Resumo de Pocket Guide To Good Health

Checkups, Tests, and Shots
Which Ones You Need and When To Get Them
Checkups and tests, such as vision tests or cholesterol tests, help find diseases or conditions early, when they are easier to treat. Shots (immunizations) protect you from different diseases.
This section gives you information on why and when you may need different checkups, tests, and shots.
Dental, Hearing, and Vision Care
"I keep better track of when my pets need their checkups than when I need checkups myself. I can't seem to remember the next time I need to visit the dentist or get my eyes checked. So I've started to ask my dentist and doctor when I need my next appointment. I write it down in my Pocket Guide to Good Health for Adults."
?Narong P.
Getting the checkups you need for your teeth and gums, vision, and hearing is an important part of your health care. This section tells you how to take care of your teeth and gums and can help you decide whether you need your hearing and vision checked. Keep track of these checkups with your Checkups and Tests Record (PDF File, 21 KB, PDF Help; Text Version).
Teeth and Gums
Here are some simple tips to follow for dental health:

Visit your dentist once or twice a year for checkups.
Brush after meals with a toothbrush that has soft or medium bristles.
Use toothpaste with fluoride.
Use dental floss every day.
Eat fewer sweets, especially between meals.
Do not smoke or chew tobacco products.
Hearing
Hearing loss is one of the most common health problems. Your risk for hearing loss increases after age 50.
How can you tell if you have a hearing problem? Here are some signs:

You may have to strain to hear a normal conversation.
You may find yourself turning up the volume of the TV and radio so loud that others complain.
If you are worried about your hearing, talk to your doctor or nurse. They may suggest a hearing test. Hearing aids can help you hear well.
Vision
People 45 and older have more vision problems than younger people, and the problems are more likely to result in accidental injuries. By age 65, you should have regular eye exams.

What Is Glaucoma, and Should You Be Tested for It?
Glaucoma can lead to vision problems and even cause blindness. Glaucoma is more common in people older than 45 than it is earlier in life.
Early treatment?with medicine, surgery, or both?can prevent or delay the serious vision problems caused by glaucoma.
You are more likely to get glaucoma, and you should see an eye doctor for a glaucoma test, if:

You are severely near-sighted.
You have diabetes.
You have a family history of glaucoma.
You are older than 65 or older than 40 and black.
If you have vision problems, eyeglasses or contact lenses can improve your vision. Doctors also have other ways to improve your vision and prevent you from losing your sight. Be sure to tell your doctor if you are having trouble with your vision.

Tests To Find Diseases or Conditions Early
"Last year, my doctor told me I had high cholesterol. The doctor said to eat the right foods, lose weight, and exercise. I was worried about having a heart attack, but I didn't know where to begin. So I went back to my doctor and talked with her about a plan for taking better care of myself."
?Jaime S.
Many diseases and conditions can be prevented or controlled if they are caught early. This section will help you decide what tests you need and how often you need them. You can keep track of the tests with your Checkups and Tests Record (PDF File, 21 KB, PDF Help; Text Version).
High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure can lead to heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease. It is most common in black persons and persons older than 45.
Being active and eating a healthy diet are two ways you can keep your blood pressure under control. (Go to Eating Right and Keeping Active.)
Some people need to take medicine to keep their blood pressure at healthy levels. If you take medicine, be sure to talk to your doctor about how to takt. Do not skip any doses of medicine.

High Cholesterol
Too much cholesterol can clog your blood vessels and is a major cause of heart disease.
To help lower your cholesterol and keep it at a healthy level, eat the right foods, maintain a healthy weight, and be physically active. (For more information, go to the sections "Eating Right" and "Keeping Active.") Your doctor or nurse may suggest you take medicine to lower your cholesterol.
You should start having your cholesterol checked if:

You are a man 35 or older.
You are a woman 45 or older.
You are a man between the ages of 20 and 35 or a woman between the ages of 20 and 45, and you have other risk factors for heart disease. Other risk factors are tobacco use, diabetes, high blood pressure, or a family history of heart disease.
Most experts recommend checking your cholesterol every 5 years. Your doctor or nurse may suggest you have it checked more often, especially if your cholesterol is too high.

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