ROCKWALL, TX (Dec. 31, 2014) When planning New Year’s resolutions, it is likely that improving health is near the top of that list. While we may set goals to exercise or eat better, often these are focused on appearance. Appearance can be a motivating factor, but achieving goals that benefit our health should be a priority.
Improving health starts with preventative care. Regular preventative care is practiced by most women – yet men are often hesitant. Statistics seem to prove that women are more likely to visit a doctor at earlier signs of illness than men. When men are reluctant, the women in their lives often become the driving force. Although resistance may be encountered when encouraging a husband, brother or father to visit a doctor, the importance of persevering cannot be overstated.
Highlights of conditions that may be evaluated or uncovered by a primary care doctor include:
Heart health
Heart disease is the #1 cause of death in theUnited States. Most people assume that heart problems display obvious signs such as chest pain and shortness of breath. However silent symptoms such as fatigue, cold extremities and even bloating can be signals of heart disease.
Prostate health
As men age, the prostrate undergoes changes and this is where many men worry. While concern is understandable, in some cases a benign condition is to blame. The good news is that management through diet and medication may help prevent more serious conditions later.
Biometrics
High blood pressure results from many factors, some of which may be difficult to pinpoint; however the importance is nonetheless critical to one’s health. High blood pressure forces the heart to work harder directly affecting heart health. But it can also be indicative of other diseases such as kidney disease and thyroid disorders.
Not only does high cholesterol potentially lead to heart disease, but it is also a major stroke factor. Strokes can attack without warning therefore managing cholesterol is an important prevention tool.
Carrying excess weight contributes to heart disease, but also to diabetes and many types of cancer, including colon cancer. It can also interfere with sleep patterns which, serious or not, affects daytime functioning at work and home.
Preventative care provides knowledge that might otherwise remain hidden. This knowledge gives resolutions more purpose which makes them more achievable. Therefore make the first resolution of 2015 to “know what you need to know.”
Our community is blessed with many excellent physicians providing quality preventative care. If you or the man in your life is in need of a physician, visit the Find a Physician tool on the TexasHealthPresbyterianHospitalwebsite at http://physicians.texashealthrockwall.com/.
Submitted by Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Rockwall. Their Good Health guest columns cover a variety of topics at BlueRibbonNews.com.
To share your good news and events, email editor@BlueRibbonNews.com.
Please click here to LIKE our Facebook page, so we can reach more people with good news like this!
Resolve to ‘know what you need to know’ added by Editor on
View all posts by Editor →