Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NLT)
This blog originally posted: February 15, 2010
Some people might find this as a big surprise, but I LOVE Valentine’s Day. Really, I do. I used to get very sad and disappointed over it in my younger days because I never had a Valentine but as I got older and became a mom, I began to see the day as a day to reflect on how much I love the special people in my life-my children, parents, siblings, niece and nephew and friends. This year I decided, the best gift of LOVE that I can possibly give to my family...especially my children... is the gift of a clean bill of health.
We (grandmothers, mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts etc,) always make sure that every one around us is well but we always seem to neglect ourselves. If one of my children even looks like they might not be feeling well, it’s off to the doctor we go! If I see one of my parents wincing in pain, I am immediately concerned and encouraging them to make a doctors appointment to have it checked out. However, I can’t even remember the last time I went to the doctor because I wasn’t feeling well. Why is that? Ladies, if you are anything like me, we have got to do better! We have to get to get healthy and stay healthy not just for us but for our loved ones as well. I don’t know about you but I want to be around for a long, long time. Not only do I want to get Fit by Forty but I also want to be Fabulous by Fifty, Sensational by Sixty...etc! I want to see my children grow up and I want to see my grandchildren grown up....but I don’t want to be a burden to them because I neglected my body, failed to take care of myself and affected my health as a result.
So this month, I would like to challenge all of us (yes, self included) to get ourselves checked out. I am guilty of being the type of person when it comes to preventive medicine who believes...the less I know the better I am. I also tend to “ignore” little signals that my body gives me that something might be wrong. Now that I am almost 40, I realize that is just my fear getting the best of me. I am slowly but surely falling into the mindset that it’s best to get it checked out and if necessary, get it treated. Most diseases or illnesses can be treated and cured if detected in its early stages and the only way that it can be detected is through medical screenings by a qualified medical examiner. So, this month, if you are like me and haven’t done so already, let’s have those screenings done and get things checked out. Let’s all be able to give our family members (and our selves) the assurance that we are all in good health.
Health experts from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force have made recommendations, based on scientific evidence, about testing for the conditions below. Talk to your doctor about which ones apply to you and when and how often you should be tested.
Obesity: Have your body mass index (BMI) calculated to screen for obesity. (BMI is a measure of body fat based on height and weight.) You can also find your own BMI with the BMI calculator from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute at: http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/.
Breast Cancer: Have a mammogram every 1 to 2 years starting at age 40.
Cervical Cancer: Have a Pap smear every 1 to 3 years if you:
Have ever been sexually active.
Are between the ages of 21 and 65.
High Cholesterol: Have your cholesterol checked regularly starting at age 45. If you are younger than 45, talk to your doctor about whether to have your cholesterol checked if:
You have diabetes.
You have high blood pressure.
Heart disease runs in your family.
You smoke.
High Blood Pressure: Have your blood pressure checked at least every 2 years. High blood pressure is 140/90 or higher.
Colorectal Cancer: Have a test for colorectal cancer starting at age 50. Your doctor can help you decide which test is right for you. If you have a family history of colorectal cancer, you may need to be screened earlier.
Diabetes: Have a test for diabetes if you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
Depression: Your emotional health is as important as your physical health. If you have felt "down," sad, or hopeless over the last 2 weeks or have felt little interest or pleasure in doing things, you may be depressed. Talk to your doctor about being screened for depression.
Osteoporosis (Thinning of the Bones): Have a bone density test beginning at age 65 to screen for osteoporosis. If you are between the ages of 60 and 64 and weigh 154 lbs. or less, talk to your doctor about being tested.
HIV: Have a test to screen for HIV infection if you:
Have had unprotected sex with multiple partners.
Are pregnant.
Have used or now use injection drugs.
Exchange sex for money or drugs or have sex partners who do.
Have past or present sex partners who are HIV-infected, are bisexual, or use injection drugs.
Are being treated for sexually transmitted diseases.
Had a blood transfusion between 1978 and 1985.
I have scheduled my health check appointments (yearly physical and mammogram) and I hope that if you have not done so already, you will do the same. In fact, why not do it today...right now? We ALL have got to get fit by my fortieth birthday! ~smile~
***On a side note, I realize that not everyone is blessed to have health insurance that will cover these exams. Please don’t let this hinder you from getting the tests that you need. There are many health clinics and organizations that will perform these tests for free or at a significant discount. If you are in need of any of these services, leave a comment and I will post the links for resources in your area.
In Christian Love, SashaMy next blog will post on Monday, July 19th....until then be healthy!
Tuesday's Blog: Maria "Life Unscripted"
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