medical history
Why is Health Screening for Men Important?
A health screening for men is very important as there are numerous health concerns out there. With a screening, problems can be identified early and that intervention can make a huge difference. A man can also learn about what needs to be done in order to improve his overall health. It is never too late to make positive changes so that you can have a good quality of life down the road.
It is recommended that in addition to annual checkups, men over 40 years of age should be screened for various things. This includes heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, the risk that they may have for future health problems based on genetics and their lifestyle, and making sure that their entire medical history is documented.
High blood pressure screenings should be done every other year as long as the results are good. If you have a family history of it, though, you should be screened annually. Cholesterol levels should be checked every five years. If you are overweight or have a family history of high cholesterol, you should also be screened annually for this.
Colon cancer is common in males, so getting checked for it every five years is a good idea. Again, if you have a family history of cancer, you want to be screened for it every single year. Males over 50 should also have a prostate health screening completed. Since males can also be diagnosed with osteoporosis, those over 50 should also be screened for it every year or two.
Any male with kidney problems, diabetes, or heart disease needs to take part in all types of screenings annually. This is in addition to staying in close contact with their doctor. By doing so, the problems can be kept under control. When they are allowed to escalate, it can mean deteriorated health and serious symptoms to contend with.
Most health insurance companies do cover the cost of health screenings for men. They do so in order to help reduce the overall cost of medical care later on for those men. If your health insurance won’t cover screenings or you aren’t insured, there are other options. One of them is to go to a lower-priced clinic. They offer these health screenings on a sliding scale that is based on your income. There are also many free screenings, so find out when they may be offered in your community.
Men are encouraged to get a health screening annually. Sadly, more than half of them don’t. They only see a doctor when they are very ill and the symptoms have become too much to deal with. That is the wrong avenue to take, because it can allow serious health problems to affect someone. The technology we have today allows for early intervention to help reduce the effects of even serious health issues men may face.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007465.htm
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007464.htm
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007466.htm
The Importance of a Routine Pap Smear for Women
Getting a pap smear isn’t a pleasant process, but it is something that a woman should be doing annually. This particular check up can help to identify signs that there is something wrong. It could be something minor or the onset of cervical cancer. Many women are embarrassed by the process of a pap smear but keep in mind that the medical staff involved are all professionals.
A pap smear doesn’t hurt and if it does, let your doctor know. That can be a sign of an inflammation of the cervix. During the testing, cells from the cervix will be placed on slide so they can be looked at under a microscope. If you have a family history of cervical cancer, than you should make getting a regular pap smear a priority. Make sure you inform your doctor if you have anyone in your family with such a medical history.
Sometimes a pap smear will come back showing abnormal cells. If that is the case your doctor will ask you to come in for a second test. Based on those results, treatment may have to be looked at. Most of the time, the cells will be fine and there is nothing else that has to be done. The entire procedure takes about 10 minutes but it can help you to be healthier so it is worth the time.
Getting a pap smear is something young girls should be doing if they are sexually active. Talk to your daughters about that and schedule an appointment for them. Make sure they understand what the procedure will be so that they aren’t anxious about it. For many women over 30, it may be fine to get a pap smear only every 3 years. However, this is only true if the results have been satisfactory in the past.
Women that have many sexual partners are at a greater risk of STDs. That can be determined during a pap smear as well. In fact, many women don’t have a clue they have an STD until they do such a test. In the meantime, they may be infecting other men due to taking part in unprotected intercourse.
A woman that has had a hysterectomy no longer needs to have pap smears. However, even older women that no longer take part in sexual activities need to continue getting them. There is always a chance of cancer cells forming or other health problems. They can go unnoticed until they are in advanced stages if the pap smears aren’t being conducted.
With so many women not having health insurance coverage, too often the length of time they between pap smears is very long. If you don’t have insurance, there are various clinics out there that offer sliding scale fees. The goal of these establishments is to make sure women are able to afford taking care of their health. Contact them to find out what they have available.