Conducting a health assessment is often the first important step in identifying the person’s problems, their medical needs, and how the healthcare system should address them. It varies in scope and length, can be completed during or between office visits, online or offline.

The Importance of Regular Health Assessment

Various studies have suggested that death from heart diseases, stroke, Cancer, or Diabetes can be prevented by following a healthy diet, regular exercising, and quitting smoking. Every year thousands of lives, their time, and capital are claimed by diseases preventable in nature. Therefore, it is essential to undertake periodic health assessments.

In situations where there is a family history of cardiovascular diseases, Diabetes, higher BMI, etc., one must get a preventive health check-up every 6 months, recommended by a senior doctor who is well-versed with your regular check-up. Genetic analysis and Cancer screening are required in patients with a family history of the disease or those who use tobacco in any form. The human body changes every fraction of a second, and the more frequent the preventive check-up, the better is the outcome with adequate interventions.

Based on the assessment results, your medical care provider will steer you to manage your health. Taking charge of your health may include incorporating regular exercise and a healthy diet in your routine, preventive medication before the onset of any potential chronic disease, or medicine to manage any ongoing health conditions.

Components of a Health Assessment

A comprehensive health assessment includes a general survey, an analysis of medical history, and a complete physical examination, along with self-reported symptoms. This health assessment seeks to measure and provides an insight into someone’s physical and mental vitals. Health assessments are used to obtain the baseline data about patients and build a rapport with them to build a trusting relationship and ease their anxiety.

The general survey comprises minor details such as age, height, weight, hygiene, gait, build, and posture. Major details involve the extent of tobacco use, level of physical activities, stress, sexual practices, alcohol usage or addictive actions such as substance abuse or gambling, symptoms of anxiety or Depression, the presence or absence of emotional support, sedentary lifestyle, history of bullying, physical abuse or violence, and overall health and well-being.

To summarize, health assessments comprises the following components:

1. Collection of information including medical history;

2.Investigations as per requirement;

3.A comprehensive evaluation of a person’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being;

4.Recommendation of appropriate medical or surgical interventions;

5.Providing information and advising the person concerned; and

6.Maintaining records and offering a written report of the health assessment to the undertaker.

Who Should Take a Health Assessment

Health Assessments are carried out to obtain a general understanding of your health, including physiological, mental, psychological, and sexual well-being. It enables you to be proactive towards the state of health and prevents the onslaught of any disease. But who are these health assessments meant for? And, what should people of specific age groups get tested for?

1.For children over the age of 3 and under the age of 5, receiving childhood vaccination and undergoing routine checkups is the norm.

2.Up to the age of 17 years, in the absence of any chronic disease, it is pertinent to assess adolescents for anomalies in sexual health and related behaviors.

3.For people belonging to the age group of 18 to 39, annual health screenings are a must. A typical yearly screening includes checking weight and height, cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, skin, Depression, immunizations, blood tests for a complete blood cell count, thyroid, Liver Enzyme markers, Plasma Glucose, and sexually transmitted diseases.

Women of this age group must undertake breast examination, Pap Smear test for Cervical Cancer, and an HPV vaccine if not received as an adolescent. Men must opt for a testicular exam.

1.Men and women between the age group of 40-64 must undergo Colorectal Screening, Lung Cancer, Osteoporosis, Depression, Colonoscopy, and be administered annual Flu shots. Additionally, women must undergo Pelvic examination, Mammogram, and annual Blood Culture; and men must undertake a Prostate examination, especially in the presence of risk factors.

2.For people over 65 and more, it is essential to evaluate the overall health, including examining Colorectal Cancer, Rapid increase or decrease in weight, Depression, and a sense of orientation with their surroundings.

Different Types of Health Assessments

Depending upon the particular needs, a medical practitioner might conduct assessments for people belonging to different age groups. It can be classified in terms of the length of the evaluation.

1.A brief health assessment is a simple one that can be concluded within or less than 30 minutes.

2.When you need more than just a brief assessment but not complex enough to warrant a longer one, a Standard health assessment is employed, which may extend up to 45 minutes.

3.A Long health assessment is conducted when there are complex health issues to deal with. It usually takes an hour to complete.

4.A Prolonged health assessment is a complex one where you need a preventative healthcare plan that exceeds an hour. Based on the tests you need to undertake, your medical care provider will inform you about the time duration you need to set aside for the assessment.

Traditionally, these health assessments would take place at a hospital or diagnostic centers. But the current times have propelled people to carry out health assessments at home.

How to Conduct a Health Assessment at Home?

