The path to a healthier, more fulfilling life starts with knowing where you currently stand in terms of your overall health. Having a complete physical exam with comprehensive blood work is a good starting point.
Takeaways from your Doctor’s Visit
While your physician will be quick to point out the things that are of medical concern, don’t expect to get a whole lot on preventive strategies or proactive ways to enhance wellbeing. Sure, you will hear the benefits of losing weight, if you are overweight, or quitting smoking and making diet modifications if they are a concern, and exercise is often mentioned if you are sedentary. But that’s probably the extent of it–nothing specific in terms of how you might go about changing your lifestyle. Why? Because it’s complicated and difficult and beyond the brief time you have with your healthcare provider.
The information that you do get from your annual exam is crucial in beginning the wellness journey. There are also other assessments you can take to determine your health status, such as lifestyle assessment questionnaires. Some can be found on the internet and at no cost. They will provide your “health age” compared to your chronological age and will offer additional suggestions for improving your wellbeing. There are also assessments to estimate your lifespan, or how long you have to live, and one to determine the probability of developing dementia. While these assessments are very basic and lack rigorous science, they provide more data and possible incentives for changing your lifestyle.
Understanding your Genetics
Genetic testing has opened a world of options for revealing our predispositions for developing illness and disease. It’s beyond the scope of this article to recommend these options or to list the sources available. I personally have not had genetic testing, and I probably never will. However, I do consider my family history of illnesses and the chance that I might develop them.
On my mother’s side, there is a strong history of colon cancer. My mother was first diagnosed at age 75 and had two major surgeries to remove tumors. Three of her six siblings also had colon cancer. On my father’s side, there is a history of diabetes. My father, brother and older sister all had type 2 diabetes. Another area of illness is dementia, and my older siblings have all experienced various stages of the disease.
Managing your Risk Factors
I’ve thoroughly researched these conditions to determine the best strategies for avoiding them in my lifetime. I started colonoscopies at the age of 40, and have had the procedure done every 5 years since then. Every exam shows no sign of the disease, not even polyps. I attribute this success to a high fiber diet, especially breakfast, and avoidance of highly processed foods, choosing fresh fruits and vegetables daily. I keep diabetes in check mostly through a healthy diet and a very vigorous exercise routine. I like to follow the 80/20% rule when it comes to diet – eighty percent of the time I eat healthy, highly nutritious foods and 20 percent of the time I indulge. I do like my Italian food, ice cream and chocolates. So far this balance is working for me, but as time goes by, I know I might have to modify it further.
Dementia is something that only recently has become a concern. I don’t have early signs of the disease, although I do have minor lapses in memory from time to time that could be part of normal aging. I believe that exercise is also a major way of avoiding or delaying the onset of the disease, and I keep my mind active through reading a wide range of topics and learning a new language.
The important thing to know about genetics is that we have a predisposition for certain illnesses – however, research shows that we can significantly alter the influence of these factors through a wellness lifestyle.