health is a major factor to living a healthy life and a primary concern of oral health is gum disease. Gum disease produces bacteria that can travel throughout your bloodstream and cause a variety of health problems,…including cardiovascular disease.
The best way to prevent gum disease is to get regular dental check-ups at least once every six months and maintaining proper oral hygiene. Brushing your teeth after every meal is a start, but using the most effective toothpaste is also important.
Nevertheless, you should still be aware of the early signs of gum disease, which are swollen and red gums that often bleed when brushing your teeth. If you notice any of these symptoms the most recommended treatment is to visit a periodontist, but there are also others ways to treat gum disease if you lack the finances such as the Starlite Smile Gum Disease Light. This unique oral tool has been shown to reduce bleeding gums, receding gums, gingivitis and whiten teeth.
The early stage of gum disease is called gingivitis, but if left untreated can develop into a more serious form called periodontitis. Periodontitis can be so severe that it will not only damage your gums, but can also destroy your jawbone. Therefore, your oral health is an important health component that needs to be kept in check on a regular basis.
Schedule your dental check-up today!
Mental Health
So what exactly is mental health? Mental health is the way your brain interprets and deciphers emotional and/or stressful experiences. These experiences can be as small as spilling milk on the floor to something bigger like owing taxes and not having the money to pay it back before the deadline.
In either case, your brain is in charge of how you handle these situations and causes you to react in a certain way. Living a healthy life includes your mental health, which contributes to your self-esteem, confidence, social well-being and all of the fundamental elements that makes you, you.
The reality is we all get overwhelmed at times and need someone to talk to get things off our chest,…venting is what some people call it. However, if you find yourself needing to vent almost on a daily basis or often find it hard to think clearly, then you may want to evaluate your mental health status.
Take a break
There are several ways to collect yourself such as taking a vacation, going out on the town, or spending quality time with loved ones, but it may also be beneficial to speak to someone that does not know you at all; and is able to tell you what you need to hear and not what you want to hear. Someone who has been trained to deal with various issues that affect the human psyche; an expert in the field such as a therapist.
A therapist helps people deal with various types of issues such as depression, stress, anxiety, feelings of hopelessness and drug abuse. A few signs of mental health problems are:
- low or no energy
- self-isolation
- severe mood swings
- drug abuse
- excessive alcoholic drinking
- thinking of harming yourself or others
- Inability to complete regular daily activities
- hard to find joy with family and friends
If you are experiencing one or more of the signs above, you may want to consider speaking with a therapist. A therapist can be your guide, like Morpheus in the movie The Matrix, they will simply offer you the truth and help you navigate through the complexities of the world.
Make an appointment with a guide today!
Your Vision Matters Too
There is a saying in the medical field, “Blurry vision equals blurry brain”. If your brain is not receiving proper inputs from the eyes, then your thinking patterns have a good chance of becoming skewed as well. This may lead to frequent headaches, poor judgement for decision making, irritability and mood swings; all of which are counter-intuitive to living a healthy life.
Additionally, researchers have conducted studies that indicate people with poor vision have a greater chance of developing dementia if vision quality is not corrected. Poor vision has also been linked to mental health issues such as social isolation, feelings of worry, anxiety and fear; and depression.
Therefore, eye exams are recommended even if you think you have 20/20 vision, but unlike other health check-ups that suggest being seen every six months, doctors recommend getting regular eye exams based on your age: (ages 20 to 39 every 5 years; 40 to 54 every 2 to 4 years; and ages 55+ every 1 to 3 years). Keep your eye sight sharp and your brain should function as advertised.
Your Overall Health
Hopefully after reading this article you will find that periodic health checks are very instrumental for maintaining good health. Of course health insurance is an investment that can help you take care of the cost of these check-ups, but if you are without health insurance at the current moment don’t let that stop you; as there are numerous facilities that offer fairly inexpensive services.
So without further due, go get your health check-ups now!
