Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Health Screening Before Retirement

"I'm 57 and healthy with no history of health problems."

"Heart diseases runs in my family but I haven't had any health problems."

"I had high blood pressure in my 30s & 40s but I'm now 65 and I feel great."

What do these 3 statements have in common? Preventive health screening is appropriate for all 3 of these people. Regardless of your circumstances if you have no symptoms you can be at risk for certain health problems. The best way to address possible risk is to have preventive health screening. It makes sense to take control of your health with health screening.

Interestingly at the age of 65 and a family history of heart disease and diabetes after talking with my family doctor preventive health screening wasn't discussed. I started thinking about retirement and how I'm going to be a grandparent soon. Oddly enough close friends and coworkers didn't really seem to be involved in preventive health screening. I decided I wanted to stick around longer than most of the women in my family and get past 70 so I can spend time with my grandchildren.