Give yourself a home health MoT with these checks that can give you surprising amounts of information about your body.
We told you yesterday how the inability to stand on one leg for ten seconds after age 50 can indicate an early death.
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Try these simple tests that can reveal subtle but vital warning signs of any problems before it’s too late.
TOUCH FINGERS
Sit on the floor with your legs in front of you and see how far you can reach your feet.
How close you can get to your toes is a good way to monitor flexibility, which also provides important information about heart health.
Being unable to bend and flex towards your ankles can increase your risk of stiff arteries, which can lead to possible cardiovascular disease or complications, especially if you are over 40.
If you can’t get close to your toes, your heart may be working harder, so it’s worth checking your blood pressure.
MOLE MONITOR
Keep an eye on your skin for changes in any warts, warts, or lesions.
Moles can change to a type of cancer called melanoma, which is the third most common skin cancer in the UK.
But the good news is that this is usually treatable if caught early. In a well-lit room, look for changes in the size, color, number, or asymmetry of spots, as well as spots that are itchy, bleeding, or painful.
If you have blond hair, have lots of moles, or work outdoors, be extra vigilant when looking at skin checks.
MEASURE YOUR WAIST
Your waist measurement can provide crucial information about your health. Calculate your waist-to-height ratio to check your Body Mass Index (BMI) to see if you are within a healthy range between 18.5 and 24.9 (see nhs.uk).
Be aware that a large waist measurement still increases your chances of health problems – even when you are a healthy weight.
Women should aim for a ‘low risk’ waist size of less than 31.5 inches; for men, it’s less than 37 inches.
A larger waist circumference means more visceral belly fat, which can put you at greater risk for type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and heart disease.
Measure just above the hips and circle the waist over the belly button for accuracy – and don’t breathe.
TAP YOUR FEET
Find your pulse by placing a finger on your wrist or neck and tap your foot to the beat for a minute.
If it’s very irregular and you can’t easily play in time, there could be a problem with your heart rhythm, a possible warning sign of atrial fibrillation or stroke.
This simple test can easily highlight extreme irregularities, palpitations or palpitations, which you should discuss with your doctor.
READ YOUR PALMS
Your hands can tell you more about your health than you might think and give crucial indications of your iron levels.
Hold your palm up and push your fingers back.
Deep lines should appear darker than the rest of the skin on your hand, if they are pale or turn white, this could indicate reduced circulation in your blood vessels as a result of low iron.
Iron deficiency can lead to anemia, causing exhaustion, shortness of breath, brittle nails, and cold hands and feet.
COVER AN EYE
Check for early signs of age-related macular degeneration, which can lead to vision and vision problems.
Looking directly at a door or window, cover one eye with your hand, then switch and repeat.
If your vision doesn’t stay straight and focused and there are gaps, blurs, distortions or wavy lines, you should check your eyes right away.
These may suggest eye-related changes.
SIT AND STAND
A simple test of longevity is to measure how easily you can go from a lower standing position to sitting cross-legged on the floor, and then back again.
Note how often you need to use your hand or lower body for support, or how often you swing.
Difficulty with this simple sit-and-stand test can denote lack of flexibility and aptitude, and denotes a shorter life potential.
If you strive to accomplish it, increase your fitness to increase your life expectancy.
JUMP TO THE LOIO
Don’t be shy about monitoring your bowel movements, check your poop regularly after you go, as any change in number two can signal potential health issues, from bowel problems, thyroid issues, and vitamin deficiencies to stress or dehydration, or more serious problems. such as bowel cancer or Parkinson’s disease.
Note any ongoing differences in bathroom habits, from changes in frequency and effort to smell, color, and texture. If this continues beyond two weeks, seek medical advice.
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