Adult Preventive Care
Your choices about exercise, food, smoking, alcohol and yes,
checkups can have a big impact on your health. Making healthy
choices and seeing your doctor or other health care provider can
help you stay well. Over the next couple of months we will be
providing you with some great advice from health care providers.
I’m not sick, so why
see the doctor?
Even if you feel fine or
are very busy, it’s important to see your doctor. It’s about living
well.
Your checkup is a chance
to get help with changes in diet, exercise or tobacco use that you
want to make. It is also a chance to take tests (screenings) that
are likely to catch illness early. And that’s when treatments work
best.
When to have a checkup
(preventive screening):
Adults of any age need
to see their doctor or health care provider often enough to obtain
recommended screenings and shots, talk about risk factors (and how
to reduce risk) and bring up other concerns. There is no one
schedule that fits everyone. The best plan is follow the
recommendations by your doctor.
Adults need shots, too
Talk with your doctor
about the shots you may need to prevent disease.
-
Tetanus/diphtheria
booster, recommended every 10 years
-
Flu shot, recommended
every year between October and March for anyone who wishes to reduce
their risk of getting the flu. This is especially important for
anyone in a high-risk group
-
Hepatitis A, Hepatitis
B, Varicella (chickenpox) and/or other vaccines, sometimes
recommended, depending on health history
-
Pneumococcal vaccine to
help prevent pneumonia, usually a one-time vaccine at age 65 or
older; also recommended for people under 65 depending on heath
history
Blood pressure: A new,
lower normal
Research shows that
blood pressure needs to be lower than what we used to think. Doctors
now know that blood pressure of 120/80 mmHg or higher increase the
risk of heart attack, heart failure, stroke and kidney disease.
The updates guidelines
include a new category called “pre-hypertension,” with readings from
120/80 to 139/89. Blood pressure in this range is a strong warning
sign. It means you don’t have high blood pressure now, but you could
later unless you make lifestyle changes. A blood pressure of 140/90
or higher (hypertension) is dangerous. You need to see your doctor –
soon.
|
Results |
Category |
What to do
next |
|
Less than 120/80 |
Healthy (OK) |
Continue healthy
choices. Get checked at least ever 2 years |
|
Between 120/80
to 139/89 |
Pre-hypertension
(warning) |
Make new healthy
choices and talk with your doctor. Get checked at least
every year |
|
140/90 or more |
Hypertension
(danger) |
See your doctor
soon |
High blood pressure,
which often has no symptoms, can be treated and controlled. Some
people need medication. For others, lifestyle changes are
enough. If your results show pre-hypertension, talk to your
doctor. Losing weight, eating healthy, getting more exercise,
limiting salt and alcohol, quitting smoking and controlled
stress can help.
Look for more Adult Preventative Care advice in the April
newsletter.
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