Personal Health Guide

Put Prevention into Practice

Working with your health care provider to stay well is as important as getting treatment when you are sick. This guide will help you and your health care provider make sure that you get the tests, immunizations (shots), and the guidance you need to stay healthy.

How to Use the Personal Health Guide

     Read the important information that begins in each section. If you don't understand something, be sure to ask your health care provider about it.

     Wherever the guide suggests you talk to your health care provider, be sure you do. This will help you get the answers you need to take care of your health.

     After talking with your health care provider, fill in the blanks provided on certain records. This will help you to know which services you need and how often you need them. Keep this guide in a safe place. Look at it often to make sure that you get the preventive care you need. Bring it with you every time you see a health care provider.

     The records in the guide can make it easier to keep accurate information about your health and will especially help you with details when you get treatments in the future.  Use the Personal Prevention Record to keep track of the preventive care that you have received and/or will need in the future.

Blood Pressure

     Maintaining a good blood pressure will help protect you from heart disease, stroke, and kidney problems. Have your blood pressure checked regularly. Maintaining a healthy diet and  regular physical activity are two ways you can help to keep your blood pressure under control. Some people will need to take medicine to help maintain a healthy blood pressure.

     If you have high blood pressure, talk with your health care provider about how to lower it by changing your diet, losing excess weight, exercising, or (if necessary) taking medicine. If you need to take medicine, be sure to take it every day, as prescribed.

    Ask your provider how often you need your blood pressure checked and what  your blood pressure should be .

I need my blood pressure checked every __________ months/years.

My blood pressure should be below __________/__________.

Keep track of your blood pressure by using the Personal Prevention Record.

Immunizations

Adults need immunizations (shots) to prevent serious diseases. The following are common shots that most people need:

• Tetanus-diphtheria shot—Everyone needs this every 10 years.
• Rubella (German measles) shot—If you are a woman who is considering pregnancy and you have not had a shot for German measles, you should talk to your provider.
• Pneumococcal (pneumonia) shot—Everyone needs this one time at about age 65.
• Influenza (flu) shots—Everyone over age 65 needs this every year. If you have lung, heart or kidney disease, diabetes, HIV, or cancer you may need pneumococcal and flu shots before age 65. Health care workers may also benefit from annual flu shots.
• Hepatitis B—If you have contact with human blood or body fluids (such as: semen or vaginal fluid), you may be at risk for hepatitis B. You may also be at risk if you have unprotected sex (vaginal, oral, or anal) or share needles during intravenous drug use. Hepatitis B shots will protect you. Health care workers should also consider getting hepatitis B shots. Discuss this with your provider.

Keep track of the immunizations you receive by using the Personal Prevention Record.

Cholesterol

Having your cholesterol checked is important, especially if you are a man age 35-65 or a woman age 45-65. Too much cholesterol can clog your blood vessels and cause heart disease and other serious problems. Your health care provider may check your levels of "bad" (LDL) and "good" (HDL) cholesterol.

You can lower your cholesterol level and keep a healthy level by changing your diet, losing excess weight and getting regular exercise.

If necessary, your provider may prescribe medication for you.

Ask your provider what a healthy cholesterol level is for you and how often you need it checked.

My cholesterol should be less than __________ mg/dL.

My cholesterol should be checked every __________ year(s).

If you have high cholesterol, talk with your provider about a plan for lowering it.

Keep track of your cholesterol by using the Personal Prevention Record.

Weight

Weighing too much or too little can lead to health problems. You should have your weight checked regularly by your health care provider. You can control/maintain your weight by eating a healthy diet and performing in regular physical activity.

Talk with your provider about what a healthy weight for you is and ways you can control your weight.

I weigh __________ pounds.

A healthy weight for me is between __________ and __________ pounds.

Keep track of your weight by using the Personal Prevention Record.

Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of deaths from cancer. If it is caught early, it can be treated. If you are 50 years of age or older, you should have tests regularly to detect it. The tests you may have are:

• Fecal Occult Blood Test—to look for small amounts of blood in your stool. This test should be done yearly.
• Sigmoidoscopy—to look inside the rectum and colon using a small, lighted tube. Your health care provider will do this in the office or clinic. This test should be done every 5 to 10 years.

Tell your health care provider if you have had polyps or if you have a family member(s) with cancer of the intestine, breast, ovaries, or uterus, you may need testing before age 50 or more often.

Ask your health care provider at what age you need to start and how often you need these tests:

I need fecal occult blood tests every __________ year(s) starting at age __________ .

I need sigmoidoscopy every __________ years starting at age __________ .

Keep track of these tests by using the Personal Prevention Record.

Oral Health Care

Good oral health care is important for your teeth and general health. With proper care, your teeth will last you for life.

• Visit your dentist regularly for checkups. Brush after meals with a soft or medium bristled toothbrush, using a toothpaste with fluoride.
• Use dental floss daily.
• Limit the amount of sweets you eat, especially between meals.
• Do not smoke or chew tobacco products.
• Ask your provider how often you should get dental checkups.

I need to visit my dentist every __________ month(s).

Keep track of your dental visits by using the Personal Prevention Record.

Preventive Care For Women

Mammogram

Women ages 40-50 should discuss when to begin getting mammograms with their health care provider. All women should begin having mammograms regularly by age 50. Some women may need mammograms earlier. A mammogram is an x-ray test that can detect   breast cancer when it is so small that it cannot be felt and when it can be most easily cured.

Talk with your health care provider about when to begin and how often to have mammograms. Make sure to tell your provider if your mother or a sister has had breast cancer. You may need to have mammograms more often than other women.

• My mother or sister has had breast cancer (yes/no).
• I need a mammogram every __________ year(s), starting at age __________ .

Keep track of your mammograms by using the Preventive Care Record for Women.

Pap Smear

You need to have Pap Smears regularly. This simple test has saved the lives of many women by detecting cancer of the cervix early—when it is most easily cured.

Talk to your health care provider about how often you need Pap Smears.

Tell your health care provider if you have had genital warts, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs/VD), multiple sexual partners or abnormal Pap Smears. You may need Pap Smears more often than other women. more information..

Powerd by www.ahrq.gov

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