The Medical Checkup Book

Description

Written by experts and packed with user-friendly information and practical lifestyle advice, this is the ultimate guide for anyone interested in their health. Knowing which health checks and tests to get when can prevent illness and problems, and even save your life. This easy-to-use guide explains all the common health tests so that you can understand and manage your well-being. When you've had a physical, how often do you understand what the results really mean for your health and your lifestyle? You've probably heard of good cholesterol and bad cholesterol, but what does that mean? And what can you do if you're told your bad cholesterol is high? Why are there two figures to show your blood pressure? Is weight gain hereditary? Be proactive in managing your health by learning more about how it is measured. Discover what factors influence medical tests, and what lifestyle changes you can make to keep fit and healthy for longer. Explore the variety of tests and screenings you may undergo at a doctor's or workplace health assessment - find out what is tested, why it is tested, and what the results mean. The Medical Checkup Book is the only visual guide to explain all common medical tests and what preventative measures you can take to minimize the risks and maximize your health. CONTENTS......Page 4 Introduction......Page 6 MONITORING YOUR HEALTH......Page 9 Why monitor your health?......Page 10 Environmental and personal factors......Page 12 Behavioral factors......Page 14 Types of health check......Page 16 Medical checks......Page 18 DIY health checks......Page 20 GENERAL ADULT TESTS......Page 23 Body weight......Page 24 Your heart and circulation......Page 26 Measuring blood pressure......Page 28 What your blood pressure reading means......Page 30 Checking your heart rate......Page 32 Measuring your heart’s rhythm......Page 34 Exercise electrocardiogram......Page 36 Echocardiography......Page 38 Abdominal aortic aneurysm scan......Page 40 How breathing works......Page 42 Chest X-ray......Page 44 Measuring peak flow......Page 45 Spirometry......Page 46 Lung volume......Page 48 Exercise capacity......Page 50 Blood oxygenation......Page 51 The roles of blood......Page 52 Giving a blood sample......Page 54 Blood count......Page 55 Checking blood glucose......Page 56 Checking blood cholesterol......Page 58 Other blood tests......Page 60 Checking for allergies......Page 62 Your digestive system......Page 64 Screening for bowel cancer......Page 66 Testing for H. pylori......Page 68 Abdominal ultrasound......Page 70 Liver blood tests......Page 71 How your kidneys work......Page 72 Urine analysis......Page 74 Testing kidney function......Page 76 The male reproductive system......Page 78 Checking for infections......Page 80 Checking the testicles......Page 82 Checking the prostate......Page 83 The female reproductive system......Page 84 Testing for pregnancy......Page 86 Checking for infections......Page 88 Pelvic examination......Page 90 Colposcopy......Page 91 Checking for cervical cancer......Page 92 Checking for breast cancer......Page 94 Your skin......Page 96 Checking your skin......Page 98 How the eyes work......Page 100 Testing vision......Page 102 Testing for astigmatism......Page 104 Color vision test......Page 105 Checking your eye health......Page 106 Testing visual field......Page 108 Measuring eye pressure......Page 109 How the ears work......Page 110 Testing your hearing......Page 112 Tympanometry......Page 114 Mouth and teeth......Page 116 Dental checkup......Page 118 Your skeleton......Page 120 Your muscles......Page 122 Flexibility, posture, and gait......Page 124 Core stability testing......Page 126 Muscle strength and endurance......Page 128 Your nervous system......Page 130 How your nervous system works......Page 132 Testing coordination and balance......Page 134 Testing sensory nerve pathways......Page 136 How your mind works......Page 138 Dementia testing......Page 140 OPTIMIZING YOUR HEALTH......Page 143 Vaccinations......Page 144 A healthy diet......Page 146 Adapting your diet......Page 148 Alcohol, tobacco, and drugs......Page 150 Keeping fit......Page 152 Exercise for special groups......Page 154 Safeguarding your bones and muscles......Page 156 Keeping your skin healthy......Page 158 Ear health......Page 160 Eye health......Page 161 Sexual health......Page 162 Psychological health......Page 164 OTHER TESTS AND YOUR RECORDS......Page 167 Other medical tests......Page 168 Health screening options......Page 176 Vaccination record......Page 178 Weight record......Page 180 Blood pressure record......Page 181 Health checks record......Page 182 Index......Page 184 Acknowledgments......Page 192