Give yourself a health check

MY kind of stress relief: A walk at the beach

I breathe a sigh of relief each month when I read this.

I enrolled in the program a couple of years ago after my wallet was stolen and I was plagued with identity theft problems for well over a year—including two cars stolen using ID with my name on it! (Imagine my reaction upon opening not-so-nice letters from car rental agencies demanding the return of the car I’d just rented. Huh?)

It’d be nice to have your health monitored monthly like this, wouldn’t it?

To get an email each month that says, “You’re in the clear!”

“Your blood sugar is great. Your blood pressure, laudable. Your triglycerides, stellar. You are cancer-free and you have no risk of stroke or heart attack. Your organs are in great shape and your waistline, quite nice!”

Ah, if only. But this is work we have to do ourselves.  

Here are some ways that can help you stay on top of your health:

Get an annual medical check-up—or more often, depending on your health status and needs. But don’t just let your doctor interpret the results of your blood tests. Find out about those numbers yourself. You’ll be more motivated to take action to improve them.

Example: My boyfriend scored a blood sugar reading of 101 mg/dL last spring. “That’s pre-diabetes!” I said. The PA who examined him was not alarmed, however. “That’s impaired fasting glucose,” she almost yawned, and handed him a paper with a list of high- and low-glycemic foods.

Well, hello, but according to the American Diabetes Association, that’s also known as pre-diabetes. To the PA’s credit, she did suggest another blood test again a few months later to stay on top of things. That’s when we found out his blood sugar had dropped to 94 mg/dL. And we’re not done yet!

Exercise regularly. It will help your body stay young and function properly. You know I am a fan of strength-training, which benefits your brain, your body, your state of mind, your bones, your heart, your blood sugar—the list goes on. I do a little cardio work and stretch for flexibility, too.

Eat for health. Enjoy the disease-fighting benefits found in vegetables, fruits (in moderation), spices, herbs and teas. Eat for energy, strength and to rebuild your body.

Maintain a healthy weight. You’ll most likely have some luck with this by eating smartly and exercising regularly. BUT, if your weight stalls, investigate. Your doctor may be able to run tests that could uncover an irregularity that needs attention—like a sluggish thyroid or insulin resistance. Don’t give up! It may take longer to shed fat than it used to, but it will come off.

Also, realize that not every physician is open to delving into your issues. After listening to her complaints about increasing aches and pains, a friend’s doctor told her, ”Welcome to middle age!” Gee, thanks, doc.

And some doctors go by the books. Period. If the numbers on your thyroid test don’t indicate a problem, well, then, that’s not the cause of your fatigue, weight gain, dry skin and constant coldness. Maybe time to look around for a new doctor.

Manage your stress. Lots of options here. If you don’t do yoga and you haven’t figured out how to meditate, try walks through nature, regular quiet time, teas that help you relax in the evening, soporific soaks in the tub and listening to soothing music. I am quite sure there are more things you can do. Your best bet is to find what works best for you and suits your lifestyle.   

Avoid extremes. Too much of so many things can cause problems. Too much sugar. Too much alcohol. Too much sleep deprivation, isolation, stress, anger, work, and, yes, exercise!

Naturally, there are no guarantees in life. But you’ve got to do what you can.

I like to think that every healthy meal and every workout (along with all the other stuff) will give me a few more problem-free years than I otherwise would have.