A key focus of my blog is Health/Wellness. While medical professionals have to most accurate and diagnostic tools for assessment our health, there are things that we can identify on our own. The following contributed post is entitled, Health Checks You Can Do Without A Doctor.
* * *
Being in control of your own health is smart, especially as you age. You should always seek medical care from a doctor when you need it, but there are some health checks that you can do yourself at home. Keep track of your health and make informed choices about your own care.
Image – free for commercial use
Take your temperature
Your temperature can tell you if have a fever. A normal temperature for adults should be about 37℃, but this can vary depending on your age, the time of day, and which part of the body you take the temperature from. Check your temperature when you know you’re healthy, so you know what it should be. You can compare against this number if you think you have a fever.
Blood pressure
Having high blood pressure increases your risk of strokes, heart attack, heart failure, and kidney disease. There can be no warning signs of these happening to you, so taking your blood pressure is important. Blood pressure monitors are very easy to use yourself at home. Make sure you’re calm when you check so you get an accurate result. If your blood pressure is high, you can lower it again by cutting back on salt and alcohol, eating more healthily, getting regular exercise, and maintaining a healthy weight.
Testicular checks
All men ought to check their testicles on a regular basis to check for lumps or swellings that could be a sign of cancer. You should do this often, so you can easily recognize a change. The best time to check is after a warm bath or shower. If you feel anything unusual, see your doctor. Your sexual health is as important as your other health, so take it seriously, whether it’s checks like this or adding a supplement like black snake pills for erectile dysfunction.
Check your breasts
Similar to testicle checks for men, all women should know their breasts look and feel at different points in their menstrual cycle. Breasts can change a lot throughout your cycle, and usually for totally harmless reasons. Watch for unusual changes in the outline or shape of the breast, lumps, thickening or bumps, and changes to the nipple or skin, as these could be a sign of breast cancer. See a doctor as soon as you can if you notice any of these.
Check your heart rate
Checking your heart rate first thing in the morning can help you keep track of your overall health. The normal range will depend on your health and fitness. Check every morning for a week to find what your normal pulse rate is. A heart rate monitor, fitness tracker, or smartphone app is the easiest way to do this. A change of 10 beats per minute can mean you are getting ill. Anything over 100 beats per minute can suggest stress, dehydration, or illness.
Waist fat measurement
A healthy weight is important, but it’s also important that you don’t have too much fat around your waist. Higher waist measurements increase your risk of type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular disease. Measure your waist at the level of your belly button. If your waist measures more than 94cm for men and 80cm for women, you should try to lose some weight.
