Put the lime in the coconut and drink it all up

I was shocked when my husband casually mentioned the other day that he needed to have some spots from a lung x-ray checked. WHAT? He had a bad accident skiing last year (hit by an out of control skier) and when they viewed his x-rays at the hospital they mentioned these spots on the x-rays and that he should have the checked in the future. Of course I forced him to immediately get them checked out and fortunately the results was "they are probably nothing- follow up in a year."

We are blessed to live in a time with more advanced medical procedures, diagnosis tools and treatments than ever before in history but they only bless your lives if you use them. 

Our first line of defense is usually regular check-ups (Family doctor, OB-GYN, Optometrist etc ) These regularly scheduled exams can help find potential health issues before they become a serious problem. When you see your doctor regularly, they are able to detect health conditions or diseases early. Early detection gives you the best chance for getting the right treatment quickly, avoiding any complications. By getting the correct health services, screenings, and treatment you are taking important steps toward living a longer, healthier life.

The benefits of regular check-ups include:

• Reduce your risk of getting sick
• Detect potentially life-threatening health conditions or diseases early
• Increase chances for treatment and cure
• Limit risk of complications by closely monitoring existing conditions
• Increase lifespan and improve health
• Reduce healthcare costs over time by avoiding costly medical services
• Form a good partnership with the doctor so treatment can be more efficient and so you can obtain appointments in a timely manner when needed
• Get updated on new medical information or technologies that are available

Preventive health screening checklist for adults

• Annual well-visit (annually)
  • Family history
  • Blood pressure
  • Body mass index (BMI)
  • Physical exam
  • Preventive screening
  • Counseling
• Cancer screenings (as recommended)
  • Colorectal
  • Skin
  • Breast (women)
  • Cervical (women)
  • Testicular and Prostate (men)
• Sensory screenings
  • Eyesight
  • Hearing (only if symptoms arise)
• Immunizations
• Tetanus, Diptheria (Tdap)
• Influenza
• Pneumococcal
• MMR
• Meningococcal
• Varicella
• Shingles
• Human papillomavirus (HPV)
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Haemophilus Influenza Type B

Our challenge for this week is to do something that needs to be done. Either schedule a doctor's appointment or screening that you have been putting off scheduling, or follow through on advice you received in a previous appointment that you have not taken action on. (Note you don't have to actually attend the doctor's appointment this week. Just schedule it. Most doctors are backed up for several weeks or you may need to save funds for the appointment  You don't have to go this week- just get it on the books.) When you do either of these things you qualify for the weekly 35 bonus points,