Check out dad’s health with these seven key questions. oen are notoriously bad at paying attention to their health. They tend to be reluctant to have regular check-ups, they’ll often ignore problems until they get worse and it can take some serious nagging to get them to see a doctor. one of the best ways of showing your dad how much you care this Father’s Day is to encourage him to make his health a priority.
Get him to look at and answer the following questions, which may help pinpoint areas that need checking out.
Does dad often get breathless? If your dad finds himself out of breath while doing everyday activities such as gardening, it may mean he’s unfit. If he’s overweight, smokes or never exercises, then this won’t be a surprise. Breathlessness is not a good sign because it means his heart is under extra pressure. It can also be a warning sign of a serious condition, especially if it isn’t due to any obvious reason like physical exertion. If your dad is also pale and weak he could be anaemic and, if he’s a smoker, it could be due to chronic lung damage.
Does he get chest pains? These can also be a sign that Dad’s heart is under strain. You can have chest pain for a variety of reasons ranging from relatively mild ailments, such as heartburn and indigestion, to more serious problems like heart attacks. If the pain comes on after physical exertion or emotional stress, it could be angina, which is a symptom of heart disease. Your dad can be prescribed medication to help with this. If the pain is ever severe and accompanied by shortness of breath, nausea and dizziness, get help immediately – these are signs of a heart attack.
Is he thirsty all the time? Being a lot thirstier than normal can be one of the signs of type 2 diabetes. other symptoms include an unexplained weight loss, cuts or bruises that are slow to heal, frequent infections and tingling or numbness in his hands and feet.
Does he have trouble sleeping? Sleeping problems, such as difficulty dropping off to sleep or finding it hard to fall asleep again after waking up early, can be due to depression. other signs of depression can include difficulty concentrating, anxiety, feeling flat and unmotivated, and being irritable and grumpy. The symptoms of depression are often not picked up for some time, but the sooner it’s diagnosed, the better it is for the sufferer. If your dad seems down, it’s worth finding out why – he may need medical treatment or support.
Does he have any unusual moles or freckles? If your dad is a Pakeha with fair skin, he has a greater chance of getting skin cancer – and those odds increase if he was sunburnt as a child. Get him to keep an eye on his skin, looking out for any freckles, lesions or moles that suddenly appear or change in shape or size. offer to check out his back, neck and the back of his legs – all places he can’t see properly. If he has moles, he can get these screened by his doctor, a dermatologist or a mole-mapping clinic.
Do your dad’s joints ache? Stiff or painful joints can be due to a variety of reasons but one of the most common is osteoarthritis. Also known as “wear and tear” arthritis, it’s usually the result of years of strain on his joints, especially weight-bearing ones like hips and knees. Your dad’s chances of having this will be greater if he’s suffered injuries, such as torn cartilage, in the past.
Does he have trouble going to the toilet? This is one subject men are usually very reluctant to discuss but it’s important to gently remind your dad that if he is having any kind of difficulty passing urine or bowel motions, he needs to see his doctor about it – and sooner, rather than later. Problems when starting to pee, or in stopping the flow, can be due to an enlarged prostate, as can having to go much more frequently than normal. These things need to be investigated to rule out the possibility of prostate cancer.Meanwhile, he should tell his doctor if he suffers from frequent diarrhoea because this can be caused by bowel conditions like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. Bouts of diarrhoea that alternate with constipation can also be a sign of these illnesses – or even bowel cancer. If your dad also has unexplained weight-loss, get him to see a doctor straightaway.
7 things dad can do to improve his health
Eat a healthy, balanced diet.
Do 30 minutes of physical activity every day.
Give up smoking.
Learn to manage stress.
Have routine checks and tests for problems such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diseases such as prostate and skin cancer.
oaintain a healthy weight.
Enjoy life! Did you know? According to British research, 10% of men avoid going to the doctor about health issues because they are scared they might end up in hospital, while another 10% are too embarrassed to discuss their particular problems with their GP.
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