Don’t Tough It Out

By: Dr. Sean Kohl

Nebraskans are tough. We work hard and power through problems. These are great traits and ones I hope to instill in my own kids. However, when it comes to health, toughing it out isn’t always the best choice.

The earlier we catch an illness, the better we can treat it. This can help save your life and spare you the pain of symptoms that could be much worse down the road. Finding the problem early is key.

Here are a few simple ways to find health problems early:

• Self-exams – Make sure to check your skin for new or changing spots and your breasts for lumps at least once a month. If you have a concern, don’t wait. Schedule a visit to have it checked out right away.

• Routine checkups – Insurance often covers yearly checkups at 100%, which means you can see a doctor and get a checkup for free each year. This is a great way to touch base, and an exam can help catch issues earlier. Mammograms are another checkup that is often free with insurance.

• Screening Tests – Labs, mammograms, colonoscopies, CT scans and stress tests can have a huge impact on health outcomes. Most of the time these are covered well by insurance. Age, gender and risk factors such as cancer in the family or life choices such as eating habits and smoking will impact how often these need to be done. Your doctor can tell you how often to come back, but it is very helpful to have a good first baseline or screening test completed, no matter what age you are.

Finding health problems early gives you the best chance at getting healthy. Take an active role in your own health. Call 402-395-5013 today to schedule your yearly checkup, so you can keep “living the good life” for many years to come.