If you have a New
Year's resolution of improving your health, you may want to consider a few
medical screenings to expedite the process. Many of these screenings can catch
a health problem in the early stages, allowing you to take care of it fast.
Medicare Osteoporosis Screening
If you feel like
you're not as tall as you once were, it may not be your imagination.
Osteoporosis and other problems with bone mass can cause you to shrink up to
two inches per year. When you see your doctor, ask about comparing your vital
statistics from 2017 to see if there are significant changes.
Blood Pressure
A blood pressure
check takes less than one minute and can help your doctor monitor your risk for
stroke, kidney failure, or heart attacks. Blood pressure will often change
gradually, so performing this screening annually can help you compare your
numbers from previous years and catch any unusual patterns.
Cholesterol
As with blood
pressure, cholesterol numbers may sneak up slowly, making this a good test to
have performed every year. Not all cholesterol is bad, however. Your doctor
will check both your HDL and the LDL levels.
HDL
High-Density
Lipoprotein, or HDL, cholesterol is known as the "good" cholesterol.
You want this number to be at least 60, as this particular cholesterol destroys
the "bad" cholesterol. The more HDL you have, the lower LDL you'll
likely have.
LDL
Low-Density
Lipoprotein, or LDL, cholesterol is the cholesterol you don't want. This is the
fat which sticks to your arteries. You'll want this number to be lower than 120
if you have no other risk factors for heart disease. If you have risk factors,
you want it to be less than 100.
Dental Screenings
If you don't have
much risk for gum disease, you may be able to have this performed once during
2018. If you have a history of periodontal disease, you'll want to see a
dentist every six months. You'll want to see a dentist for more than just
dental hygiene, however.
Dentists are able to
catch early signs of oral cancer and infections which may cause severe health
problems down the road. You can find more information on what dental expenses Medicare covers here.
Cancer Screenings
From mammograms for
women to testicular screenings for men, annual cancer screenings are essential
for those over the age of 65. They take little time and can provide early
warning signs of cancer, allowing you to start treatment as soon as possible.
Vision Checks
Annual eye exams can
help detect problems such as cataracts as well as glaucoma, allowing you to see
clearly for years to come. In addition to preventing complications such as
blindness, annual vision checks can help prevent falls and the associated physical
damage which can occur from them.
Hearing Check
An annual check of
your hearing can catch signs of hearing loss at an early stage, allowing you
opportunities to use hearing aids or other methods of assistance. You don't
want to miss your grandchildren singing their favorite songs or talking to you
on the phone, so make sure you can hear them clearly.
Diabetes
A yearly check of
your blood sugar can detect signs of pre-diabetes as well as signs of Diabetes
II. Untreated diabetes can cause kidney failure as well as blood flow problems,
so early detection and a healthy diet is key to treatment.
Mental Health
In addition to your
physical health, it's a good idea to have a mental health screening performed
in 2018. Issues such as depression, anxiety, and mood disorders are not limited
to young adults. Screening and treatment can help you enjoy your retirement years
without the weight of mental health problems weighing you down. Staying up to date on Medicare and mental health coverage is crucial.
Cognitive Ability
In addition to
mental health, it's a good idea to have a screening to check your cognitive
abilities. From memory to intelligence, you want to ensure your mental
abilities are not declining with age. This screening can provide early
detection of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
You're young enough
to enjoy your retirement years. Consider taking advantage of these screenings
to keep your body and mind healthy for as many years as possible.
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