5 questions to ask the doctor during a checkup

5 questions to ask the doctor during a checkup

Asking the right questions is often the key to clear communication. This works even in the case of routine checks with your physician. Asking questions provides you with the necessary information about your body and overall health. Instead of waiting for the doctor to provide this information, you should proactively ask questions during routine checkups. Keep reading the article to know more about the questions you can ask your doctor.

In addition to mentioning any current symptoms — physical or emotional, you can ask questions to your doctor to know more about your overall health. Listed below are some basic questions you can ask your doctor during a checkup.

Are my vital signs normal?
One of the first things doctors do during routine checkups is checking the vital signs of the patient. This includes blood pressure, temperature, heart rate, breathing rate, and weight. In most cases, these signs can indicate underlying health conditions. Hence, it’s extremely important to ask if your vital signs are associated with health issues.

What impact can family history have on my health?
If you have not updated your doctor with your family history and health conditions, you must report these at the earliest. This can include mentioning critical conditions in first-degree relatives like mother, father, and siblings. Furthermore, second-degree relatives like grandparents, aunts, uncles, and half-siblings may also pose a risk. It thus becomes important to enquire about the possibility of any hereditary issues. Moreover, as a precautionary measure, you can ask for preventive lifestyle modifications, and early signs to keep tabs on the condition.

How do daily habits impact my health?
Eating the right foods helps a person stay healthy. If you add regular exercise to the schedule, it can greatly improve your overall health. However, in case you consume fast food regularly, it may harm your health. Therefore, during a routine checkup, you must review your daily habits with the healthcare professional and assess any room for improvement.

Should I take any supplements?
Nutritional supplements can prove incredibly helpful to stay healthy. Particularly when you are not able to eat certain foods or your tolerance to them is low. The next time you go for a routine checkup, you can ask the doctor about supplements. You can also ask if he/she has any recommendations based on your history.

Are there any screening tests I should consider?
Most patients wait till the time their doctor mentions the need for screening tests such as colonoscopies and mammograms. However, you must consider getting screening tests regularly during routine checkups. This may help in the early detection of certain issues and aid in the treatment. In addition, you should ask about age and gender-specific screening tests to prevent major health issues like breast, colon, and cervical cancers.

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Coping with urges that can trigger a relapse post treatment

Addictions when left untreated can turn into crippling conditions. One can be addicted to smoking, binge drinking, or even shopping. Once addicted, one willfully submits to urges, despite having satisfied them before. However, addictions can be managed and to a great extent treated to full recovery. But, the post-recovery phase is crucial where both the mind and body are put to test and can trigger a relapse. Continue reading to know more about the most common triggers for addictions and how to deal with them.Stress Stress is commonly the root cause of many problems and addictions, both physical and psychological. One can become an addict as a way to manage the stress that may stem from strained relationships or priorities. The best way to avoid a relapse during recovery is to make lifestyle changes that don’t trigger a return to addictions amidst a stressful situation. One can practice mindfulness, engage in relaxation techniques, manage one’s time to avoid stressful situations, and imbibe healthy eating habits and exercise in their daily routine. EmotionsThere is an umpteen number of triggers that invoke a positive or negative emotional response. However, the stress associated with dealing with emotions daily can trigger urges without one even realizing. Often, one turns to a glass of alcohol or relies on prescription medications to put the mind at ease. It is not a permanent solution and prolonged use of these substances can cause more harm in the long run. One must learn and explore productive ways of controlling emotions better to avoid a relapse during recovery. For example, writing and maintaining a journal that contains one’s feelings and thoughts can act as a healthy outlet. Similarly, there are other healthy ways to channel one’s energy and manage emotional responses.Positive conditioningPeople who have addictions such as smoking or drinking may often find themselves in situations where a lit cigarette or a glass of wine can trigger a relapse. This is understandable considering these substances were the primary source of comfort and relaxation. However, with positive reinforcement and reconditioning one can train the mind and curb such urges. Relaxation doesn’t always mean techniques like yoga or meditation, it can also be pursuing your hobby. Counseling for group gatheringsBirthdays, parties, New Year’s events, and any celebration in general call for alcohol consumption and smoking. At times, these could be the very addictions one is recovering from, and in a social gathering, such temptations can be strong. However, a recovering addict should refrain from indulging in any of these as even a taste can turn into a relapse. For instance, a recovering alcoholic must avoid having a single drink as that could put him/her on a slippery slope to relapse. Here, one-on-one counseling can help prepare the mind to resist the urge. It is never healthy for a recovering addict to simply avoid socializing fearing a relapse.

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5 healthy foods that improve lung function

The lungs are one of the most vital organs which support respiratory and cardiovascular functions. Gas exchange, or the process of inhaling and exhaling air, is integral to life as it helps the body receive the oxygen required for various life functions and filter out carbon dioxide. Oxygen is essential for survival; therefore, one must follow healthy nutritional habits that impact lung function. Read further to learn about healthy foods that boost lung function.  Beetroot Bright-colored vegetables have always ranked at the top of the foods deemed beneficial for the lungs. Beetroot boasts excellent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that counter inflammation and prevent oxidative stress from harming lung cells. Beetroot is also packed with nitrates, and when one eats it, the body converts these nitrates into nitric oxide, which has various benefits. It helps relax the blood vessels, enables better oxygen flow, and keeps the blood pressure in check. Assorted berries Berries are the richest sources of antioxidants, especially anthocyanins. Anthocyanins control inflammation in the lungs and prevent mucus from blocking the air sacs to boost respiratory function. Blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries are all rich sources of anthocyanins, among other antioxidants, which boost lung health. Fatty fish Salmon is one of the most favored fatty fish that is easy to digest, low in carbs, and high in nutrients that boost lung health. Salmon contains omega-3 fatty acids that actively prevent inflammation. It also contains vitamin D, an essential compound that actively helps enhance respiratory muscle strength to boost breathing. Including a few ounces of cooked salmon in the meal plan can also prevent flare-ups linked to chronic respiratory disorders. Citrus fruits Citrus fruits like tomatoes contain carotenoids, especially lycopene, which has been proven to boost lung health. Carotenoids help prevent inflammation of the airways and improve breathing. It is a superfood suggested for managing many chronic respiratory disorders mainly due to its potent anti-inflammatory properties, and immunity-boosting vitamin C. Tomatoes can be eaten raw in a salad, pureed, or juiced. One can even include other citrus fruits like oranges to boost the vitamin C intake. Oranges are also a rich source of calcium to help replenish lost nutrition due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Besides, they are packed with lung-friendly antioxidants. Cruciferous vegetables Swiss chard, spinach, and kale are rich sources of carotenoids and vitamins A, C, and E, all of which are essential nutrients for lung health. Antioxidants lower the risk of oxidative stress on lung tissue, while essential carotenoids and phytochemicals prevent inflammation of the airways. Regular intake of leafy greens also helps lower the risk of lung cancer. In addition, leafy greens are an organic source of nitrates that can be converted into nitric oxide to boost the better circulation of freshly oxygenated blood.  Broccoli is rich in sulforaphane, a compound that increases the expression of a specific gene to better protect the lungs from environmental toxins and pollution. In addition, Brussels sprouts, rich in vitamin C, help boost immunity to safeguard the lungs from infections.

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