Why Is Going For Your Annual Exam Important?

Every 50,000 miles a car needs an oil change to stay in top condition. While it is up on the lift they do a bit of an inspection to let you know if anything is out of the ordinary. It is tempting to let an oil change go but you know that you are in for trouble if you do. The same goes for an annual exam, you know you should go but it is very tempting to put it off. Why would you take care of your car better then you take care of yourself?

A routine check-up is an opportunity to see the doctor when you are well. Many things can be detected early when the doctor is giving you a once over and not focused on something that is ‘broken’. Some people actually like the annual exam because it confirms that you are as healthy as you feel. Many people feel they get more out of an exam if they come with a list of questions. During the weeks before jot down any question that come to mind and bring the list. It is pretty easy to forget things when you are in a paper gown.

If you have been skipping your exam here is a quick list of what may be checked:

·         Blood pressure

·         Heart rate

·         Breathing 

·         Resting temperature

·         Memory and mental quickness

·         Skin and extremity health

·         Throat and tonsils

·         Teeth and gums 

·         Ears, nose, sinuses, eyes, lymph nodes, thyroid

·         Nerves, muscle strength, reflexes, balance, are all checked

·         Gender dictates some specific checks.

·         Depending on the last time you had it; cholesterol, colorectal screening, and a few other blood tests might be ordered.

Getting a benchmark on all these stats yearly help show a pattern of your personal normal health that is very important if you ever do become sick. A year over year review can also show things that sneak up on you like a mole that has gotten bigger so slowly you never even noticed.

The theme of an annual exam should be prevention. This is the time that you and your doctor should discuss not just how to prevent further deterioration but how to get MORE HEALTHY. Each of us is in a different place physically and mentally but there is always room for improvement. Take the opportunity to ask the doctor what they recommend for improving your health, they might be pleasantly surprised at the question since so many people are just looking for status quo.

While you are scheduling your annual physical exam don’t forget an appointment with the eye doctor and any other specialist you are supposed to check in with. If this is a chore for you, schedule a treat to look forward to. Even if it is not a chore, scheduling a treat is good for you too. Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Interesting Infographic about Diabetes in America

Source: http://dailyinfographic.com/diabetes-by-the-numbers-infographic

Noah the Caregiver

By Dr. Vicki Rackner, MD 

You may have heard the story of Noah, the one-legged homing pigeon.

Heʼs a permanent resident of the Wild Rose Rescue Ranch.

Noah recently showed an interest in three 6-day old orphaned bunnies brought to the ranch. He repeatedly looked into the bunny cage and event slept in front of the cage door.

The vulnerable bunnies were under close observation. Imagine the surprise when the staff found only two bunnies in the cage. Noah moved a bit, and there--under his wing--was a tiny bunny sound asleep.

They speculate the bunny slipped through the cage to rest in Noahʼs soft feathers. Now, they’re all together, and all doing great. When the bunnies scoot underneath Noahʼs feathers, he carefully extends his wings to surround them. When one of them moves, he gently nudges them back, He even coos them to sleep.

Noah is an unlikely caregiver. Sometimes sources of support for aging parents or bunnies come in surprising packages!

The bunnies have since been released. Noah continues to help with other rescued babies, although bunnies seem to be his favorite. You can keep up with Noah on his Facebook page.

The Importance of Senior Centers

For seniors who have retired and enjoy their retirement years in the comfort of their homes, a senior center can be a strong form of socialization. Senior centers offer social benefits, emotional benefits and in some ways financial benefits. When it is hard to see how a community can justify maintaining a senior center or you find it hard to locate a volunteer opportunity, consider these important benefits of senior centers in the community.

Emotional Benefits

Seniors who attend senior center activities on a regular basis are shown to have better emotional health. The senior center offers an escape from lonely homes, lonely lives and isolation. There are also volunteer efforts to offer seniors counseling free of charge a community centers. These small efforts make large and lasting impressions within the community.

Social Benefits

Socialization is vastly important to happy senior living. Seniors who participate in senior center activities enjoy being around other seniors, sharing stories and participating in community activities. With the volunteer efforts of community members, seniors who would normally be isolated are offered the chance to maintain friendships and create new ones.

Financial Benefits

This is probably the most important of the unspoken senior center benefits. Senior centers generally offer services from 8 in the morning to 6 in the evening. This means that if a senior wants to spend their day at the center they could receive two to three meals, beverages, free health evaluations and other benefits that would normally be far outside of their monthly budget. Just two meals per day and the chance to socialize with friends offers many seniors benefits beyond measure.

Fighting Alzheimer’s Stigma

It can be difficult to open up about challenges in your life. Sometimes you don’t want to share something private with the world. Other times you’re going through denial, and talking about it would make it real. But then there’s the fear of stigma.

When it comes to Alzheimer’s, that’s often what keeps people quiet, points out an article at the website for Norwalk, CT, newspaper The Hour. Both people with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers go through this, but some are fighting their way out of it. Opening up, letting family, friends and colleagues know what’s happening and loosening the chains of denial is a liberating decision. Nine times out of ten, people find that almost everyone knows someone affected by Alzheimer's and has experiences to share. This openness is necessary to fully understand symptoms, learn about lifestyle changes and bring relief and support to caregivers.

In the article, one man with Alzheimer’s shares his story of opening up. Still in an early stage of the disease, he was able to teach others about it and advocate for early diagnosis and for research funding.

Another man whose wife had Alzheimer’s finally told his clients and co-workers so he wouldn’t have to lie if he had to change his schedule. “It was the right thing to do,” he says. “In fact, several co-workers opened up to me about family and friends with Alzheimer’s.”

What about you? If you’ve dealt with a difficult diagnosis, have you told friends and co-workers about it? How did that go? How did you feel? If you haven’t told anyone, why not?