By Tedler D. Depaynos, MD
After the long holidays celebrated by debauchery of unending previously avoided dishes of fats and uric acid loudly accompanied by strong cheap alcoholized water, one has to reset one’s direction once again to avoid the heaviness and painful joints most commonly affecting the elderlies. The common reason that “it was for the occasion” may be respected if the debauchery will stop since the holidays even if the calendars are non-extendible.
During a prolonged unending cups of black coffee, an advice of a retiree coffee mate even in a joking manner may be significant in controlling alcoholic desires. Upgrading one’s taste once again to the unaffordable Black or Blue bottles would be in order for how can one be tipsy if his wallet is constantly thin? Even if suddenly it may become slightly thick, one will just still stare at their tag prices because of other priorities to purchase especially if one is greatly dependent on his SSS or GSIS pension nowadays. Hence, one would indulge only when the more lucky ones share their blessings. With the cheap local bottles which could be obtained with coins and change in the pocket, one could easily have a staggering gait with a flushed face and sometimes boisterous voice even every day. It could even become a habit because of its cheapness affecting one’s sensitive health in the long run.
Eventually, after a prolonged discussion, the group agreed that diet and drink control basically is SELF DISCIPLINE as suggested by a lawyer coffee mate!
To start the year a set of medical laboratory tests is suggested. Aside from the routine Complete Blood Count (CBC) and urinalysis, blood tests for Diabetis Mellitus (DM) and Renal Function should be routinely done. DM is very insidious and the signs and symptoms are only usually obvious when complications occur. They usually occur after 5 to 10 years of being diabetic and when they occur they are usually irreversible. One of them is Renal Deficiency or Failure.
A routine urinalysis may reveal a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) but when sugar is present it may imply uncontrolled DM.
From experience, a blood pressure (BP) reaching 200 systolic may be due to a Renal Problem.
Routine tests for lipid profile in the blood like the good and bad cholesterol and triglycerides should be done for their control in the long run would contribute to the prevention of heart diseases and even stroke.
For gouty arthritis, a test for blood uric acid is done. Although this disease is more common in males it should also be done in females to confirm other diseases causing their joint pains.
For 45 years and above, an ultrasound of the liver, biliary tree, pancreas and even kidneys is recommended to rule out diseases affecting these organs. For males an ultrasound of the prostate should be included and for females ultrasound of the breasts as well as the pelvic organs should be done because the incidence of the diseases or tumors affecting them is significant at this age group.
For those who have relatives having cancer, blood tests for colon cancer and prostate for males is recommended. Many specialists now advise their patients to undergo a routine gastro-colonoscopy because malignancies of the gastro-intestinal tract are mostly assymptomatic until they are at the late stage. And as a rule early diagnosis of malignancy and early treatment has a very good prognosis. **
