While we should all be doing our part to check in on our own health, such as with an annual physical, there are some aspects of your health that might require a closer look once in a while, as well. A general health check can catch a lot, but there are some problems that specialists are a lot more likely to notice. Here, we’re going to look at some of the areas that warrant a closer look, and why.
Your Sight
Let’s start with the senses that so many of us take for granted until problems start to pop up. Regular eye exams can detect issues early, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. More importantly, eye tests can reveal underlying health concerns like diabetes, glaucoma, or high blood pressure before symptoms appear. If you notice any changes in your vision at all, or find yourself straining to read, or even experiencing frequent headaches that don’t have any explanation, then it’s time for a checkup. You don’t have to already wear glasses to be concerned with your eye health. Your eyes can change as you age, so a periodic appointment every now and then can help you stay on top of it.
Your Hearing
Just like your eyes, your ears tend to be at risk of gradual decline as you get older. In fact, changes to your hearing are significantly more common than changes to your vision. What’s more, it can often take a while to notice changes to your hearing as they happen gradually. By the time you’re able to notice them, it could be a sign that your hearing health has changed significantly. Regular hearing tests help identify early signs of hearing loss, allowing timely interventions such as hearing aids or measures to protect your hearing, such as using earplugs or being mindful of the volume you set your audio devices to. Left unchecked, hearing difficulties can lead to isolation, miscommunication, and even cognitive decline over time.
Your Teeth
While we should all care about our teeth in order to protect a bright and shiny smile, that can be the least of your worries if you let dental issues linger. Pain, infections, and eventual tooth loss can affect your quality of life a lot. Dentists recommend check-ups at least twice a year to remove plaque, check for cavities, and screen for gum disease. Poor oral hygiene has been linked to conditions like heart disease and diabetes, making those dental appointments more important than many realize. Typically, the sooner that you get your teeth checked out, the better, as what might require a filling to fix now might later require a root canal if, for instance, decay is allowed to reach the deeper part of the tooth.
Your Heart
Of course, there’s nothing more important to your overall health than your heart. Given how tirelessly it works, it’s important to keep an eye on things like your blood pressure, cholesterol, and heart rate, in order to catch issues like cardiovascular disease and hypertension, even when you’re not showing symptoms. Your heart health is usually a routine part of your annual physical, but a visit to your local cardiology unit might be recommended for tests such as a thorough screening, including an electrocardiogram or a stress test. If you have any chronic conditions, then you need to be extra vigilant when it comes ot your heart health. As heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, it’s always worth the effort.
Your Reproductive Health
Another aspect of our health that is often overlooked unless we notice something out of the ordinary, you should consider checking in on your reproductive health to prevent any complications, especially if you’re considering trying for a baby. For women, gynecological visits are essential for screenings like Pap smears, breast exams, and monitoring menstrual or hormonal health. For men, urological exams check prostate health, testicular health, and fertility concerns. These kinds of appointments also offer a great chance to talk about your sexual health, including contraception and family planning, with a professional. No matter what stage of life you’re at, there’s nothing wrong with making sure that you’re informed and doing what you can to take part in such a major aspect of your overall health.
Your Mental Health
While many of the points above might have focused specifically on your physical health, it’s worth looking at what’s considered the other side of the coin. However, that is often a poor estimation of how important mental health is and how closely it’s connected to your health across the board. Aside from affecting your relationships and mood, issues like stress, anxiety, and depression often affect your physical well-being, as well. Regular mental check-ins, be it with a doctor, a therapist, or even by practicing good mental health habits alone, can help you keep things in check. Early support makes a big difference in preventing small issues from becoming overwhelming. Just as you’d see a doctor for a persistent cough, it’s important to seek help if you feel constantly low, anxious, or disconnected.
Your Bones
Definitely not a part of health most think to check on a regular basis, as we age, bone density becomes a lot more important. Our bones naturally lose bone density, and lower levels increase our chances of issues like osteoporosis, fractures, and mobility issues later in life. Regular bone density screenings are recommended for women over 50 and men over 65, but there are other factors, such as smoking, regular alcohol consumption, and certain medications that can accelerate it, so it’s important to be aware of the risks, as well. There’s a lot you can do to support bone health, from improving your diet to taking supplements and doing weight-bearing exercises.
The areas mentioned above might not require an annual check, like your general health does, but that doesn’t mean they can be ignored. If you’ve never made the appointments above, then you should consider making your first, so your providers can give you an idea of how often you should be coming back.
