Lately I have become refocused on my health! We have dusted off our weighing scales that can track so many different things, from visceral fat to metabolic age and how much body water we have. Also, I am reading any health articles I can find with avid interest. I was intrigued by the Head to Toe Health MOT campaign from Day Lewis Pharmacy.

I think it’s a good idea to have a guide as to what to look out for to keep in tip top health! Especially at a time when some of us might be struggling to get an appointment at our doctors. It makes sense to try and start tracking things at home.

You can work through the interactive image below that mentions some of the symptoms from your head to eyes, mouth, ears, neck, lungs, shoulder, stomach, waist, skin, reproductive system, bladder, bowels, and legs that might then require further investigation.

Always Check With Your Doctor

If you do find something you are concerned about do not leave it. The sooner you get a diagnosis and treatment the sooner you can get back to being fighting fit again. Fortunately, my mum had bowel cancer treatment in the nick of time and is still with us today to tell the tale. So, if something doesn’t feel quite right with your body, whether it’s a pain that won’t go away or you start passing blood please book an appointment as soon as possible.

Never ignore symptoms for fear of embarrassment or worrying your wasting a doctors time. Get the reassurance you need. You know your body best, so if something changes or starts to feel uncomfortable, please get further advice. You’re not making a fuss, just prioritize your health.

Sometimes people ignore the symptoms as they are in denial. They don’t want to admit something could be wrong. In that case try and encourage someone you know who might have worrying symptoms to seek medical help. You could even plan something fun for them to do after the appointment to encourage them to go.

Prevention Is Better Than Cure

I think its worth investing in the weighing scales we have too as part of your health MOT. As prevention is also better than cure. If you keep close tabs on what you eat and change your lifestyle to improve things like your visceral fat you are less likely to have a stroke, diabetes or heart disease. I had starting to get a little too relaxed about what I was eating and was driving so wasn’t get my steps in the same anymore. Consequently, my stats weren’t looking too good. My priority is getting everything safely in the green again!

It’s week three of walking a lot more and avoiding treats as much as possible. In that time, I have had two little indiscretions (half an Easter Egg and dessert at a friend’s birthday meal, my friends were drinking too so I opted for dessert instead of alcohol!). So overall its going well. Plus a little of what you fancy can’t hurt, its when you make a regular habit of eating the wrong things.