Staying healthy begins with preventive care and routine doctor visits
It’s no secret that prevention is the most important investment we can make for the quality of our health — and it begins with you. A balanced diet, a daily multi-vitamin, drinking lots of water, limiting alcohol consumption and proper hygiene are the first steps. They must be complemented with well-check visits to your physician.
“As basic as a healthy lifestyle is to good health, the prevention effort is incomplete without regular doctor visits. They take the guesswork out of good health,” says McLaren Port Huron family medicine physician, Todor Toromanovski, M.D. “Annual or semi-annual visits to assess your health give you the chance to discuss the best strategies to maintain or improve your health with your doctor.”
These are foundations of good health:
Immunizations: Vaccines are important weapons in health defense. From influenza, chicken pox, hepatitis, shingles and other maladies, vaccines are critical preventative measures. It is especially vital that infants and young children receive the appropriate vaccinations.
Screenings: Essential tools for diagnosis, screenings provide key information about a patient’s health status regarding specific concerns. Mammograms are recommended annually for women 40-55 years old (American Cancer Society’s guidelines are earlier for those with a family history of breast cancer and annually or every two years for women older than 55). Pap smears also are vital for women. PSAs (Prostate-specific antigen) blood tests are important for men 50 years and older.
Colonoscopy: The screening procedure that identifies signs of colon cancer and other abnormalities is recommended for patients 50 years and older.
The value of vaccines and screenings doesn’t end with the protection or information they provide. They also are opportunities to consult with your doctor.
Dr. Toromanovski offers these tips:
- Write down any questions you may have and bring them with you to your appointment.
- Bring a list of your medications or bring all medications with you. Tell your doctor what prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, herbal products, and other supplements you’re taking.
- Be honest about your diet, physical activity, smoking and alcohol or drug use.
- Describe any allergies to drugs, foods, pollen or other things. Don’t forget to mention if you are being treated by other doctors, including mental health professionals.
- If you are diagnosed with a condition, ask your doctor how you can learn more about it.
- Ask your doctor about any treatments he or she recommends.
To schedule a well check to prevent illnesses, please make an appointment with Dr. Todor Toromanovski by calling 810-561-8450. Dr. Toromanovski practices with Dr. Laura Lucio-Reincke at McLaren Port Huron St. Clair Community Health Center, 1163 Carney Dr., St. Clair. For a complete list of physicians, visit www.mclaren.org/porthuron.
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