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stbuffvittesuntribunewk saturday march 312007 3 in on checkups bymichael power staff writer sure you exercise and try to eat well maybe you poke around on the internet look ing for health and medical advice too how about a regular checkup with your doctor these days do people still fit a yearly physical into already packed schedules it depends on the age said john fitzsimons a doc tor who practises at clinics in bradford and aurora patients between 20 and 30 likely dont need to come in for a yearly physical he said but as those patients get older the need for pre ventive maintenance increases people who are smoking or drinking too much know theyre smoking and drinking too much and if youre between 30 and 50 your need for a regu lar checkup depends on risk factors such as family med ical history and whether you smoke patients older than 50 should visit their doctors annually also younger patients should get checked out regu larly if theres a family history of conditions such as prostate or colon cancer dr fitzsimons said you cant fit everyone into the same category he said rioting roughly 25 per cent of his patients come in for regular checkups i think its best if you look at each case often patients who lead healthy lives are the ones who regularly visit their doc tors while those with risky lifestyles visit less said robert doherty chief of family practice at southlake regional health centre people who are shioking or drinking too much know theyre smoking and drink ing too much and thats what i tell them he said adding about half his patients visit regularly the province recently staff photosteve somerville a checkup is also a good way for doctors to get to know their patients dr nick voudouris said moved to provide more funding for nurse practition ers as well as ensuring high er enrolment in medical schools he said that will help ensure you can receive examinations as well as regular followups which are tough if you only visit walkin clinics were certainly trying to do all we can he said people getting regular checkups often do so because of longstanding habits of visiting their doc tors said dr nick voudouris chief of family practice at york central hospital just as often patients who dont visit their doctors continue to stay away that is unless a major health con cern comes up they apply for insurance or perhaps a worried family member asks them to get checked as for what to get checked the answer is dif ferent for men and women dr voudouris said women often visit doc tors to get screened for cervi cal cancer with young women wanting to discuss childbirth and contracep tion as women age medical needs shift toward dealing with the risk of diabetes high cholesterol and weight gain young men often feel they dont need regular checkups he said still visits focus on lifestyle choices they are making older men often book regular appointments to monitor arid check for con ditions such as prostate can cer high blood pressure and cholesterol some studies have shown serious disease might not be caught simply through such regular visits dr voudouris said but other less tangible reasons can make the regu lar checkup worthwhile for the average person checkups allow doctors to discuss your lifestyle and recommend changes such as quitting smoking or con suming less alcohol a checkup is also a good way for doctors to get to check it out some things to check during physical examinations men 20 to 35 years old discuss lifestyle issues such as exercise and if a patient smokes or drinks alcohol 35to50 prostate check such as through a blood test and digital exam screening for colorectal cancer conditions such as diabetes and hypertension 50 and up screening for prostate and col orectal cancer diabetes and hypertension cholesterol women 20 to 35 years old reproductive health and pap test discuss lifestyle such as whether a patient smokes drinks alcohol and exercises discuss osteoporosis risk fac- tors- 35 to 50 mammogram around age 40 perhaps colorectal cancer screening around 50 if family his tory 50 and up mammogram every two years discussion of diabetes and hypertension could check bone density screening for colorectal cancer cholesterol know their patients dr voudouris said the soft reasons for get ting a physical are often the best ones he said so i think its a valuable experi ence youre your own best asset so you want to make sure youre all right reduce rejuvenate reinvigorate refresh cellulite reduction laser hair removal using advanced rf technology safe effective permanent see our website for city tvs feature special 50 off your first treatment special full legs bikini 295 specials effective for the month of april please call for a noobligation consultation 6038 main street stouftville 905646i0q92 wwwmedispacliniccom medispa clinic on main