Pamper Your Health
May 2008 - Dr. Bonnie Wright

I rarely preach because I believe that every person has the right to make up their own mind about things in their life. However, when it comes to something like preventive health care, I get so passionate that I can’t resist stepping up on that soapbox!
If we do nothing to gain at least some control over our health, we’re squandering away the most precious resource we have: our own lives. It’s like having the winning lottery ticket but leaving it on your dresser and not checking the numbers until it’s too late to claim the prize. If you choose to ignore your health, it can be too late for intervention. But let’s not go there! Let’s be smart and proactive. Pick up the phone and make an appointment with your primary health care provider for an annual checkup.

What if you don’t have a doctor? Unfortunately, there are a lot of people in this boat these days. I suggest going to a walk-in clinic but try to use the same one each time so they get to know you and have your records in one place. You should also check to see if there are public services or specialty clinics that can do at least part of any preventive tests you may need. For example, if you’re a woman over 50, you can use the Ontario Breast Screening Program free of cost and without a referral from a doctor. You can also check your blood pressure at the nearest drug store; it may not be completely accurate but it’s better than nothing. Ask a friend to approach her doctor on your behalf to see if they might take you as a patient. Sometimes doctors who have a closed practice will squeeze in referrals from their own patients. Or the same doctor may know a new physician who is unadvertised.

Nurse practitioners are another option. They’re independent practitioners and may be listed in the phone book. They also may be located in teaching practices attached to a medical school, community health centre or clinic. You can also contact a local university or college that teaches nurse practitioners.

There may also be health services available through your employer, especially larger companies that are required to have an occupational health nurse on site. They may be able to offer general health screening or know the community resources well enough to redirect you.

These days it may take a lot of creativity and proactiveness to get the services you need. While having a family physician is traditional, they aren’t the only ones qualified to do health screening. Think outside the box!

When you have your an annual exam, it should include having blood work done. If you ask your doctor for the lab requisition ahead of your appointment, you can then discuss the results during the exam. This could save you a follow-up appointment. At a minimum, the blood work should include testing for hypothyroidism, anaemia and diabetes, which are fairly common conditions for women but can be easily controlled, as a rule. Tests should also check levels of electrolytes, including sodium and potassium. Electrolytes help keep your muscles (including the heart) firing on all cylinders.

An annual Pap test is really important as a check for HPV exposure and cell changes that may indicate cervical cancer down the road. I know it’s not pleasant having a pelvic exam but think of the worse things that could happen if you don’t! Ask if your doctor does cultures for sexually-transmitted infections (STI) as part of the Pap. More than 50 per cent of STIs are asymptomatic, so an annual check is important to make sure something you may have been exposed to earlier isn’t active.

Once you turn 50, a mammogram every two years is a must. The chance of detecting breast cancer early in women over 50 is better than it’s ever been. Now don’t wimp out on this! I know getting your precious ladies squeezed flat isn’t appealing, and if you’ve never had a mammogram, it can be downright scary. But if you’ve given birth, you’ve already experienced worse pain and survived. Have you ever fallen and twisted an ankle? That pain is worse than a mammogram and lasts longer. The discomfort from a mammogram doesn’t last and saving your life is worth holding your breath for a couple of minutes.

A newer test you should also have is the fecal occult blood test. You do it at home and mail it in to a lab, preferably before your checkup appointment so you have results. The test does involve scooping some of your poop into a container. Sound gross? So is bowel cancer! It can sneak up on you because symptoms don’t appear until it’s almost too late. So playing in the brown stuff, so to speak, is a small price to pay.

Another important part of the annual exam is getting your waist measured. A measurement over 88 cm in women means an increased risk for heart disease – even if their weight is acceptable. Ask your doctor which exercise program can help improve your health. Blood pressure is also important to measure with respect to promoting heart health. Pressure above 140/90 increases your risk of heart disease and stroke.
So do yourself a favour and take control of your life and your health. If you don’t, you may not be able to take care of your loved ones. End of soapbox speech (bow). Thank you for listening!