Health Checks you can do-it-yourself

 Health Checks you can do-it-yourself

Most people accept, “to pay thy self”. However, with respect to “health” as a priority, very few follow this rule.  Most of the health check-up packages are turned down, mostly saying,
 

This list of health checks are not related to me.
Cost of health check package is too high.
I assume I am healthy, let me have it next time.  & list goes on…..

For whatever may be the reason, if you are not having a health check-up, here are the few check points to know how healthy and fit  you are, as opposed to look like. Remember, these are mostly know to all of us and can be done yourself

Tongue

Among the primary examination your family physician/corporate doctor do is to look your tongue.

But keep looking at your own tongue which can help you spot certain conditions. Contrary to popular belief, “a bald patch on the tongue - a pattern which resembles a map, means you are perfectly healthy”.

However, medics say “white spots on the back of your tongue and inside of your cheek can indicate thrush - a yeast infection that thrives in moist areas of the body”.

If you notice a lump or ulcer on your tongue that fails to heal after a few weeks, this could be the first signs of tongue cancer - a rare form of cancer that affects smokers and people around the world who chew on beetle nut. 

Frequency for check:

Try this and check your tongue once a month.

Eyes

Surprisingly, your eyes can reveal a variety of health conditions.

If you pull down your bottom lid and underneath appears pale - rather than pink - this could mean you are anaemic, a condition which indicates a deficiency in iron. If the whites of your eye have turned yellowish, this could be jaundice - where bile in the liver fails to reach the intestine due to a blockage.

A grey ring around the white of the eye which could point to high cholesterol, particularly in younger people. On the other hand, badly puffy bags under the eye could be a tell tale sign of too many toxins - the result of excessive drinking or smoking. Any scratches or spots on the cornea (the transparent part of the front of your eyeball) could be the first sign of shingles or herpes.

Anyone who suffers from allergies - such as hay fever - may notice transparent bubbles on the inside of their bottom eyelid. Consult your doctor if you notice any of the above symptoms.

Frequency for check

Try this and check your eyes every month.

Skin

If you are over 25 years old and notice more spots than usual on your face, this could mean you are suffering from a hormone imbalance which can lead to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) or ovarian cysts, claim doctors.

If you look in the mirror and notice a red nose, says Dr Catti Moss, a GP in Northamptonshire, the chances are it is not linked to drinking too much. It is more likely to be 'acne rosacea' - a type of chronic acne that affects your face. 

Keep an eye on your skin, particularly if you are fair-skinned, sunbathe or have a family history of skin cancer. If you have moles and they suddenly start to grow, have become darker or have started to bleed, consult your doctor to check that it is not skin cancer.

Frequency for check

Examine your skin once every two to three months, particuarly if you are fair-skinned.

Breath

Bad breath is an obvious indicator of gum disease. Ninety eight per cent of us suffer from bad breath - the result of foul-smelling gases called volatile sulphur compounds (VSCs) that lurk in our mouth.

Such smells are given off from dead cells and bacteria feeding off food particles that thrive in the hot, moist environment of our mouth.

The best way to check is to lick your wrist. Start with the back of your tongue and move it forward across your wrist. Leave the saliva to dry for ten seconds on your wrist. Then smell this area for any unpleasant odours.

Bad breath is the result of poor mouth care, a weak immune system, stress, or badly fitted fillings (where food can get lodged between the filling and tooth).

Frequency for check

Check your breath if you suspect it smells and see your dentist every six months for a check-up.

Full credit for source:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-100635/Four-health-checks.html

Future of Global Healthcare Industry

To my best knowledge, I have collected important and valuable sources which showcase future of healthcare industry. I am sure you will love this post as you will experience healthcare industry insights in one post.

Future of Healthcare 2014 - Mr. Krishna Udayakumar, Head, Global Innovation, Duke Medicine. --->Watch Here

The Future of Healthcare: Where will we be in 2023?

