Periodic Checkups

I'm 48 and usually go in for a physical about every other year.  I've got high cholesterol so usually get blood work done a couple of times a year.  My doctor has finally accepted the fact that I'm coming in just for a regular physical, and has stopped asking if there isn't some particular reason that my wife was forcing me to go.

I was in Navy & reserves, they did blood work every year & a full physical every 5 years, but never said boo about my cholesterol.  First civilian physical after I retired, doc said I needed to be on cholesterol meds right now...gotta love military medicine.

Depending on how old you are and your family history, you should get full blood work every 1-3 years.  I'm young (27), WITH a family history, but, my numbers were so good the doc told me not to come back for 5 years.  But because of the family history, I'm going for 3.

The numbers you ought to get for sure are:

LDL - Bad Cholesterol level

HDL - Good Cholesterol level

Triglycerides - a form of fatty deposits

According to my hubby (who went to medical school), the overall cholesterol number is not quite as important as the ratios of these numbers.  My overall cholesterol is kinda high - but it's because my HDL, the good stuff, is practically off the charts.  So don't look so much at what your overall is unless your numbers for the 3 specific things are bad too.

here is a linky for how to judge your numbers and what they mean:

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=183 

BP is always good too, but my family always has such low BP i don't think/worry about it, i don't know as much about those numbers. 

Actually, my running coach tells me to make the check 2 times per year, after spring and after summer, so around april and end september.

I got a "welcome to 35" and "welcome to 40" physical at work.  I'm due for the "welcome to 45" physical next year.  Company doc pretty much suggested I follow up on one or two things with my primary care physician after the last physical. 

Because I'm over 40 and do Scouting, I have to get a new physical every year, but that doesn't involve blood work.   I could go to my PCF (for about $150) for these, but I can go to the walk-in center for <$50.  It's probably good to have the long-term history, but at $100 per year differential, it's unlikely.