5 Ways to Give Your Body an MOT

While most of us want to do what we can to look after our health, sometimes life gets in the way. You always mean to get around to making a doctor’s appointment, but before you know it a problem has come and gone and you never even had the chance to tell a professional. Sometimes you do manage to book that appointment, only to find out that it was nothing that couldn’t have been treated at home on your own. That’s why I love learning about my body and what I can manage on my own as part of a head to toe Health MOT. Here are five ways that you can give your body an MOT.

 

Head

It makes sense to start at the top of the body and work your way down, so the first thing you want to do is think about your scalp and if there are any differences you have noticed lately. Some differences might include an itchy or dry scalp, or even the loss of some of your hair. Once you have looked at the outside of your head, think more inwardly – have you been getting headaches? Is your vision okay recently? While a dry scalp is something you can treat at home by yourself, identifying dizziness or an increase in migraines is something you should bring to your doctor to speak about.

Shoulders

One of my favourite parts of having a Head to Toe Health MOT is that I get to really break down each part of my body and think about it in detail. So thinking about my shoulders might mean asking myself questions like “have I had any tension recently?”, which could indicate external stressors that are impacting my life, but it also incorporates the neck, which is a part of the body which often gets overlooked. Something I was fascinated to learn about was the impact of your lymphatic system in your body, so the neck is a really important place to keep track of as you can see any swelling in your lymph nodes which may indicate you are about to get poorly and it is time to stock up on medicine!

Abdomen

Most of us are used to the odd abdomen cramp or two – whether that be period cramps, bloating or gas, abdomen pain is unfortunately part of many peoples’ lives. While the majority of these pains can be handled by popping into your local pharmacy, it’s always worth making sure you know for certain what you are dealing with. Take note of feelings such as burning in your abdomen or pain when going to the toilet and talk to your local pharmacist, and they will probably be able to give you a quick remedy. 

Skin

The skin is the biggest organ, so it’s important we do everything we can to keep it feeling fresh and happy! While many people think a health MOT is something that should be conducted internally, I think it’s just as important to look on the outside as this can often be an indicator of things going on inside. Take note of things like new dry patches, discolouration or changes in texture to your skin, and take these to a pharmacist to talk about how they can help you look and feel better. If you find any new growths or lumps when looking at any area of your skin, or any moles that have grown larger, make sure you make that all-important doctor’s appointment to rule out anything of concern.

Hands and Feet

Finally, keeping track of our hands and feet is actually a great way to gain insight into our overall health. You may notice symptoms like weakness or tingling in your hands and feet, which might indicate it is time to make a doctor’s appointment and investigate things further. Something I was surprised to find out about when doing a health MOT was that you should also try and take notice of whether or not any wounds on your feet are healing as quickly as they previously have done. If you aren’t sure if there are any changes to your hands and feet, it might be worth taking a picture of them as they are and then taking a new picture in a week to compare.

 

Have you ever conducted a health MOT on yourself? Are you someone who prefers to check in with the doctor on a regular basis, or manage things at home where you can? Share your thoughts in the comments below.