Get a Check Up!

May 4, 2011 –

So this is a little bit of a public service announcement, but given this is a blog about health and fitness, it is an important message. If you haven’t had a physical recently, GET ONE! One of the things that woke me up to the trend I was heading down was seeing my cholesterol numbers. Granted they were not horrible and completely in the red, but they were the worst they had ever been in my life.

I just had another physical in November of last year and saw that my cholesterol was the best it had ever been in my life. You can reverse the trend! I had my blood work done last month when I had another wellness exam. (I am lucky enough to have a company come into my workplace.) The good news is that my cholesterol got even a better than last time.

So, why is it that most of us don’t get a wellness exam?

1) Isn’t the doctor someone you only go to when something goes wrong?

2) I’m tough! I don’t need no stinkin’ doctor!

3) Who has the time? You wait an hour for a 20 minute checkup!

4) Ignorance is Bliss! Many of us don’t want to know if something is wrong with us.

By going for a wellness exam, you are exercising preventative care. This is so critical. How many times have we heard someone say that they were so happy they “caught it early”! In addition, similar to my example above, you establish a set of data for yourself. How are you doing from year to year? Not only with diet and exercise, but stress and other external factors. Talking about these things will allow you to develop a report with your doctor. It is important to feel comfortable with your doctor so you can open up and be honest with them. The more information you are able to provide your doctor, the more they can help you.

This concludes my public service announcement. When was the last time you had a physical? Get on it people. Call tomorrow!