How often do we think back on illnesses or conditions that have affected ourselves or loved ones and wish that we’d spotted a sign sooner? There certainly isn’t any harm in getting to know your body a little better so that you can keep an eye on your own health.
Being able to recognize when something isn’t quite right means that you’ll be able to flag things up to a medical professional in good time, which could certainly do you some good in the unfortunate event that there is something serious at work. Here are a few things to consider doing more regularly to feel more comfortable in your everyday health.
Simple things you can do at home
- Stay attentive while cleaning your teeth. You do it every day, so it can be easy to switch off – but the fact that you get a good look at your teeth every day means that you should be able to spot when something doesn’t look right. Keep those eyes open when you’re looking in the mirror and consult a dentist if you spot something that seems amiss.
- Check your skin. Take some time to get to know the layout of your skin, including your various moles and birthmarks. If you ever spot a mole that you haven’t seen before, or see something different about an existing one, it could be a sign of skin cancer.
- Monitor your weight. You don’t need to have any particular goals in terms of gaining or losing weight for it to be a good idea to monitor your weight. A sharp drop in weight could be a symptom of depression or other conditions, so being wise to changes could empower you to reach out when you need it.
Don’t wait to consult the experts
- Get regular eye tests. This is an especially sensible decision if you wear contact lenses or glasses but it’s handy for those who don’t, as well. Small changes in vision might be hard to notice when they occur gradually but a professional can help to identify any issues.
- Get a check-up from your GP. There are some things that you can’t reasonably do at home, or without specialist medical knowledge, so it’s wise to visit your GP every now and then even outside of an emergency. They can help you to check for lumps and bumps as well as keep an eye out for signs of vulnerability to heart disease, diabetes and other more serious conditions.
There’s no shame in being proactive when it comes to your health; you won’t regret taking the extra time now and then.
