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ARTICLE FOR INDEPENDENCE PRESS HEALTH ISSUE September
2000 IS
IT TIME TO BRING YOUR BODY IN FOR A TUNE-UP? Most automobile owners know that the moving parts of
their car need to be checked on a regular basis to ensure the health and
longevity of their vehicles. Unfortunately,
many car owners take better care of their cars than they do their bodies.
Just as oil should be changed and belts and hoses
checked regularly, we have parts that, if examined regularly, can be made to
last a long time and function well. In
this article, I'll focus on early detection of problems in the fuel pump
(cardiovascular) and unsuspected rust (cancers). One of the major preventable diseases that we face is
heart disease. The most
important preventable cause of heart disease is smoking.
Nicotine and other substances in cigarettes cause serious blockages in
blood vessels, which causes heart attacks and stroke (not to mention lung
cancer, emphysema, etc.). So, if
you currently smoke, you need to stop now.
If you don't smoke now, don't start. We know that a diet high in saturated fats (e.g. red
meats, cheese, deep fried foods, etc.) causes blockages in blood vessels.
A diet high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can Just as rust, if not detected early, can destroy your
car, an undetected cancer can do the same to your body.
Fortunately, many of the common cancers can be diagnosed early and
treated effectively. For women,
regular mammograms can pick up most breast cancers when they're still small
enough to be completely treated. For men, regular prostate exams and blood tests can pick up
early, treatable prostate cancers. For
men and women, regular stool tests and sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy can pick up
pre-cancerous growths called polyps. These
polyps can be easily removed, which prevents them from becoming a tumor. The suggestions listed in this article are just a few
of the many things you should review with your doctor.
For a more complete list of recommendations, please refer to our web
site, www.NewProvInternalMed.com. So, bring yourself in for a tune-up!
It will help to keep you running for another 15,000 miles. |