MSWA Bulletin Magazine Spring 2021

NURSING
ARE YOU PRACTICING
GOOD HEALTH MONITORING?
Whether you have a chronic illness or not, there are recommendations to regularly monitor your
general health and wellbeing.
The Victorian Government’s Better
Health initiative (betterhealth.
vic.gov.au/healthyliving/healthchecks)
is just one great resource.
Regular health checks can prevent
many diseases and catch others
before it's too late to change their
course. Some health checks and
screening tests can help prevent
serious illness such as cancer.
Regular self-checks are
recommended (eg skin checks,
breast self-examination for women
and testicular checks for men)
along with checks of your eyesight,
teeth, gums, and those ordered or
performed by your GP (eg blood
tests and screening).
Speak to your GP, who will provide
tailored advice about what tests you
may need and how often.
Recommended screening:
/ Regular monitoring of your
blood pressure, weight, and
cholesterol; frequency depends
on your age and risk of heart
disease or stroke.
/ Diabetes screening; depending
on your risk of Diabetes Type
2. The blood tests may require
fasting.
/ Bowel cancer screening; The
National Bowel Cancer Screening
Program provides a home
sample kit and recommends
people aged 50 to 74 years have
a test once every two years.
Up to 90% of bowel cancers
can be successfully treated if
detected early.
/ Bone density test (DEXA) to
determine the health of your
bones; Osteoporosis is a disease
that causes bones to become
brittle. Risk factors include a thin
build, early menopause, aged
over 70 years, and long-term use
of cortisone medication.
Some gender-specific screenings
you might like to think about
include:
For women:
/ Cervical screening test: this is
important and can pick up signs
of irregularities that could lead
to cervical cancer if not treated.
Cervical cancer is one of the most
preventable cancers. Frequency
of tests depend on your age and
any family history.
/ Mammogram: this is recommended
every two years. If you have a family
history it will be more frequent.
For men:
/ Prostate cancer screening:
population-based screening is
not recommended, so discuss
this with your GP. If you’re aged
50-70, a blood test (PSA) may be
deemed appropriate.
/ ECG: a non-invasive and painless
medical test that detects cardiac
(heart) abnormalities by measuring
the electrical activity generated by
the heart as it contracts.
For all:
/ Sexual health: testing for sexually
transmissible infections and
erectile dysfunction or other
sexual problems can be discussed
with your GP.
In addition, monitoring your
mental health and seeking advice
and support is also recommended.
We don’t think twice about getting
our vehicles regularly serviced and
checked when things aren’t right;
self-care is so important and you’re
worth it!
SUE SHAPLAND BN
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