Check-ups to Consider: Primary Health Concerns for Older People

By Your Health Magazine

As we get older, our health will – naturally – start to decline. As it stands, 9 out of 10 Americans will develop at least one chronic health condition by the time they reach the ripe age of 80.

If we want to intercept these issues and keep our health in the best shape possible as we age, we need to perform regular health checks with our primary healthcare practitioners.

But which health check-ups should we be ticking off at our doctor’s appointments?

Let’s discuss.

Blood Pressure

Getting older? Keep an eye on your blood pressure. A blood pressure test can be performed by a nursing practitioner – one who has completed the requisite agpcnp programs, for instance.

Why should you do this regularly? Checking your blood pressure can help screen for hypertension. The result of having hypertension? You could be an increased risk of experiencing a stroke or heart attack.

If you’re experiencing unusually high blood pressure, your nurse or doctor may recommend that you take medication to lower your blood pressure and minimize the risk of developing hypertension.

Bone Density

Our bone density is also affected as we age. Specifically, our bones become thinner, weaker, and more frail. This means that they can break and fracture more easily.

Weak bones? This could be a sign of osteoporosis. It could also indicate that you need to up your intake of calcium and vitamin D supplements to help thicken up and strengthen your bones again. You may also need to be prescribed medication if your bone density levels become too low.

Cholesterol Levels

If you have high levels of cholesterol in your blood, this could be life-threatening. Why? Studies have shown that high cholesterol is killing people. Most concerningly? Many of these Americans didn’t even know they were at risk in the first place.

This can all be prevented by regularly performing cholesterol checks – every 4 to 6 years, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC also advises that as high cholesterol levels don’t necessarily display obvious external symptoms, they can go undetected. For that reason, you need to integrate cholesterol screenings into your regular checkups at the doctor’s office.

Kidney Function

Your kidney function can be checked with a simple blood test. Checking regularly could help prevent kidney disease. In America, the proportion of patients presenting with kidney disease is growing at an alarming rate: as many as 35.5 million Americans have kidney disease.

If you’re keen to avoid becoming one of these statistics, be sure to check up on your kidney function before it gets too late.

Screen for Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is a killer. For older adults – especially males over 50 – the risk of death by melanoma increases as we age, due in part to extended exposure to the sun’s harmful UV rays.

To avoid becoming a skin cancer fatality, ensure you get regular skin screenings. These can be performed by a dermatologist or other skin specialist, and will often involve obtaining a biopsy of a section of your skin to send it off for testing. In some cases, a melanoma could be identified which may turn out to be benign. But it is always better to check regardless.

Vision and Hearing

Vision and hearing tests are also essential as we age. As we get older, both can start to decline – leading to losses in our hearing ability and reduced eyesight.

The latter can be particularly dangerous if we are still on the road, as reduced eyesight can affect our ability to drive safely – particularly at night.

There are a number of health check-ups we need to prioritize as we get older. As our aging bodies decline, keeping a grip on the state of our health is essential.

Make sure to check your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and bone density frequently. Also ensure to screen your skin for cancer, and to check up on your kidney function. Finally, don’t forget to test your hearing and vision, which are also likely to worsen as you age.

Keeping on top of your health as you get older is critical. The good news? It’s as easy as scheduling regular health checks with your doctor.