Home health assessments allow capturing social and environmental factors that may influence health but are not detected in a clinical environment. Very often, the information contained in medical records does not represent a person’s physical health, insights on their behavior, or social conditions. One way of conducting the health assessment at home is to have qualified physician assistants or nurse practitioners reach out to the person concerned and carry out a comprehensive health assessment to provide the missing clinical data. This process can drive quality and care management initiatives to ensure that their clinical risk burden is accurately captured and substantiated for the purpose of risk adjustment. Another way of conducting a health assessment at home is to do it yourself by answering online questionnaires honestly.

A health assessment is an accurate judgment of mental, physical, and quality standards of a person’s life. In a healthy at-home assessment, depending upon your age, you need to ask yourself questions about –

1.General health condition;

2.Ability to carry out daily living activities;

3.Any sense of unease or discomfort in any part of the body;

4.Ability to remember details;

5.Whether you need additional support for personal care and many more.

This will help you or your healthcare practitioner to identify the risks involved. There are 4 broad categories that a person needs to test him/herself upon:

1.Physical Health: This involves asking a person to list symptoms they have experienced between the last 6 months until recently. These symptoms must include eyes, ears, nose, head, throat, lungs, chest, musculoskeletal, psychological, heart, gastrointestinal, neurological, balance and mobility, and dermatological.

2.Nutrition: This comprises checking the Body Mass Index (BMI) of a person. If there is a rapid loss or gaining of weight, there could be a problem with nutrition.

3.Self-Care: It is gauged on a person’s ability to carry out their daily activities such as bathing, toileting, dressing, eating, transferring, grooming, cleaning activities such as washing the dishes or doing laundry, managing household bills from electricity bills to grocery or paying taxes.

4.Mental Health: This involves gauging if a person has symptoms of depression or anxiety if they suffer from feelings of low self-esteem, a sense of loss, a lower functionality in their daily life, and their ability to social networking.

Whether done at home or a health center, any given health assessment must include all aspects of life, such as physical, mental, social health, and lifestyle. It can help in keeping the risk factors in check and facilitate a quality life. It is an excellent way of addressing health concerns beyond the realm of your regular physician appointments. These assessments are most helpful when scheduled every six months. Stay at the pink of your health with regular health assessments.

1. You are what you eat

Eating a balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, and leafy greens will not only make your heart healthier but also reduce your risk of developing heart disease. 

– Avoid foods high in salt and sugar content because these cause diseases like diabetes and hypertension which are contributing factors for cardiovascular disease. 

– Limit your intake of deep-fried foods which are high in calories because they tend to raise your blood cholesterol levels resulting in coronary artery blockage.

– Copious amounts of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated (omega-3 and omega-6) fats present in nuts, avocados, and fish promote heart health. 

– Including whole grain in your meals can be beneficial as they are rich sources of dietary fiber and Vit B. 

2. Be active 

Regular exercise lowers your risk of developing heart disease or having a heart attack. Physical activities like walking, jogging, running or training at a gym are wonderful ways to keep you fit, healthy and happy. Choose an activity that you enjoy and incorporate it in your day to day life.

Yoga can be done every day after your vigorous routine to release stress, enhance your mood and improve flexibility.

3. Quit Smoking 

Smoking damages blood vessels leading to your heart, brain, legs and other parts of the body. It increases blood pressure and causes buildup of plaque in the blood vessels, which results in heart attack or stroke. Smoking has serious consequences; it not only affects your heart and brain but also causes lung diseases such as emphysema or lung cancer. If you are a smoker you must try to stop smoking.

4. Limit your alcohol intake 

Moderate levels of alcohol can increase HDL (good cholesterol), however, consuming excessive alcohol may trigger heart conditions such as palpitations or irregular heartbeat. General recommendation is 2 drinks or less in a day for men and 1 drink or less in a day for women. Although alcohol may provide some minor benefits but if you do not already drink, you shouldn’t start doing so because of the long-term negative effects of alcohol consumption. 

5. Check your weight 

Being overweight can be dangerous for your heart. Remember to keep moving, this will help you to shed those extra kilos and you’ll feel better and your heart will be healthier. 

6. Reduce your stress 

Stress is one of the main factors affecting your heart and other organs. Stress can push you towards things that can seriously harm your heart such as excessive smoking and drinking, emotional eating and a lot more. Learn to relieve your tensions. Take up a hobby, listen to music,  practice meditation to keep your mind calm. Let your anxieties and worries float away. Studies show there is a strong link between depression and heart disease. If you suffer from depression talk to your family or friends and if need be, do not hesitate to visit a psychologist.

