For many years, the World Heart Day has been celebrated in September. For many of us it has been a great opportunity to think about our hearts and check whether they are not at risk. Free of charge prophylactic examinations available during various events organized on the occasion of the World Heart Day can also be useful here. This year, our Company once again invites everybody willing to participate in the event to the Marketplace in Kraków, where on 29 September in ASA's tent blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose level will be measured free of charge, and consultations with experts, e.g. a dietician and a physiotherapist, will be available. DJ Wika - the oldest DJ in Poland - will be our special guest; she knows very well how to take care of your heart in the rhythm of the cha-cha.
Prevention does not bite - prevention helps to save life
For most of us a visit at the doctor's office is necessary evil, and we decide to consult a doctor only when our body starts giving us some alarming signals. We tend to ignore prevention, although it helps us to detect anomalies in the initial stage of a disease and enables us to undergo effective treatment. This mistake may cost you your life.
We work hard for a long time for many diseases, in particular those of the cardiovascular system. Unhealthy diet, insufficient physical activity, smoking, drinking alcohol, stress or chronic fatigue lead to biochemical and physiological disorders in the body, and consequently - to high blood pressure, overweight, lipid disorders or impaired glucose tolerance. As a result, extremely dangerous cardiovascular system diseases develop, which are the most frequent causes of death in the world in the 21st century. Unfortunately, very often treatment starts only after a myocardial infarction or a cerebral haemorrhage. It may be too late then.
When should we have medical examinations?
If we are healthy and have no family history of hereditary disease, it is worth - at least once a year - having basic laboratory tests, such as blood cell morphology, ESR, sugar level, electrolytes, urea, creatinine, cholesterol level, and a general urine examination. Such general blood test results are extremely helpful in the diagnostics of many various diseases, including the most dangerous ones. We should also remember to ask our family doctor for the interpretation of the test results - in spite of appearance, the Internet will never be a substitute for a specialist!
The frequency and type of other examinations depend on our age, gender, family history of hereditary disease, and lifestyle. Smokers should at least once a year have a chest X-ray and a spirometry test measuring lung function. People aged 35 and more are at a higher risk of heart and cardiovascular system diseases, therefore they should have their first resting ECG and start regular blood pressure measurements. People aged 40 and more, both men and women, should have a fecal occult blood test (the large intestine cancer), a visual acuity test and intraocular arterial pressure test (glaucoma), a bone density test (osteoporosis, the risk of which increases rapidly in men aged 65 and more, and in women after the menopause). Men at this age should also visit a urologist in order to start preventive testing for prostate and testicle cancer. Just like women aged 20 and more should have breast self-examination once a month, so men should have a testicular self-examination to check whether their testicles are not enlarged, painful or nodulous. Women are advised to visit a gynaecologist at least once a year and to have a cytological test in order to prevent cervical cancer (the test frequency depends on their age and belonging to high-risk groups). Women aged 49 and more should also have mammography every two years.
We should not forget about visiting the dentist - it is recommended to have our teeth checked and tartar removed once every six months.
Prophylactic examinations, in spite of appearance, are neither strenuous nor expensive, and their importance for the quality and length of our life is tremendous. Therefore, do not wait any longer and plan them today.
* The article was written as part of the "Heart Strength" preventive programme implemented by the Prof. Z. Religa Foundation of Cardiac Surgery Development: www.silaserca.pl