As you grow older, your chances of developing a serious disease increase. Three fourths of all adults 65 and over have at least one chronic condition. Some of these diseases are preventable; most are manageable. But you need to know about them before you can manage them.
A friend of mine in his 80’s was having trouble walking. He fell frequently. He was convinced that it was a balance problem, which is regulated by his inner ear. But his inner ears were fine. It was a mystery. Eventually, he was diagnosed with neuropathy, the death of nerves in the feet. He couldn’t feel touching the ground, so he fell.
In his situation, his neuropathy was a result of an advanced case of uncontrolled diabetes, which he didn’t know he had. Why? He hadn’t had a routine physical in five years. He was convinced that he had no problems and therefore didn’t need to see a doctor.
In a routine physical examination, your physician listens to your heart, measures your blood pressure, and may then talk with you about your health and lifestyle. S/He may collect blood and urine samples and hand them to a technician who analyzes the fluids for a variety of metabolites. The levels of the metabolites give hints about your internal health. If you catch problems early, you have a chance to manage them before they get too serious. You can have much better outcomes.
Several years ago, my physician noticed that my iron levels were low. The solution for me was just taking a few iron pills every day. It cured the problem, at least for now.
We discovered that I had diabetes 20 years ago, I changed my diet, exercise, and gradually some of my medications so that it is still under control to this day. I miss eating some sugary foods, but I’ve not yet developed side effects from the disease.
When was the last time that you worked with your doctor on your health?