Your Guide To Preventive Healthcare by Irina

your doctor.

- Colorectal cancer screening (fecal occult blood test,

sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy)

Who needs: Everyone 50 and over; earlier for those at high

risk.

How often: Occult blood test annually; sigmoidoscopy every

5 years or colonoscopy every 10 years.

Comments: Digital rectal exam and X-ray with barium enema

may also be done. Medicare now pays for colonoscopy.

- Prostate cancer screening (prostate specific antigen, or

PSA, test; and digital rectal exam, or DRE)

Who needs: Blacks and men with family history, DRE and PSA

starting at age 40. For others, DRE, and possibly PSA,

starting at 50.

How often: DRE annually; PSA on professional advice.

Comments: Usefulness of PSA screening for all men remains

controversial.

- Thyroid disease screening

Who needs: Women 50 and over; those with high cholesterol

or family history of thyroid disease.

How often: On professional advice.

Comments: Routine screening remains controversial. Talk to

your doctor about risk factors.

- Chlamydia screening

Who needs: Women 25 and younger, if sexually active.

How often: Annually, or more often.

Comments: Men and women of any age who are at risk for STDs

(chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV) should be tested.

- Glaucoma screening

Who needs: People at high risk: those over 65, very

nearsighted, or diabetic; blacks over 40; those with sleep

apnea or family history of glaucoma.

How often: On professional advice of eye specialist.

Comments: Many eye specialists advise screening all adults

every 3-5 years, starting at age 39.

- Influenza vaccine

Who needs: Everyone 50 and over, people with lung or heart

disease or cancer, and others at high risk.

How often: Annually, in autumn.

Comments: Even healthy younger adults can benefit and

should consider getting the shot.

- Pneumococcal vaccine

Who needs: Everyone 65 and over, and others at high risk

for complications.

How often: At least once.

Comments: Effective against most strains of pneumococcal

pneumonia; lasts at least 5-10 years.

- Rubella vaccine

Who needs: All women of childbearing age.

How often: Once.

Comments: Avoid during pregnancy.

There are other important preventive measures not listed

above-the kind of commonsense steps that could save

millions of medical dollars and prevent injury, illness,

disability, and premature death. Here's a checklist:

- Don't smoke, and avoid secondhand smoke.

- Maintain a healthy weight.

- Get regular exercise. Brisk walking for just half an

hour every day can be a big factor in weight control and

in staying healthy.

- Choose a diet low in animal fat and sodium, and rich in

fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat or nonfat

dairy products. Eat at least two servings of fish a

week.

- Keep alcohol consumption moderate: no more than one

drink daily for a woman, two drinks for a man. If you

are a heavy drinker, seek counseling, and cut back or

quit.

- Do self-exams of your breasts or testes, as well as

skin.

- Fasten seat belts, see that kids ride in proper

restraints, and obey the law. Drive sober and

defensively.

- Brush and floss to prevent dental disease.

Someday there may be one magic test that will accurately

detect anything and everything. Until then, this guide may

be useful in making the right healthcare decision for

yourself and your family.

(C) by Irina 2003.

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About the Author:

Irina helps people save money on healthcare and create

steady stream of residual income working from home

http://www.megaone.com/hbb/savemoney/

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BIO:

Irina helps people save money on healthcare and create
steady stream of residual income working from home
http://www.megaone.com/hbb/savemoney/

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