I’ve always been a worrier. I get concerned when my kids don’t check in for a few days, even though they are adults with their own families. And, when it comes to my health, I’ll be the first to admit that I have spent more than one restless night consulting with “Dr. Google” about symptoms, which, in hindsight were totally benign.

My anxieties about my health stretch back to my childhood. As the daughter of a woman who died from cancer in her late 40s, I have always been aware of my own mortality. But, it wasn’t until recently that I started to get out of reactive mode and to take proactive steps to monitor and control my health.

Since there is nothing more important than staying in good health as we enter our 60s, I want to tell you about one key decision that got me on the right path, physically and mentally. It was such a simple step, but, it had a major impact on my life.

I also want to thank our sponsor, Life Line Screening, for helping to shine some light on this topic. Life Line Screening screens for stroke and cardiovascular disease risk which provides peace of mind or early detection for cardiovascular disease risk.

Why I Decided to Get My First Health Screening

After my mother died, I spent many years learning to deal with my health fears. Becoming a mom definitely helped with this. With other people to look after, I found myself worrying less about myself and more about my kids and husband.

Then, in the space of two weeks, I received two calls that sent me spinning back into my troubled past. The first was from my husband, who told me that one of his colleagues, a man in his 40s, had just passed away. The second was from a friend of mine who had recently been diagnosed with cancer.

For several days, I felt lost. Then, gradually, a thought started to form in my mind. “This is crazy! Why shouldn’t I actually do something about my health? Instead of sitting there worrying, why not get informed? Why not start eating better and moving more?”

With these questions in mind, I signed up for my first private health screening. They checked my blood pressure, did cancer scans and looked for dozens of things that I would have never thought to ask about.

It took a while to get the results and when I finally sat down to talk with the doctor, I was nervous. What would he tell me?

The results were great. There were no indications of any illnesses that they could screen for – other than high blood pressure, which I decided to fix as soon as possible.

Now, at this point, you might be thinking that I just wasted my money on a screening that I didn’t need. But, here’s the thing. Getting this health screening was one of the best decisions that I ever made.

Don’t believe me? Here are 4 ways that getting a health screening can change your life, even if, like me, you find out that you are most likely healthy. 

If you decide that getting a health screening might be a good idea, please check out Life Line Screening or call them on 844.491.0833 to find a location near you. They offer preventive health tests and screenings to detect early risk for stroke, cardiovascular disease risk and other chronic diseases.

CLICK HERE TO GET 50% OFF Your Next Health Screening With Life Line Screening

Getting a Health Screening Can Lead to Healthier Habits

Far from encouraging me to “take my foot off the gas,” my clean health screening report was the kick in the butt that I needed to start taking my body seriously.

In the months following my own health screening, I joined a dance class (I hate gyms!), took up yoga and started walking to my local farmer’s market once a week for fresh fruits and veggies.

Your body is the most wonderful tool that you will ever own and like any complex device, it needs to be taken care of. So, give it plenty of nutritious fuel, keep it moving and seek out expert help when necessary. If you do, your body will keep you exploring, dancing and moving for decades to come!

Get the Peace of Mind that You Deserve

We live in a crazy world. Every day, we are bombarded by shocking headlines. We worry about our family and our friends. Wouldn’t it be great if we could turn down the noise on at least one of our “worry channels?”

In my case, getting a private health screening allowed me to stop worrying about my health so that I could focus on other things. As I mentioned before, I didn’t stop trying to improve my body… I just stopped being anxious about all of the “maybes” and “what ifs.”

There are so many things in this world that genuinely deserve your attention. Instead of worrying about what “could be,” why not get the information that you need to make good decisions, in collaboration with your doctor?

It’s Not All Black and White

Our bodies are beautifully complex. As a result, our health status is not always black or white, sick or well. On the contrary, most of us fall on a spectrum when it comes to our health.

Some of us (like me) have high blood pressure. Others are engaging in behaviors that increase our chances of developing cancer or another serious illness.

Getting a health screening can help us to identify areas of risk that we should be paying more attention to. In many cases, a little focus and a few healthy habits can dramatically change our future.

A health screening is never 100% fail safe. It is an opportunity to learn more about yourself. And, it can be a powerful tool that can help you and your doctor to chart a better course for the decades ahead.

Get Your “Foot in the Door” for Future Screenings

At some point in our lives, most of us will face a health challenge. We just don’t know when it will come.

Having a positive experience with your first health screening is important because it makes it more likely that you will continue to monitor your health in the future.

Like most things in life, the first step is often the hardest. Once you establish a pattern, you have momentum on your side and your good decisions become second nature.

I hope that my experience encourages you to take your health seriously. I can’t tell you whether a health screening is right for you; this is something to discuss with a health professional.

All I can say is that getting a private health screening honestly changed my life in more ways than one. And, as a result, I have continued to make them a part of my life.

If you are interested in finding our more about Life Line Screening and their early detection tests for stroke, cardiovascular disease risk, and other chronic conditions, please check out their website or call them at 844.491.0833 to find a location near you.

Have you ever had a health screening? Would you ever consider getting one in the future? Why or why not?

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Life Line Screening and written by Sixty and Me. Nothing in this article should be considered medical advice. Please consult with your doctor if you have any concerns about your health. Life Line Screening’s tests only cover some specific conditions and is meant to complement your regular doctor’s visits.