Don't wait for your physician to ask you about how your
health is. Do your research and let him
know if you have any concerns or questions.
On a piece of paper records the following information:
Your
age, sex, and ethnic origins.
Review
your family history. Does anyone
have heart disease, stroke, diabetes or other diseases?
If you
have difficulty with diabetes record blood sugar levels over a month. Are
they stable? Fluctuating blood sugar levels over time need to be reviewed
by your doctor. An increase in
medication or a change in medication may be warranted.
Keep
track of your blood pressure. Many
people do not realize that they have blood pressure problem until it's too
late. There is a reason why it's
called “the silent killer”.
Get a
lipid profile done. Discuss
cholesterol levels with your physician.
How good is the good cholesterol?
How bad is the bad cholesterol?
What is your overall profile?
Get
you weight checked. If you're at a
higher than average weight ask your physician if you are at increased
risk. This is a good time to ask
for referral to the dietitian if you need one.
If you
are not a smoker but you live with one find out what you can do to improve
your odds.
Discuss
your stress level. Is it
high? Is there anything you can do
to alleviate or minimize the stress in your life?
If you
plan to increase your physical activity discuss this with your family
physician. If you haven't exercise
for a long period of time you need to know that you are healthy enough to
do so.