Put a lime in the coconut and drink it all up...

One of the responsibilities of healthy living is to have the tests and check ups required to maintain one's health. Our challenge for the week beginning May 16 is:

1.   Read this entire post

2.     Make a list of the check-ups that you should have this year according to these or your physician’s guide-lines.

3.     Set target dates to participate in these check-ups.

4.     Actually schedule at least one check up and when the date arrives follow through and attend it (It is OK if the date to attend does not fall within this week. Schedule it sometime this week and attend it when it arrives to earn the bonus points).

5.     Note: If you are all up to date on all of your check ups give yourself a cheer and claim all 35 points without having to do anything.

6.   If you do not have health insurance or have a high co-pay and cannot afford the test at this time you are welcome to schedule the test far enough out that you have time to save the needed funds.

Here’s the guidelines:

Dental cleaning and exam every 6 months.

Eye exam every 2 years/ after age 45 check for glaucoma every year if you have something that needs closer monitering

Blood pressure screening every 2 years

Pelvic Exam and Pap Smear every 2 years.  If over age 30 only every 3 years 

Cholesterol screening every 5 years for women over 40 

Colon Cancer Screening for women over 50

◦ A stool test done every year.

◦ Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years along with a stool guaiac test.

◦ Colonoscopy every 10 years.

◦ Double-contrast barium enema every 5 years.

◦ Computed tomographic colonography (virtual colonoscopy) every 5 years.

◦ People with risk factors for colon cancer such as ulcerative colitis, a personal or family history of colorectal cancer, or a history of large colorectal adenomas must get first colons-copy by age 50 and then re-checks as advised

Physical Exam every 1-5 years

Breast Exams

Women may do a monthly breast self-exam

Women should contact their doctor immediately if they notice a change in their breasts, whether or not they do self exams.

A health care provider should do a complete breast exam every year.

Women over age 40 should have a mammogram done every 1-2 years, depending on their risk factors, to check for breast cancer.