We must prioritise our health more as we age. Exercising, eating right and getting enough sleep is great for ensuring a healthy life for the years ahead but self-examinations are vital too. At home monitoring will assist you to identify hidden health issues. The following 10 health checks are easy to do in your own home and will give you peace of mind and control of any future potential risks.
10 Health Checks You Can Monitor At Home
1. Skin
Dermatological examinations are easy to do and should be done frequently. Skin cancer can develop from new or altered moles. A little research can help if you’re unclear on how to do a skin checkup. Some tips can help you through the procedure step by step. Using a full-body mirror allows you to readily evaluate all parts. If you have any concerns about a mole, see your doctor right away. They will advise you on your next steps.
2. Body Mass Index (BMI)
Inflammatory diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes can be exacerbated by a high body fat percentage. So keep a healthy body fat percentage. Your immune system will be weakened and your bones will become fragile with high BMI percentages.
BMI is used to determine how much body fat is required for a healthy lifestyle. Weight, height, and sex will be used to calculate this. It’s best to do some study before determining your BMI for the first time. There are also apps and scales now that will estimate your BMI for you.
3. Gums
The impact of gum health on overall health is often underestimated. Gum disease is a severe health issue for persons of all ages. Gum disease is connected to heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. When brushing and flossing at home, look out for bleeding, foul breath, receding gums, and loose teeth.
It is imperative for your health if you can recognise these indicators early. You can save your teeth and head off any subsequent health issues from gum disease if you treat early and properly. You should see your dentist if you detect any of the aforementioned symptoms.
4. Nails
Your fingernails and toenails might reveal a surprising amount about your health. How, then? They can show signs of disease if they change colour, shape, texture or growth. If your nails are pale, you may have liver illness, heart failure, or anaemia, among other conditions. Dark lines under your nails can indicate melanoma, a dangerous form of skin cancer. There are many resources online and they can help you identify any red flags that may need a doctor’s attention.
5. Pulse Rate
A major cause of death for both men and women is heart disease. You can perform a simple self-examination at home to assess your heart health and wellbeing. Placing the first two fingers of one hand on the base of the wrist of the other hand will check your pulse. Ten seconds of counting your pulse, then multiply by 6. In a healthy person, the pulse rate should be 60-100. If you test multiple times outside of that range, it could mean you have a cardiovascular issue. See your doctor ASAP as early diagnosis is vital to prevent more damage.
6. Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is the force of circulating blood on the walls of the arteries. For the most part, your blood pressure is constant. However, when relaxing it may go down and when exercising or when stressed, it can go up. An increase in the resting blood pressure can scar, stiffen, or harden the arteries. In time, that can cause heart attacks, stroke, heart failure, vision loss, kidney failure, and dementia.
But at home monitoring can aid in early detection and there are many things you and your doctor can do to lower your blood pressure and prevent serious complications.
Check your blood pressure in the morning and evening to gauge your normal resting rate. Compare it to this chart and if you have any concerns, contact your doctor.
7. Oxygen Level
Oxygen in your blood helps replace worn out cells, provides energy for your body, supports your immune system functions and more. A low blood oxygen level may be a sign of poor circulation and lung issues. A normal blood oxygen level is 95% or higher. You can monitor your own blood oxygen level with a fairly inexpensive finger monitor at home.
There has been an increased awareness of blood oxygen levels in the last two years as a reading below 94% can be an early sign of a virus infection. Also, a reading below 90% may indicate sleep apnea. Monitoring yourself at home is a great way to make sure you are healthy and make you aware when it may be time to consult a doctor.
8. Glucose Level
You can easily monitor your blood glucose levels at home. Monitors are available at pharmacies to purchase. They will help you learn how to use it and what levels you should watch for that may need to be conveyed to your doctor.
If you are experiencing increased thirst and urination, sudden weight loss, fatigue and increased appetite, you may have a high blood sugar level. A high blood sugar level can indicate that you have diabetes or it may be a symptom of another health issue. Either way, prolonged high blood sugar levels damages your nerves, blood vessels, tissues and organs. It can also lead to heart attack, stroke, vision loss, and kidney damage.
9. Eye Health
One of your most vital senses is your eyesight. We must do all we can to safeguard their well. Keeping an eye on conditions like cataracts and glaucoma will help you avoid blindness and visual loss in the long run. But how can you do a home eye check? There are several ways to do this.
Primarily, an online eyesight chart. Tape the chart to a wall ten feet away and sit ten feet back. Read each line while covering one eye. Repeat on the other eye. If you think you may have any problems book eye exam online.
10. Breast Self Exam
Regularly examining your breasts for changes, discolourations and lumps can help you detect issues early. Breast cancer treatment has come a long way in the last few decades but early detection is still key for successful treatment.
You can learn how to do a breast self exam properly here.
These are all important areas of your health that you need to keep an eye on. Are there any others that you think should be added to the list? Please add them to the comments below.