Article Category: Highlights

Well Starts with Spring Screenings

Published on April 01, 2022

Last updated 10:34 AM April 01, 2022

When the weather starts to warm up, many people start getting ready for the spring season. Along with cleaning and decluttering your home, you should also spruce up the space you live in every day — your body.

When you prioritize your well-being and do the proper up-keep for your health, it may help you stay ahead of potential medical issues.

To feel your best this spring and beyond, we’re sharing our top tips to keep you healthy.

Check for a clean bill of health

Setting our clocks forward can also be your reminder to set up a visit with your primary care provider.

“People should definitely add a wellness exam to their spring-cleaning checklist, regardless of age. Routine preventative care every year is very important,” said Dr. Nayab Dhanani, Wellstar primary care provider.

During a wellness exam, your physician will check your Foundational 4 Numbers — body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

From there, your physician can help create a screening plan to help keep you ahead of chronic conditions or serious diseases. Recommended screenings may vary depending on your family history, gender and age as well as your physician’s orders.

“The importance of screenings is really to be proactive instead of reactive,” said Dr. Facia Dew, Wellstar primary care physician. “It’s better to know a person’s risk factors so we can screen accordingly. Our goal is to meet their unique medical needs and help them live a healthy life.”

Be sure to bring up any other medical concerns, health questions or wellness goals at the appointment. Wellstar providers are partners in your care, committed to keeping you feeling your best physically, mentally and emotionally.

Spruce up on colon screenings

Talking about colon health can feel a little uncomfortable, but getting screened could save your life. If caught early, colorectal cancer has a 91% survival rate.

Starting at age 45, everyone should get a colonoscopy. Those with a higher risk or family history of colorectal cancer may need to start screening even sooner.

Learn more about how well starts with clean colons.

People should definitely add a wellness exam to their spring-cleaning checklist, regardless of age. Routine preventative care every year is very important.

- Dr. Nayab Dhanani

Wellstar Primary Care Provider

Women: Declutter your schedule

Whether you’re a busy mom, businesswoman or active senior, it can be easy to put your own health on the backburner. This spring, make a commitment to yourself to get the essential screenings you need.

Along with a routine physical to check for any ongoing or new medical issues, a well-woman exam — which includes a pelvic exam, Pap smear and mammogram — can help screen for cancer, STDs and other issues.

These important physical and gynecological health exams can help you stay ahead of potential medical concerns, such as breast cancer, cervical cancer and ovarian cancer.

Learn how to boost your GYN health IQ.

Guys, don’t brush off your health

Men are often seen as protectors, but may not be as proactive about protecting their own health.

Along with a routine physical to stay in top shape, a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test could save your life. It’s true — having this simple blood test done can help catch prostate cancer in its early stages, often when it is more treatable.

Men who are 50 or older should start getting screened for prostate cancer. Those at higher risk — including African American men and those who had a close relative diagnosed with prostate cancer — may start screenings even sooner.

Learn how you can keep feeling your best.

Freshen up your mindset

For people who experience seasonal depression during the fall and winter months, spring’s longer hours of light may bring a renewed sense of hope. Still, lingering feelings of sadness or other difficult emotions could be more than just the “winter blues.”

“We have a screening test called PHQ-2, which is used to screen for depression,” Dr. Dhanani explained. “Patients typically have to answer two questions, and it is a preliminary screening to see if you have any signs or symptoms of depression.”

“Plenty of times, patients don’t even know they have depression. Often, a person may have had the condition for a while and it could be untreated,” Dr. Dhanani said.

If you feel overwhelmed and need support, we’re here for you. Reach out to your provider or one of our behavioral health specialists for help.

Looking for more ways to stay well? Learn about screenings to help keep you healthy.