Top 10 health check websites
Test your breasts
Did you know that one in nine women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, and more than half of all breast cancers are found by the woman herself or by her local GP? All women over 50 should be tested, and men should check themselves too, so find out what to look for at breast cancer.org.au
Diabolical diabetes
In 1989, only 1.5 per cent of the population suffered from diabetes. Now 4 per cent of Australians have this disease which, if left untreated, can be dangerous. All Australians over 55 should be tested but, to find out if you are at risk, visit the Diabetes Australia website.
Protect your prostate
About 20,000 new cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed every year in Australia. All men over 50 should talk to their GP about prostate cancer screening. To find out more about the testing methods used, visit Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.
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Be aware of your bowel
Australia has one of the highest rates of bowel cancer in the world, and it is the second highest cancer killer in the country. Luckily, it is also one of the most curable types of cancer if detected early, so why not order a bowel cancer screening kit today from Bowel Cancer Australia?
Glaucoma doesn’t rhyme with anything interesting
If you haven’t had your eyes checked recently, it might be time to book an appointment with an optometrist. Optometrists check your eye health, as well as your eyesight, and they look for conditions such as glaucoma, or pressure in the eye, which can lead to irreversible blindness. To discover the symptoms of glaucoma, visit Glaucoma Australia.
How dense are you?
One in two women over 60 and one in four men over 60 will sustain a fracture due to osteoporosis, and about 25 per cent of those who fracture a hip will die within 12 months of sustaining the injury. To keep your bones healthy, why not visit Osteoporosis Australia to learn about bone density testing?
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A little blue or something more?
Everyone feels sad or anxious occasionally, but if these feelings are extreme or last for a long time, then they may be a sign of something more serious. You can take a quick depression test at the Beyond Blue website to see if you should take further action.
Let’s talk about farting
Chronic bloating, stomach pain, unusual stools and smelly farts can all be signs of irritable bowel syndrome or a food intolerance. If this sounds like you, visit the Shepherd Works website to learn about hydrogen breath testing that determines foods to which you may be intolerant.
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Under pressure
High blood pressure can lead to serious heart problems such as heart attack, stroke, heart failure and kidney disease. To learn how to keep an eye on your blood pressure at home, visit the Heart Foundation website to download some helpful guides.
It’s all around us
If you were sunning yourself pre-slip-slop-slap days, then regularly (and frequently) checking yourself for skin cancers is vital. The Cancer Council offers a guide that shows you how to perform a skin check at home.
Are you more diligent about doing health checks as you’ve aged? Are there some that we missed? Why not share your tips in the comments section below?
