Healthcare Basics
Your birthday can act as a reminder for your annual physical, vision exam and dental checkup. A fasting blood-sugar test at least once every three years can alert you early to diabetes and high-cholesterol issues. Stepping on the scale helps point out a slower metabolism through weight gain, and checking blood pressure helps identify hypertension. An annual check of any moles or unusual skin spots can detect skin cancer early. Women need pelvic exams and Pap tests every one to three years, especially if sexually active, to guard against cancer and disease. Over age 50, they also need a mammogram to detect for breast cancer and a thyroid hormone test every five years. Both sexes at that age also need annual rectal exams to screen for colon cancer and, for men, prostate cancer. Its also a good idea to get an annual flu shot, and a tetanus booster shot every 10 years.
Recently Answered
- Q What is chronic illness?
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A chronic illness or condition is one that develops slowly and persists for a long time. Heart failure is almost always a chronic illness. Full Answer
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- Q Are generic and brand name drugs different?
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Dr. Michael Roizen, Internal MedicineGive me a C! C! Give me an O! O! Give me an S! S! Give me a T! T! What does that spell? COST! Generic drugs are almost exactly the same as brand-name drugs, only less expensive for the same medications. Some medications are not yet generic -- they are... Full Answer
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- Q Why is preventive healthcare important to Americans?
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Seeing your doctor for routine preventive care can help identify health problems before you know something’s wrong, which is often when treatment could make the most difference. During your doctor visit, your physician will talk through your... Full Answer
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- Q How do I make the most out of my diabetes healthcare team?
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Your diabetes care provider may already use a team approach and may already be in contact with other team members. If they are not already in touch, make sure all team members know about everyone else on your team. Ask your health care team to consult... Full Answer
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- Q What is the role of a pharmacist in diabetes healthcare?
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Stacy Wiegman, PharmacyA pharmacist can play an important role for people with diabetes, for instance by helping them choose and learn to use blood sugar monitoring devices and other diabetes supplies. A pharmacist can also be an ongoing resource for questions about diabetes... Full Answer
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- Q What role do doctors and healthcare providers play in the PPARx program?
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Healthcare providers play a crucial role in spreading the word that patients in need can get free or nearly free prescription medicines. Doctors, nurses, and other health care providers can also log on to PPARx to get information on patient... Full Answer
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- Q How is hospice different from other types of healthcare?
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There are many things about hospice care that set it apart from other types of health care. A team of professionals In most cases, an interdisciplinary health care team manages hospice care. This means that many interacting disciplines work together to... Full Answer
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- Q What kind of preventative healthcare should I consider?
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Dr. Susan Blum, Integrative MedicineAn annual checkup by a Functional Medicine physician will give you the best look “under the hood”. Our annual blood work is more thorough and we have better ways to evaluate your risk of developing cancer, autoimmune or cardiovascular... Full Answer
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- Q How can I make the most of my visit with my healthcare team?
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First, plan ahead. Write down on paper all the questions that you want to ask the team. It is too easy to forget your questions if you don't write them down. Also bring along a pencil or pen to write down the answers. If you're prepared, the visit is... Full Answer
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- Q How should I manage my healthcare if I don't have insurance?
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Taking care of yourself is crucial. Exercise and proper nutrition will assist in achieving your best possible health state. Taking advantage of community health fairs is a great option for obtaining education on the prevention of... Full Answer
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