Tips for Taking Control of Your Health

By Randi Morse 

As you get older it's important to take control of your health. One of the most important things you can do to stay healthy is to find a physician that you trust and believe in. There are many age-related conditions that can start to appear as you get older. It can be scary to think about the different age-related conditions that might occur as you get older, but if you're an active participant in your health you'll find that you, and your doctor, will be prepared to handle any sort of medical situation that occurs. 

Keep a Journal 

Journaling is great for therapeutic reasons, but it's also extremely helpful when it comes to keeping track of your medical history. When you go to your physician's office, or to a specialist's office, you may be asked a large number of questions about your medical history, including what type of surgeries you've had, when those surgeries were, and what type of injuries and tests and screenings you've had.  If you're like me, you have a difficult time remembering what you did last week, forget about remembering what type of surgery you had 10 years ago. Keeping a personal medical journal is the answer to this problem. This journal should include things like any sort of serious illnesses you've had, a family history, tests or screenings that you've had their results, hospitalizations, and any injuries or treatments you've received as well. Not only will this journal be helpful to your doctor, it may help your family members as well. 

Know Your History 

Knowing your family history is vital when it comes to figuring out what type of conditions you are at risk for as you age. Make sure you have long conversations with close family members while they are still in your life. Find out about any sort of diseases or conditions that seem to run in your family. Things like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer are often conditions that multiple family members are afflicted with. If you and your doctor know what type of conditions you may be predispositioned for, your doctor can keep a close watch for any early symptoms that may show up. 

Regular Checkups 

Finally, make sure you have regular checkups. It's easy to go to the doctor when something is wrong, but going regularly -- once a year or so -- not only allows your doctor to check in on you and screen for any early warning symptoms, it also gives your physician a baseline for your physical health, thereby making it easier for them to see when something is going wrong medically. 

To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Carlsbad, Calif.