How To Check Yo'self

In a poll we did on our socials, a massive 94% of you didn't know about the regular check-ups and tests available for teens and people in their 20's. Yet in today's world, literally everything is at our fingertips - even medical care. With one click of a button you can chat to a doc on zoom or book yourself in quicker than you can say acne.

That means there's no excuse for young adults to not have been taught the ins and outs of keeping their bodies and minds healthy. Although we're no health professionals, we know what it's like to be overwhelmed with info - so we've narrowed it down to 7 checks to consider. ❤️‍🔥

1. Skin checks

Living in a beautiful country like Australia means the sun is always shining - but as amazing as that is, it can lead to skin cancer down the track. Yikes.

Though it's not something to overly concern yourself with right now, if you notice any funny lumps, bumps, uneven or raised moles or irritations, go straight to your doc. You won't regret the peace of mind!

2. Cervical cancer

Us gals drew the short straw with this one, but with great power comes great responsibility. No but seriously, being a woman is awesome -you've just got to go through some discomfort every few years to get the green light on your reproductive health.

Cervical cancer can rear its ugly head in young women of any age, and thought its not likely, it's possible. Once you've had your cervical cancer screening (or pap smear) they usually tell you you're in the clear for a few years. So no biggie. And it's really not that bad.

3. Testicular cancer

Testicular cancer: what a ball ache. Due to the surpising fact that the average age of diagnosis is 33, doctors recommend that men from the age of 15 onwards do a monthly self-examination.  

The best time to examine your testicles is right after a hot bath or shower so it's easy to feel any changes or lumps! Get yourself to the doc if you are concerned about anything.

4. Dental checks

We've all been getting our toothies checked for years, but as you get older you'll need to start taking yourself at least once a year to keep on top of dental hygiene.

If you drink coffee or eat a lot of sugar it becomes harder to keep them in good nick, so it's important to go often to avoid any teeth-losing sitch. White teef for days.

5. Getting blood work done

This one is for people who might want to get answers for a medical issue like chronic fatigue - as well as evaluating how well organs like kidneys, liver, thyroid, and heart are working. Blood tests can tell docs a lot about your overall health.

6. Sexual health checks

The one no one wanted to bring up: sexual health. Yes it can be a bit embrassaring, but it's actually nothing to be ashamed of! Every single human on the planet - once they reach a certain age - should be getting themselves checked. 

Heaps of less than ideal issues can arise if you don't bite the bullet n' check yo'self. Like, did you know that if a woman is given chlamydia, is can make her infertile years down the line with no treatment? No thanks. 

And all sexually transmitted diseases can either be cured completely with a simple course of antibiotics, or managed (HIV, herpes) with antiviral medications. So even if the worse case scenario happened, it's not the end of the world.

7. Mental health check

Last but certainly not least, heading to your GP when you're not doing too great on the mental health side is super important. I know many people with anxiety, OCD, ADHD, depresion and bi-polar - which shows how common it is.

If you're feeling low, super anxious, are curious about having a diagnosis or just want some extra support, you don't have to suffer in silence. Once you get yourself to the GP, there's heaps of options. Therapy (also lots of different types), medications, group therapy. The sky is the limit. 

So go forth and take care of yo'self. ❤️

***Disclaimer: All content on the Year13 website is created for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice. Go see a doc!***