Easy Ways To Stay Healthy

Everyone has a unique medical history and different physical ailments however, there are a few things everyone can do to keep themselves healthy. For starters, make sure you get an annual physical examination and stock and maintain your medicine chest.

Today the "annual physical" is becoming more and more routine. Every year more people see the wisdom of "seeing your doctor before you get sick."

Most health authorities are in agreement that a good physical examination should include, first of all, a complete medical history of the patient and pertinent medical information about his family. Usually your personal physician - or the group or clinic to which you go - takes such a history on your first visit.

The physical examination itself may vary from doctor to doctor or group to group. Sometimes the complete examination is given at one time. Other doctors may prefer two or three visits to complete the checkup.

The following routine is frequently recommended for a complete annual checkup:

The medical history; blood pressure, pulse, temperature; examination of body for growths and swellings; ear, eye, nose, throat, and mouth examinations; heart and lungs (by stethoscope and tapping); examination of male organs; rectum check; examination of female organs and Pap smear (to check for cancer), breast examination; check of reflexes (hammer test); blood tests; urine analysis; chest X-ray; electrocardiogram; stool specimen.

Such an examination generally covers the general health of the patient and checks for heart and circulatory disorders; cancer and other abnormalities; nervous defects; infections; tuberculosis, diabetes, ulcers, anemia, and other diseases that may be present.

You medicine chest is also very important. The adequately supplied home medicine chest actually is composed of two segments. One consists of equipment and supplies usually pertinent to first-aid treatment. The other segment usually consists of a few household aids for treatment of illnesses.

Check lists for medicine chests are numerous. Most of them are carefully researched and authoritatively recommended. All of them are similar to the point of being almost identical.

A survey of the many lists and the suggestions of doctors and other sources of authoritative information will yield most of the following check points for your medicine cabinet.

However, as a general rule your medicine cabinet should include absorbent cotton, adhesive bandages, adhesive tape, antiseptic cream (for scrapes, burns, cuts), burn ointment, cotton swabs, roll bandages, spirits of ammonia ampules, S-shaped airway (for artificial respiration), sterile gauze pads, Universal antidote (for poisoning - from your druggist.)

To keep your medicine cabinet in good shape, check out these words of wisdom:

- Check prescriptions you keep.

- Tablet preparations usually are good until they show signs of disintegration.

- Solutions usually are usable as long as they remain clear, unchanged in color and free of residue.

- Suspensions last a long time. Always shake well before using.

- Vitamins and wonder drugs are better off in the refrigerator. Keep all these drugs in a dry, cool place and out of bright light.

- Throw away any bottle with the label missing. Date labels when purchased, note what the medicine is for, and for whom.

- Check with your druggist about stability of medicines about which you may be doubtful.

- Keep the medicine cabinet out of reach of children.

Neglecting good medicine cabinet maintenance could result in you or one of your family members getting sick. Since the entire point of having a medicine cabinet is wellness, pay attention to what's sitting on your bathroom shelf.

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