February is National Self-Check Month, a crucial reminder to prioritize overall well-being by regularly assessing your physical, mental, and emotional health. Physical self-checks are especially important because early detection of potential issues can help prevent serious illness and improve outcomes. Following are tips for self-checks that can help keep you healthy, reduce burden on already overburdened healthcare systems, and improve body awareness that often leads to healthier lifestyle choices.
Breast & Testicular Cancer
- At least once a month, check for lumps or abnormalities.
- Visit SelfChec.org for breast (women and men) and testicular exams instructions.
- Know your risk factors, which may include genetics, lifestyle, and environmental factors.
Skin Cancer – Check for:
- New moles that look different from other ones
- New red or darker color flaky patch that may be a little raised
- New flesh-colored firm bump
- Change in the size, shape, color or feel of a mole
- Sore that does not heal
Other Checks for Good Health
- Monitor vital signs like body temperature, pulse rate, and blood pressure – changes in these can signal health issues.
- Watch for persistent symptoms like fatigue, unexplained weight loss, or chronic pain that could be red flags for underlying issues.