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Let’s Get Physical

79 views · Published 8 November 2014 · 1:57 · Indexed 1 November 2026

Channel: Lee Health · 2014 · Science & Technology

Finding a problem before it becomes a crisis - it’s the bottom line benefit of a yearly health exam.

“One of the things I try to encourage my patients to do, is to get a wellness exam or an annual physical exam every year. Whether or not you’re feeling well and thinking that you’re healthy. Because there maybe underlying problems developing,” says Lee Memorial Health System Vice President of Health and Wellness Dr. Sal Lacagnina.

By the time symptoms arise, many diseases and conditions are already established. Including some cancers, diabetes and heart disease.

“Heart disease and vascular disease takes years to develop, so typically I’ll see people who have high cholesterol and they’ll feel good. And what happens in your body is these blood vessels are getting clogged and over time something bad is going to happen. Either you develop dementia, you have a heart attack or stroke, you develop kidney failure,” says Dr. Lacagnina.

Adults, from young to middle age are more likely to let their physicals slip by, and that’s when health conditions can silently creep up. Experts find parents are pretty good about getting regular checkups for their kids, but fall down on the job when it comes to themselves.

“I think we lose people once they become adults, probably from their early 20s until their 40s and 50s, when at that time people may start to have problems,” Dr. Lacagnina says.

Forty is the age when women are recommended to get a baseline mammogram if they haven’t already. Around fifty is the golden age to undergo bone density testing - after menopause. Men should consider a PSA for prostate cancer screening at fifty. At that age, both sexes should get a colonoscopy and regular cardiovascular checkups.

“The best treatment is prevention. So let’s not get to the point where we have to cure a chronic illness or treat a cancer if we can avoid those problems,” says Dr. Lacagnina.

The best advice is to ‘get physical’ in protecting your health.

View More Health Matters video segments at leememorial.org/healthmatters/

Lee Memorial Health System in Fort Myers, FL is the largest network of medical care facilities in Southwest Florida and is highly respected for its expertise, innovation and quality of care. For nearly a century, we’ve been providing our community with everything from primary care treatment to highly specialized care services and robotic assisted surgeries.

Visit leememorial.org

Let’s Get Physical

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