MAN Magazine Winter 2019
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HEALTHY LIVING<br />
CHECK IT OUT<br />
CHECK-UPS ARE LIKE THE HU<strong>MAN</strong> VERSION OF<br />
A ROAD VEHICLE MOT... MOST PEOPLE ENSURE<br />
THEY GET THEIR CAR SERVICED; BODYWORK, AND<br />
ENGINE, BUT DO WE ALWAYS MAKE IT TO THE GP<br />
FOR A CHECK-UP OF OUR OWN BODY AND SYSTEMS?<br />
T<br />
he body works as a ‘whole’,<br />
and does its best to work<br />
to keep us fit, healthy and<br />
well, by showing us the<br />
warning signs... for example, signs, in the<br />
form of pain, or a rash may be present<br />
in one area of the body, but pointing to<br />
a condition in a different location that<br />
may need addressing, such as a tingling<br />
on the extremities (fingers), which can<br />
be a symptom of diabetes, (a disease<br />
where glucose levels are too high in the<br />
blood and the body is not able to use it<br />
properly).<br />
With check-ups, you can help to<br />
prevent disease and disability, and avoid<br />
any unnecessary stress. It is important<br />
that we are as body aware as possible, so<br />
we can recognise the physical signs that<br />
may require further investigation...<br />
What happens at a General<br />
Health Check? A ‘general check’<br />
is carried out to assess overall<br />
health. These checks assess risks,<br />
and can prevent development of<br />
conditions or diseases with early<br />
intervention.<br />
Where do I go? Ask your local<br />
healthcare provider or family<br />
doctor. The NHS offers different<br />
points for people to have checkups<br />
including some libraries<br />
and even mobile units. Find a<br />
location near you, using this link:<br />
http://www.nhs.uk/Service-<br />
Search/NHS-Health-Check/<br />
LocationSearch/1891)<br />
What does it entail? What does<br />
it entail? The check usually includes<br />
blood tests, being weighed, having<br />
your height taken, and answering<br />
lifestyle and health questions; it<br />
72<br />
looks at various areas, including<br />
heart disease, stroke, diabetes,<br />
kidney disease and signs of<br />
dementia. In the UK, the NHS<br />
offer a thirty-minute free check;<br />
other countries vary in the service<br />
offered; some countries charge<br />
for a health check, but it is still<br />
important to have these checks if<br />
you are living or staying abroad for<br />
several months, especially if you<br />
are at risk due to lifestyle choices<br />
such as smoking, or because of an<br />
inherited condition that may not<br />
show any obvious symptoms.<br />
What do Blood Tests show?<br />
There are many substances in the<br />
blood, and tests show if the levels<br />
of these substances fall within the<br />
‘normal’ range. (Normal is based<br />
on factors such as age, race, and<br />
gender.) The most common reasons<br />
for blood testing is to check levels<br />
of glucose, cholesterol, and for<br />
Full Blood Test (FBT), but there<br />
are many things that a blood test<br />
can detect, i.e. liver function, and<br />
genetically inherited disorders. It is<br />
important to remember that blood<br />
tests can detect certain conditions;<br />
they can also rule them out and so<br />
can give peace of mind.<br />
Where do I go? Visit your GP<br />
surgery, local hospital, or private<br />
specialist practice, and you can<br />
be tested by a doctor, nurse or<br />
phlebotomist (a specialist in taking<br />
blood samples).<br />
What does it entail? Depending<br />
on the type of test, it could be a<br />
small finger prick taken by a nurse,<br />
or a series of tests, it is important<br />
to adhere to the preparation<br />
instructions of the blood test, and<br />
maybe take somebody with you:<br />
Some tests require you to fast, and<br />
others may take several weeks to<br />
get results. Blood tests are taken<br />
by inserting a special needle in a<br />
specific way into a vein, usually the<br />
inside of the elbow, or wrist, and<br />
extracting a small amount of blood<br />
(3 to 10 millilitres), directly into a<br />
tube or syringe. A covering or small<br />
plaster is usually placed over the<br />
area after the test and you may<br />
have slight bruising.<br />
Why do I need a Prostate<br />
Check-up? A prostate check-up or<br />
exam is needed if you are at higher<br />
risk of prostate cancer, or if you<br />
are showing symptoms including<br />
increased and urgent urination.<br />
These symptoms are not just cancer<br />
related, but signs of enlarged<br />
prostate or urine infections too;<br />
Prostate Cancer UK states that ‘Most<br />
men with early prostate cancer don’t<br />
have any symptoms’.<br />
Like other cancers, prostate cancer<br />
can spread to other parts of the<br />
body, and can cause weight loss,<br />
pain in the back, hips or pelvis.<br />
‘In the UK, about 1 in 8 men will<br />
get prostate cancer at some point in<br />
their lives. And you’re more likely to<br />
get prostate cancer if you’re aged 50<br />
or over, you’re black, or your father<br />
or brother has had it.’ (Prostate<br />
Cancer UK)<br />
‘Early detection and early<br />
treatment is vital to surviving male<br />
cancer.’ (Male Cancer Research<br />
Campaign)<br />
Where do I go? Ask your doctor/<br />
GP for a test, and when they give<br />
the results they can advise on what<br />
to do next, including referring you<br />
to a specialist if needed. Ask your<br />
doctor the risks and benefits of<br />
screening before you are tested.<br />
What does it entail? There<br />
are several tests that need to be<br />
taken before prostate cancer can<br />
be diagnosed. Some tests are<br />
carried out in order to rule out<br />
other conditions; a urine test is<br />
done to check for urine infection.<br />
<strong>MAN</strong> MAGAZINE WINTER <strong>2019</strong><br />
sevenstarmedia.co.uk