Let's get (A) physical. (Executive Health Package).DARRYL ADAMS VISITED HIS DOCTOR annually. But when he was confronted with two personal tragedies, he became more proactive in monitoring his health. "I [recently] lost a close friend to lung cancer. And my father was recently diagnosed with the disease," says the 37-year-old operations manager for Verizon in Albany, New York For other uses, see Albany. Albany is the capital of the State of New York and the county seat of Albany County. Albany lies 136 miles (219 km) north of New York City, and slightly to the south of the juncture of the Mohawk and Hudson Rivers. . In both cases, the cancer wasn't detected until chest x-rays were administered. Adams has since stepped up his physical exams to twice a year, requesting chest x-rays, an EKG EKG: see electrocardiography. , and a stress test if he senses anything unusual. He realized that routine exams don't necessarily find everything. "When you go to a doctor's office, you have to be an advocate for your healthcare," reiterates Los Angeles-based gynecologist gynecologist /gy·ne·col·o·gist/ (-kol´ah-jist) a person skilled in gynecology. gy·ne·col·o·gist n. A physician specializing in gynecology. Dr. Lewis Wyatt. "Don't be afraid to ask questions." Your doctor will determine testing and frequency by your age, health habits, employment (because of stress levels), and personal and family medical history. Wyatt suggests annual metabolic screening, which includes a complete blood count, urinalysis, and, for those who are sexually active, testing for STDs. Additional testing will be driven by symptoms, age, and illness. men * Blood pressure * Heart lung and abdomen exam * Temperature * Height and weight * Pulse * Cholesterol and lipid tests * Blood profile * Urine analysis * STD/HIV blood test * Breast exam * Immunization immunization: see immunity; vaccination. shots * Thyroid function * Stool guaiac guaiac /guai·ac/ (gwi´ak) a resin from the wood of trees of the genus Guajacum, used as a reagent and formerly in treatment of rheumatism. * Digital rectal exam * Colonoscopy * Bone density * Blood glucose * Cardiac stress testing * PSAs (prostate-specific antigen test Prostate-Specific Antigen Test Definition Prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, is a protein produced by the prostate gland that may be found in elevated levels in the blood when a person develops certain diseases of the prostate, notably prostate cancer. ) * Bladder scans * Eye exam women * Blood pressure * Heart lung and abdomen exam * Temperature * Height and weight * Pulse * Cholesterol and lipid tests * Blood profile * Urine analysis * Pap smear * STD/HIV blood test * Breast exam * Immunization shots * Mammogram mammogram /mam·mo·gram/ (mam´o-gram) a radiograph of the breast. mam·mo·gram n. An x-ray image of the breast produced by mammography. * Thyroid function * Breast ultrasound * Stool guaiac * Digital rectal exam * Colonoscopy * Bone density * Blood glucose * Cardiac stress testing * Bladder scans * Eye exam |
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