Do you get your car serviced every year? Many of us do, and if you don’t, you should! We spend time and money getting our cars checked out, either with a service or an MOT, to make sure they are safe to be on the road, and working at their best. This helps us to spot any problems before they become serious. Yet, so few of us pay the same attention to our health. We visit the doctor when we feel seriously ill, or when we’re unsure about something, but a vast amount of us only go if there is something wrong. We don’t just go for regular checks. We pay more attention to our cars health than to our own.
In part, this is because we don’t want to feel like we are wasting our doctors time. We hear a lot about huge waiting times, overworked and underpaid healthcare staff and a massive nursing shortage, and we don’t want to make things worse, and take up valuable time if there’s nothing wrong with us. This is noble, but perhaps a little misguided. Getting a quick check which could spot something before it develops could save not only your life but also the healthcare systems time and money, not to mention the cost of a medical malpractice lawyer if anything goes wrong later.
However, there are also checks that you can do yourself at home. Just remember to see a doctor if you find anything, or have any worries or doubts.
Breasts
Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer and can affect men as well as women. Fortunately, it’s also one of the easiest to detect. Check your breasts by looking for any changes in skin tone, texture and color. Look for any changes to your nipples as well as lumps. Try to fit this into your normal routine so that you don’t forget.
Genitals
There’s a lot that can go wrong with your genitals, from relatively harmless infections like thrush to cancer and severe STDs. Take your time to check for lumps and discoloration, and head straight to the doctor if you have any symptoms like itching or unexpected bleeding.
Bathroom
Everyone has slightly different bathroom habits, and you know your own better than anyone, so if you notice any changes, such as blood, a dramatic change in the color of your urine, or needing the toilet much more than usual, see your doctor.
Weight
Most of us lose and gain weight over the course of our lives. But, if you experience a sudden loss or gain, without dieting or overeating. Or, you are struggling to lose weight despite healthy eating and exercise, it could be a symptom of something else. Usually a thyroid or hormone issue.
Skin
Skin cancer is becoming increasingly prevalent and is something that we should all be watching out for. Get to know your body. Know where all of your moles are as well as any normal tags and bumps. If any of these change, or anything new pops up, head straight to the doctors.
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