Doctor WHO? Doctor YOU!

- by New Woman May'05


Hate going to the doctor then getting charged for their so-called-minute-worth of consultation fees then having to bring in the receipts back to medical claims? well.. here's some tips to check your health! but seriously, if you do feel ill.. pls go to the doctor right NOW...

1. Check your pulse
Taking your pulse is a great way to find out how fit you are. The best time to take it is first thing in the morning before you've done anything to raise it. Hold your left wrist out infront of you with the palm facing up, then place the first and second fingers of your right hand on your wrist below the thumb. Count the number of beats for 20 seconds, multiply by 3 to get the beats per minute (bpm) then check it against this...
Under 55 bpm: Your heart's in top condition
56 - 65: You're heart's having to work quite hard so more exercise, please!
90+: Get off your bum, you couch potato!

2. Pinch your hand
To check your hydration level, pinch the back of your hand for two seconds then release - if the skin doesn't spring back into place immediately you need to get guzzling water immediately! Aim for 2 litres a day.

3. Do a pee
In the next ad break, nip off to the loo to check the colour of your wee. Basically, the darker it is, the more dehydrated you are. First thing in the morning, it's likely to be quite dark; if it goes dark again later in the day, you need to drink more water. Blood-streaked or cloudy urine can indicate problems like kidney stones, bladder infections or even sexually transmitted infections, especially if you also have a burning sensation.

4. Cut a hole
To check if you're short-sighted, poke a hole in a piece of paper with a pencil and hold it to a few centimetres from your face. Look through the hole and try to focus on an object 10 metres away. If you can see the object more celarly through the hole then you could be suffering from myopia and should book an eye test, says optometrist Ron Detwiler. If you already wear contact lenses or glasses, use this test to see if you need stronger ones.

5. Rubber neck
The area where the lymph glands (part of the lymphatic system, which produces white blood cells to help fight infections and disease) can be best felt is in your neck. Simply run the palm of your hand around the whole of your neck down to your collarbone. As a rule, if a painful swelling appears suddenly, it's usually the result of an injury or ear or throat infection, whereas if it's painless or has gradually grown over time, it could indicate something more serious and should be checked out.

6. Check your breath
Nearly 10% of adults in Australia have regular bad breath and 75% have occasional bad breath, says the Australian Dental Association. So check your breath, rub your fingers over your teeth and gums and sniff. If the smell makes you squirm, it's time to visit your dentist as this is one sign of gum disease.

7. Open your eyes
Get out your compact mirror and examine your eyes. Firstly, the whites should be white! If they're yellow you could have jaundice and associated liver problems. If you have bags under your eyes, you may need to cut down on alcohol and fatty foods. And the inside of your lower eyelid should be a rosy red colour. If it's pale, you could be anaemic - the best sources of iron are meat and green veggies like watercress. Also, the tannic acid in tea interferes with the absorption of iron into your body, so don't have a cuppa with your meal or for two hours after eating.