Your life is busy, and it’s hard to squeeze in acute doctor visits, let alone preventative care. But routine preventative care can save you time and money in the long-run, and may decrease your chances of developing a life-altering health condition.
If you’ve vowed to begin taking better care of yourself in 2010, make sure you’re up-to-date on the following health screenings.
- Cervical cancer: Check-up every 1-3 years while sexually active, depending on doctor recommendations.
- Pap smears: Once a year until at least three in a row are normal. Then, once every 2-3 years.
- Colorectal cancer: Ages 50 and older should undergo a colonoscopy once per decade, or a sigmoidoscopy every five years.
- Blood pressure testing: At annual physicals, and more often if hypertension is present.
- Mammogram: Every 1-2 years for women 40+.
- Cholesterol/lipid screening: Annually for men 35+ and women 45+ with heart-disease risk factors.
- Osteoporosis screening: Annually for women over the age of 65.
Depending on your family history and existing health concerns, your physician may recommend additional screenings–or more frequent screenings. Discuss necessary testing at your annual physical, and remember to follow through on each of your doctor’s recommendations. While it’s healthy to keep tabs on your body, preventative care can also give you much-needed peace of mind.
Trying to lose weight? Try working on your sex life. According to Dr. Laura Berman, Feinberg School of Medicine clinical assistant professor of obstetrics-gynecology and psychiatry, “Sex is good exercise.” Berman says that sex raises the heart rate and improves aerobic capacity–even if it’s not “particularly acrobatic.”
“Sex is a form of exercise, especially if you incorporate different positions,” she says in an interview with WebMD.
In addition to the calories burned during an intimate tryst, you’ll often find that your post-sex mood is improved, as well. Like other aerobic activities, sex causes the body to release endorphins–which are natural mood enhancers and pain relievers. “These are hormones in the body similar to morphine,” says Professor Horace Fletcher from the University Hospital of the West Indies.
And there’s even more good news. A 2008 study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons found that obese men reported improved sexual function after losing weight through gastric bypass surgery. “We estimate that a man who is morbidly obese has the same degree of sexual dysfunction as a non-obese man about 20 years older,” determined the study authors.
So what are you waiting for? Isn’t it time to add “rekindling sex life” to your list of 2010 resolutions?
While you may begin your New Year’s goals with the utmost resolve, that resolve may begin to fade within a month or so. Remember, though, that embracing a new lifestyle is possible when you possess motivation, perseverance—and a deep desire to change.
While it may not be the first thing that comes to mind, “better sleep” is frequently found on the lengthy list of most-popular New Year resolutions. That’s probably because many Americans burn the candle at both ends, rising early for work and falling into bed late after attending to household commitments and hectic family schedules. Everyone’s tired, and no one seems to know what to do about it.
So in 2010, make it your goal to sleep well. Not only will you feel rejuvenated, but studies show that adequate sleep may also help you lose weight. A review of insomnia studies published in the journal, Sleep, found that sleep deprivation increases hunger hormone output, reduces the body’s “fullness” signals and can lead to unmanageable carb cravings. In fact, the Sleep study indicated that people who get five or fewer hours of sleep per night are 55 percent more likely to be obese than those who snooze for 8+ hours at a time.
“When you don’t get enough sleep, it drives leptin (a fullness hormone) down, which means you don’t feel as satisfied after you eat. Lack of sleep also causes ghrelin (an appetite stimulant) to rise … so you want more food,” says Michael Breus, PhD and director of the Sleep Disorders Centers of Southeastern Lung Care in Atlanta.
So this year, a few changes are all you need to sleep better—and longer. Try the following tips to prepare your body for the slumber it needs.
- Establish an evening routine to let your body know that sleepy-time is near. Have a cup of tea, enjoy a warm bath, read a book or snuggle on the couch.
- Keep your room chilly rather than stuffy. You’ll get optimal sleep when your body’s core is cool and your room is kept at 60 to 68 degrees.
- Address health concerns that are preventing healthy sleep. Conditions like restless leg syndrome, anxiety, narcolepsy and apnea can lead to nighttime disruptions, so it’s important to discuss these issues with your physician.
- Avoid drinking alcohol before bed. While it may relax you at first, it causes frequent waking and sleep disruptions later in the night.
- Darken your bedroom with blackout blinds, especially if you’re sleeping after a night shift. Sunshine queues the body to become active, so blocking it may help you sleep deeper and longer.
For more information about the link between quality sleep and weight loss, visit WebMD’s Healthy Eating and Diet section.
Like many other people, you may be fearful of actually committing to New Year’s resolutions. When the threat of failure or uncertainty looms, it’s often easier to avoid defining your personal goals.
If you’ve been considering weight loss surgery for health or cosmetic reasons, the dawn of 2010 is a great opportunity for a body—and life—transformation. At Barker Bariatric, we’re here to provide you with comprehensive weight loss surgery information so you can make an educated, fearless decision about your health. With that in mind, here are responses to some common concerns about bariatric procedures.
- What if I undergo sleeve gastrectomy, laparoscopic or open gastric bypass surgery and STILL don’t lose weight? Most gastrectomy and bypass patients lose a projected 60 to 75 percent of their weight. The surgeries are safe and reliable, and Dr. Barker has performed over 2500 procedures.
- What if I regain all of my weight after surgery? While there’s no guarantee that you won’t gain back some or all of your weight after surgery, our team of specialists can help you prepare for the lifestyle changes required to ensure your surgery is a long-term success. If you’re committed to improvements in your health and well-being, you’ll typically experience success.
- I’m terrified of needles. What if I’m not brave enough to have REALIZE or LAP-BAND surgery? The needle used to fill your band is very small, and band fills are not painful. Let us know, though, if you’re scared of needles. We can coach you through the procedure or recommend appropriate relaxation techniques. Don’t let needle apprehension stop you from making a healthy decision.
- Aren’t gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy invasive? It’s true that bypass and sleeve surgery are more invasive than banding procedures, but they may be the best fit for your health situation. When conducted by knowledgeable, experienced physicians, the benefits of weight loss surgery far outweigh the risks of obesity-related health problems.
At Barker Bariatric, we’re happy to answer your surgery questions—and help you get 2010 off to a great start. To schedule your personal weight-loss consultation, call 1-888-OneDrBarker today. We wish you health and happiness in the year to come.
