Covid-19 has been at the forefront for the past few months – possibly distracting us from our general health. With the sharp focus on physical distancing, hand washing, and mask-wearing there have been fewer cases of seasonal infections like the common cold, flu and pneumonia, and even a reduction in the spread of meningitis!  All good, but there have been fewer visits to the doctor, which might mean that you have been neglecting regular check-ups.

Managing chronic conditions like HIV, diabetes and high blood pressure are just as important as evading coronavirus. Avoiding treatment not only makes you more vulnerable if you do contract Covid-19, but also puts you at risk of severe long-term consequences and even death. The same applies to mental health conditions like depression and bipolar.

We don’t know how long pandemic protocols are going to be in place at healthcare facilities. That means that “waiting until it’s over” for your next check-up is not the answer. In addition, ignoring symptoms until they are critical reduces your chances of recovery. Early detection of diseases such as cancer can have a huge impact on the treatment and prognosis.

It is worthwhile to get to know your body well so that you can detect unusual lumps, bumps, changes in skin colouration or texture or other body functions.  You could even ask a close friend or family member to observe and/or take a picture of what’s going on where you can’t see. DIY screening habits are particularly effective for early detection of breast cancer.  Download a Breast Self-Examination Chart and commit to a monthly routine.

If you discover something unusual or need a check-up for a chronic medical condition, phone the healthcare facility ahead of time to find out what safety protocols are in place. You could even inquire about whether Telehealth is available – these are consultations that take place over the phone.

Don’t set yourself up for bad health in future. The pandemic will end. When that happens, you don’t want to be dealing with health issues that could have been treated early on. And remember to be flexible. Our healthcare system was as unprepared for this as we were. Things might take a little longer and work differently than normal, but treatment is available.

 

Author: Tarryn Cox, Karen Simpson

Source: Johns Hopkins Medicine, Mayo Clinic, NICD Communicable Diseases Communiqué | September 2020