Health Checks – Making Health a Priority

The Importance of Regular Health Check-Ups: Making Health a Priority

Looking after your health is essential throughout your life, building a strong foundation to prevent chronic illness and carry you through to old age. Regular health checkups are a part of this process, enabling the early detection and prevention of health issues, and it is important to schedule and attend these as part of your healthcare management. Some health checks will be offered by your local surgery or pharmacy and some will require a referral to a specialist.

Serious conditions can be detected by regular health check ups and they are also a great opportunity to learn to maintain your health and prevent problems from developing. Here at Gray’s Pharmacy, we offer a range of health services including diabetes testing, weight management and ostomy care. If you have a specific condition, you will find that your health checkups will be regular and you will usually be offered a range of specialist services. However, having a regular health check is not only a good idea if you have a diagnosed condition, but it can be a vital way to flag up potential issues and find out how to prevent problems from developing.

Health Checks You Need

Looking after your health means keeping up with essential health checks and working with professionals to make lifestyle changes if this is suggested to benefit your health. For instance, a weight management/BMI check in our pharmacy is a great way to check whether you are overweight or obese and we can do a simple BMI test for you. Once we have calculated the results, we can discuss these with you offer dietary advice and suggest supplements and products that may help you to achieve or maintain a healthy weight.

We also offer a blood pressure measuring service, whereby you can simply call in and have your blood pressure checked if you are concerned. If you smoke are overweight or do little exercise, you should have your blood pressure checked at least once per year. If your pharmacist finds that your blood pressure is high, they will recommend that you make an appointment to see your doctor to find out the cause and discuss management or treatment to help.

We recommend that you attend or carry out the following healthcare checks regularly:

• Regular checkups. An annual check-up or physical examination is a good idea to monitor your overall health and well-being and to highlight any potential problems as early as possible. If a problem with your health is picked up early, it is much more likely to be treated easily and successfully, so prevention is a crucial benefit of regular checkups.
• Cholesterol levels. A high cholesterol level can indicate serious health problems, including cardiovascular problems and stroke, and monitoring your cholesterol level can be a good way to keep track of your baseline health. If you have a high cholesterol level, we recommend a diet that includes plenty of fresh fruits, nuts and fatty fish, and avoids excessive amounts of red meat, full-fat dairy products and fried foods.
• Eye examinations. Eyesight often changes with age and seeing an optician regularly can help to detect vision problems and eye diseases. You may be entitled to help with the cost of eye tests and glasses, and you can consult your pharmacist or doctor if you are concerned about your eyesight or that of a family member.
• Dental checkups. Maintaining your dental health is extremely important for your teeth and can also flag up important medical issues that other services may miss, such as cancers of the throat and mouth. You should see your dentist at least once a year and have regular appointments with a dental hygienist to keep your teeth and gums clean and healthy. It’s a good idea to take your children with you to your checkups so that they get used to the process and do not develop a fear of the dentist.
• Cancer screenings. If you are offered routine screening appointments due to your age, gender or family history, these can be very helpful in catching warning signs of developing problems and resolving these quickly. Breast cancer, cervical cancer, prostate cancer and colon cancer can all be screened for, and this can be a life-saving service, especially for those who are at higher risk.
• Bone Density scans. Osteoporosis is a common condition that develops with age and can affect bone density and lead to a higher likelihood of fractures. Bone density scans can help to detect osteoporosis early, which can give you the chance to build up your bone health with dietary changes and regular exercise. If you are at risk of low bone density or related conditions, you will likely be offered regular bone density scans already. However, you can discuss these with your doctor if you feel that this may be relevant for you.
• Skin check. You can regularly examine your skin at home and consult a doctor, pharmacist or dermatologist if you notice any unexpected changes. Changes that might cause concern include scaly patches, sores, unusual moles or growths or lumps in the skin. You can incorporate regular checks into your personal care routine, checking yourself in the shower or after a bath, for instance, and you will soon become aware of any changes that occur.
• STI testing. If you are sexually active with one or more partners and have not had a recent STI test, it is a good idea to book in with your doctor or a sexual health clinic. If you have any symptoms of STIs, do not be tempted to ignore them as many STIs carry long-term health complications and can cause irreversible damage to your body.
• Mental health. It may seem more difficult to monitor mental health than physical health and this is often why mental health is neglected. You can take the time to regularly assess your mental well-being, perhaps discussing this with friends or family members, and seek help as soon as possible if you are experiencing stress, anxiety or depression.

As well as these tests, blood tests to determine your iron level, thyroid function and other specific factors can be carried out regularly if needed, and you can talk to your doctor or pharmacist at any time if you are concerned about your health or that of a family member.

Get to know your Healthcare Providers

Building good relationships with your healthcare providers will help to ensure that you feel comfortable asking for advice when you need it and that you develop a knowledge of your own body and your well-being. Our experienced team of Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians can work with you to offer health checkups and lifestyle management tips for you and your family, including dietary advice and support in setting up a regular exercise regime.

If you are hoping to improve your well-being and are booking regular health checkups, you may also be interested to know that having a good social support network can benefit your physical and mental health. It can be a good idea to get together with friends to exercise and spend time in nature, both of which have a very positive effect on your health. You may find that joining a group or club for a new sport or hobby is a good way to meet new people, and if there is not a group you fancy in your local area, you could set one up, by yourself or with friends. Keeping your brain agile with puzzles and challenges is another fun way to benefit your well-being, and we will be happy to discuss this with you when you pop into our pharmacy.

Healthcare Products To Support Your Wellbeing

Here at Gray’s Pharmacy, we know that caring for your health makes all the difference to your well-being and our mission is to support our local community with lifelong healthcare. We have an excellent range of products for all ages, including healthcare, personal care and beauty. We can advise you on healthcare queries for every member of the family, from infants to the elderly, and we are always happy to discuss any healthcare questions you may have.

Our experienced pharmacists are on hand to help you with a range of services, including medication management and health screenings, and we can provide tips and advice on making lifestyle changes that will benefit your health. We are an approachable and friendly team of experienced professionals and we are here for you and your family. You can shop online and have your products discreetly delivered to your door, or pop into our community pharmacy in Castletroy, Limerick for all your healthcare needs.