You will never find an
article about sports or physical fitness that doesn’t make a recommendation re:
having a good physical examination before starting. I know, it is difficult to think about health
screening before you get sick, but this is what preventive medicine is all
about. The idea is to learn how to take
care of yourself before something catastrophic happens. When you make the decision to start an
exercise program you need to factor in time for a physical exam.
David Lipschitz, MD, PhD
(the author of “Breaking the Rules of Aging,”) wrote a brief article for the
Herald (Tuesday, October 13, 2009) suggesting that everyone needs a
comprehensive medical exam after the age of 50.
If you have fallen off from the health care wagon but are thinking of
playing a sport or embarking on an exercise program, perhaps now is the time to
do it right.
A healthy 50 year old needs
a complete physical every two years, but from the age of 60 and upwards, it
should be at least annually. Even so, it
is up to you to prepare for your exam.
The information that you give will tell your doctor everything about
your state of health and spell out which risk factors to screen for.
Complete your questionnaire
carefully and be honest about any symptoms that you may have that would suggest
an underlying problem. A complete
physical will take 40-60 minutes so allow plenty of times. Blood tests and
other examinations will complete the process and if indicated a follow up visit
may be necessary to discuss the results of any tests. Counseling and referrals are next and your
doctor will educate you in regards to setting up a wellness program. You will want to discuss any changes that you
are planning on making in regards to weight, exercise, smoking, or medications
before embarking on program. Probably, the best information that you can give
your doctor, is to let him/her know that you are serious about taking care of
yourself and that you want to do everything possible to avoid illness.
For many of us, especially
as we get older, starting a formal activity program is not only beneficial but
literally life saving. Activity and
exercise go hand and hand and are essential for optimal health and independent
living. A sedentary lifestyle increases
your risk of obesity, heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and chronic
diseases. The good news is that you will
benefit from even a moderate increase in physical activities and that the
things that you do which include: stop smoking, exercising regularly, losing
weight, eating a healthy diet, preventing falls and getting medical screening
will make a difference. You can make the choice to age successfully.
This is a very well written article, I can't believe I'm the first to post about the importance of a fitness program
.
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Thanks for your community contribution, I appreciate it :-D
+Max Letni
Posted by: Max Letni | March 30, 2010 at 05:52 AM