--->Watch Here 

Healthcare Technology Outlook 2020---> Watch Here

Family Physician- How to choose one for better health

The famous saying, “Health is Wealth” will never need an explanation. Unfortunately most of us will realize the importance of health when we fall ill, rather it should be otherwise i,e following footsteps of prevention is better than cure.

Mostly major diseases are prevented when found in early stages. For e,g Cancer, when diagnosed at early stages, one can be cured completely.

This article gives you a clear insight about family physician, a.k.a family doctor, who is determined to serve us and can cure from major ailments when approached in time. 

Helping Hand:

Whether you are a part of joint or nuclear family. Having family physician is must.

When we(any of family members) fall ill we rush to hospitals or clinics which are near our residence or offices. Once we are healthy, we rarely think of doctors, hospitals or clinics. Keeping a check on these things may not be helpful in our professional career, they are certainly will be a helping hand for our family.Sometimes, visiting corporate hospitals will prove costly even for a small treatment kind or diagnosis. Its not a fault with you or with hospitals. It’s the corporate hospitals DNA which makes you to spend good amount of money for any treatment,whether its a minor or major one.

Choose one family physician, with good academic and work credentials, and make sure you and your family visit firstly, for any health issues.

Keeping informed him about your family health history, is must. This will help him to provide better treatment and can alarm you from major health issues which can be faced in mere future.

Money Less(wisely) Spent : The consultation charges of family physician are lesser, when compared with corporate hospitals. It is advisable to choose your family physician for any day care treatments.

Its fact, that your health insurance comes into action only when the insurer is hospitalized for minimum of 24 hours. Health insurance should be used for critical diseases diagnosis only, for rest visit family physician clinics. These are also called retail health clinics.

Pre and Post medical care:

Say for e.g if a family member has undergone operational treatment from a hospital, after being referred by your family physician. The post-operational treatment will be carried out from residence itself. This is the time where family physician will be more helpful. He guides, motivates and suggests to improve faster from ill-health. He acts as a Psychological support besides your family members support for a patient.

Say for eg. A person has met with an accident and he has undergone with major and critical surgery. Just experience how much trauma he and his family members would have gone through. Thanks to doctors effort, the patient is out of danger and he will be all set to lead normal life say,after four to six months of bed rest. Once patient resides at home, this creates a tough time for family members to carry out post medical treatment. Right, from keeping patient body fresh to feeding him proper food and giving him medicines on time. At this point , having family physician can help you to come out of this tough time. He can appoint a family nurse who can take care of keeping patient body fresh,and feeding food on time. Family doctor can also appoint family phsiotherapits, who can help patient to carry out his trainings suchas, walking with out support of chair or stick, as suggested by consultant doctor(s).

Health Records:

Keeping a list of family physicians prescriptions is must for every one. These prescriptions will be helpful in framing your own family health history. As like, corporate hospitals ,family physicians often will keep any computer based records.Its our responsibility to take care of these. Make sure, for every visit to your family physician you will carry prescription file/record. Although one may not face same health issues, all time. Keeping a record history will keep you check, on your health as whole. This will help you in framing a better healthy life.

Self Treatment Vs. Family Physician Treatment:

Say a big “NO” for any self treatment, may be its smaller one and can be cured with your knowledge. Fewer times, a look like smaller diseases,when not cured with proper diagnosis will turn to be costly in future when this should be fixed with high end technology equipments.

A Tip to carry your own treatment analysis is,  Keep a record of medical prescriptions written by your family physician. On top or backside of prescription do write for what disease the medicines are given for and also re-write the medicines name (as, doctors handwritten prescriptions are tougher to read and understand). With this activity you and your family members are kept well-informed about the diseases and its treatment.

Make sure you keep a word with your family physician in re-ordering the suggested medicines through earlier prescriptions.

Wishing every one, to have one good family physician and a healthy, wealthy life. 

Pic Source:familydoctorsonline.com & Healthbyconnect.com