Samaritan Healthcare | The Samaritan | Winter 2018

2 THE SAMARITAN proactive health tips Working as a team with your healthcare provider By Hollie Matthews, MD, Family Medicine There are several steps that people can do to assist in safeguarding their own health. Here are a few tips recommended by Hollie Matthews, MD, one of our family medicine physicians. 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 HAVE A PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER AND BE SEEN AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR FOR A PHYSICAL. This isn’t just for children or older adults—it’s even for those in the 20 to 40 age group. It’s possible to have something happen that could have been cared for more easily if found early, but since it wasn’t caught, it then becomes a much bigger problem. This is especially true for men.Testicular cancer is more common from ages 15 to 35, and it’s something guys don’t like to talk about. In both sexes, skin lesions can be melanoma (a type of aggressive skin cancer), which tends to spread fast to other areas of the body. Women should be screened for cervical cancer every three to five years (depending on age and the type of testing performed). Ask when to start getting mammograms or colonoscopies, which can vary depending on family history. Keep your routine vaccinations up-to-date. COME TO THE APPOINTMENT PREPARED. Write down your questions in order of priority. (Don’t think you are going to remember them—you won’t! I call it “office amnesia.”) If all your questions aren’t answered in one appointment, that’s okay—make a follow-up appointment and work down your list. If you’re worried, don’t stop until you get answers. TRUST, BUT VERIFY. There are countless resources available, but always carefully evaluate the source of your information. Be cautious about who you listen to for advice. When in doubt, get a second opinion. I encourage patients to be their own advocates. In today’s busy world, it’s important to follow up. For example, ask when you will hear about a referral. If you don’t get a reply, ask when you should check back, what the next steps are, etc. Take things one step at a time, but know when enough time has passed to check back. Remem- ber, whenever people and computers are involved, sometimes things happen. DON’T NEGLECT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH. Mental problems can lead to physi- cal problems and/or make them worse and vice versa. A lot of people have been raised to “power through” or “pull themselves up by their bootstraps.”This has been studied, and it isn’t true. Many mental issues are from brain chemicals being out of balance or lacking something. Often address- ing the mental problems helps to solve physical problems. There is a lot of power in the human mind, and it is all connected. So don’t neglect that piece of the puzzle. If you need help, ask for it. MAKE TIME TO EXERCISE. It’s good for your bones, your heart, and your mental state, among other things. Schedule it like you would an appointment—don’t expect to “find the time,” because you won’t. Make it a priority. As we get older, we need to move more for the good of our bodies, especially our joints. KNOW WHAT IS IN YOUR FOOD. Read food labels.There are many foods with additives like corn syrup or sugar that are not needed, but if you don’t look for them, you won’t know they are there. Eat vegetables and lean meats, some fruit, and fewer carbohydrates. Learn what foods are good for you and which ones are not. Understand what a portion size is—many think a portion size is larger than it should be.