AT Home with Dr Chris Steele - September 2011 - (Page 28)

eglecting your health when you’re rushed off your feet with work or the kids is easy to do, but these simple tests can uncover an abundance of potentially life-threatening illnesses that may otherwise go undiagnosed. So get down to your doctor and put your health to the test straightaway. WHO? Adults aged 40 and over, especially if there’s family history of heart disease. WHEN? At least once a year. Cholesterol is a type of naturally occurring fat: too little of it and your body will struggle to function properly; too much of it can cause build-up in your arteries. Your total cholesterol should be under 5.17 mmol/l, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), which is good cholesterol, should be between 1.04mmol/l and 1.56 and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), which is bad cholesterol, should be less than 2.6 mmol/l. N 1 6 TESTS TO SAVE CHOLESTEROL BOTH THE NHS AND PRIVATE HEALTH CENTRES OFFER ALL IN ONE HEALTH TESTS FOR ADULTS AGED 40 TO 74 SAVE TIME WHO? Women aged between 25 and 64. WHEN? Every three years for 25 to 49, and every ﬁve for over 49s. A staggering 2,900 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer in the UK each year, making regular smear tests imperative. The screening checks for abnormal cells that may result in cancer at a later stage. Women between the ages of 25 and 49 are invited to partake in the tests once every three years, with women aged 30 to 39 at highest risk. It’s a common preconception that it’s only women under 35 that need regular smear tests, but this isn’t the case: a recent study by UK researchers found that such tests do pick up abnormal smears in women over 50, with two-thirds of abnormalities picked up in women who, in their 40s, had negative results. It is estimated that early screening can prevent up to 75% of cancer. 028 | SEPTEMBER 2012 2 CERVICAL SCREENING 3 WHO? Everyone, adults more regularly. WHEN? Once a year. Monitoring your blood pressure is crucial for keeping on top of your body’s health: around 350 people a day have a heart attack or stroke due to high blood pressure, when blood pressure is one of the quickest and simplest things to test for. Using a device which covers your forearm with a cuff and a pump, your doctor (or the device itself) will give a reading. This is recorded with two numbers: the top reading measures when your heart pumps (or contracts) and the bottom number refers to the pressure when your heart relaxes. High blood pressure is 140/90, while healthy blood pressure should be 115/76. BLOOD PRESSURE

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AT Home with Dr Chris Steele - September 2011

EDITOR’S LETTER
A DOCTOR’S WELCOME
NEWS UPFRONT
SAVE THE DATE
A SENSITIVE TOUCH
UNDER THE HOOD
CELEBRITY HEALTH SECRETS
THE BIG INTERVIEW
TV HIGHLIGHTS
WHAT A MARVEL
OUCH, THAT HURTS
A HAPPY HEART
WAVE GOODBYE TO SMOKING
EYE SEE!
AN EARFUL
THE LOWDOWN ON DIABETES
HARD TO STOMACH?
GUT REACTION
ARTHRITIC AND UNDER 30?
SHRINK ME
FIGHTING FIT
BREAST CANCER
BOOST YOUR BONE DENSITY
TRYING TO CONCEIVE?
VEIN HOPE
ON THE BALL
CAN HE BREAK HIS PENIS?
TIME FOR A TOP UP
ULTRA SWIFT SUPPERS
SO, YOU THINK YOU’RE EATING RIGHT?
GLUTEN-FREE FOODS ON TEST
AGE-PROOF YOUR FACE
PEARLY WHITES
COSMETIC SURGERY
COMING SOON
TOP HEALTH TIPS
WORK WELLNESS
DON’T SWEAT IT
PLANNING AHEAD
STAYING MOBILE
LAST WORD

AT Home with Dr Chris Steele - September 2011