Seeing your doctor each year for a physical
examination is awesome, but even a battery of blood tests can't even always
pick up potential health problems.
Simple self assessments like measuring your
waist, inspecting your arches, even looking under your eyelids, can say volumes
about your overall well-being.
TEST YOUR FLEXIBILITY : Catch your toes without bending your knees;
if you can't, you ought to add daily to your workout routine. If you don't
already workout, START NOW.
NUMBER OF MOLES ON YOUR BODY : More than 50 moles on your body indicates an
increased risk of melanoma - a form of skin cancer. Asymmetrical moles, with
irregular borders or varied colours, or are bigger than pencil erasers should
get checked out. You should also keep an eye out for small fleshy bumps or red
scaly patches on your face or neck.
FEEL THE BACK OF YOUR ARMS : Notice little raised bumps? It may be a sign
of insufficient omega-3 fatty acids which help reduce risk of heart disease by
preventing hardening of arteries.
INSPECT YOUR ARCHES : Stand with your feet, shoulder wide apart,
toes straight; bend each knee one at a time. If your kneecap falls towards the
inside or your big toe, you have pronating feet, making you more susceptible to
exercise injuries says Leons Maharam, medical doctor of the ING, NYC Marathon.
ARE YOU OVERWEIGHT? : Record how much weight you have gained since
high school. More than 11 pounds, shed that amount. Loosing weight reduces your
overall risk for cancer.
TRACK YOUR BELLY FAT : Lie down on your back, tense your abdomen,
preferably in the morning before taking breakfast. If your stomach is flat,
you're in a good shape. But if you see any sort of pooch that makes you look
pregnant, you probably have too much visceral fat. You can beat this sort of
bulge with a combination of healthy eating and exercise.
MEASURE YOUR WAIST : Your waist size may be a better predictor of
your heart disease risk than what you weigh. A wide waist line puts you more at
risk of cardiovascular disease.
MENTAL HEALTH CHECKS : Note how many times you have a headache or
an upset stomach. More than once in a month may indicate emotional breakdown.
See your doctor to rule out a physical cause. If it's stress related, deal with
it. One stress buster? Laugh!
MORE QUICK
HEALTH TIPS. . .
CHECK YOUR EYELIDS : Pull down your lower eyelid and look at the
inside. Little bumps that look like cobblestones show that you're probably
allergic to something. See a doctor to determine the type of allergy.
TAKE YOUR TEMPERATURE WHEN YOU WAKE UP : If it's below 37oC or 98.6oF,
that could indicate an underactive thyroid. See your doctor especially if you
have other symptoms like constipation, dry skin, cold intolerance, irritability
or fatigue.
MONITOR YOUR BREATH : We're designed to breathe through our nose.
Mouth breathing is an evolutionary response to stress. If your sinuses are
blocked, see your doctor.
PLEASE
NOTE: This is NOT meant to replace a medical diagnosis.
#StayHealthy
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