7. Understand and monitor your blood sugar and cholesterol levels

Make sure you regularly check your blood sugar and cholesterol levels and understand how to manage them. Follow the advice of your physician, if you have elevated blood sugar and cholesterol levels. It is important to realize that you can develop heart disease if you have diabetes or/and high cholesterol levels.

8. Control your blood pressure 

Hypertension (high blood pressure) can significantly damage your heart. Control your  blood pressure by taking your medication on a regular basis and cutting down your salt intake. Keep in mind that you cannot feel high blood pressure, therefore it’s vital to get it checked. Learn to monitor and manage your blood pressure. 

9. Stay hydrated 

You must drink at least 5-8 glasses in a day and more if it’s a hot day. Cardiologists suggest drinking water especially, before going to bed helps improve blood circulation in the hours when you’re at greatest risk for a heart attack. Good hydration will not only protect your heart but will also keep your skin and hair nourished and healthy. 

10.  Screening for heart disease 

Getting yourself screened for heart disease is also an essential aspect of lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease and a heart attack. If you have risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, and/or a family history of stroke or heart disease, your doctor would recommend stringent screening. You may be prescribed certain clinical tests, for example; ECG (electrocardiogram), ECHO (Echocardiogram), TMT (Treadmill test), etc. Additionally, conditions like high lipid levels, blood sugar, and high blood pressure need to be closely monitored as they can potentially lead to heart disease.  Even if you haven’t been diagnosed with any heart ailment, getting yourself routinely tested and examined is beneficial. Moreover, screening results help you and your healthcare provider take steps in the right direction to protect your heart.

Written By: Dr. Rahul Sawant , MD, CCT, Cardiology (UK), MRCP (UK), FACC (USA), Interventional Fellow (New York), Asst. Professor, BVMCH (Pune) 

Causes of Sleep-Maintenance Insomnia

Midlife is often a time of psychological stress associated with a variety of factors in one’s life. Such stress accompanied by possible health problems such as depression may result in chronic early morning awakening and the inability to get back to sleep. With progressing age, the normal sleep cycle of a person becomes shorter and they spend lesser amount of time in deep sleep. Irrespective of the initial cause, difficulty in remaining asleep may often lead you to worry about not getting enough rest for the upcoming day. Absurd, isn’t it? To be worried and stressed about a day which has not even begun yet! This further interferes with your sleep and results in a vicious cycle.

Remedies

1. Practicing sleep hygiene and developing habits that promote healthy sleep cycles

– Stay away from stimulants such as caffeinated beverages after 5 p.m., consumption of alcohol less than 2 hours before bed-time, smoking or secondhand smoke.

– Avoid naps during the day.

– Get regular exercise.

– Try to maintain a regular sleep-and-wake schedule.

– Keep the bedroom cool, dark, quiet, and free from disturbances such as the television or computers.

– Finish dinner several hours before bedtime.

– Avoid exposure to a blue and green light from your alarm clock, phone, tablet, or computer as they can make you feel more alert.

– Avoid activities that might cause stress, such as work or emotional discussions before bedtime.

– Minimize nighttime trips to the washroom by limiting the consumption of fluids before bedtime.

– Some experts also recommend sleep re-training or staying awake longer to ensure sleep is more restful.

2. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

CBT is an effective treatment supported by empirical evidence, for chronic insomnia which produces sleep improvements that are sustained over time. CBT for insomnia is usually a brief treatment comprising of 4-8 sessions which may be administered in groups or individually. Research has shown that CBT is highly effective for older adults and may provide for better long-term management of chronic insomnia as compared to pharmacotherapy or sleep medications. There have been at least seven published randomized controlled trials with older adults that compared CBT to no-treatment or placebo treatments. All of these studies showed that CBT was associated with significant improvements in sleep-wake cycles compared to control treatments. In addition to the above, several small studies suggest, online CBT programs/CBT apps which teach good sleep hygiene, relaxation techniques, and other strategies can help people with insomnia, sleep better.

A good night’s sleep paves the way to a good day and vice versa. A balanced approach including good health habits such as a healthy diet, regular exercise, and stress reduction, and good sleeping habits at night, is the best way to get the sleep you need.

Reviewed by: Dr. N. Nayak, MBBS, MD

Click here for full article

Source: Vigyanprasar

Click here for full article

Source: Vigyansagar

Click here for full article

Source: Vigyansagar

Click here for full article

Source: Health care in India

Click here for full article

Source: Health care in India

Click here for full article

Source : Health care in India

Click here for full article

Source: Healthcare in India