Staff Wellbeing Month (12 September – 9 October) is all about being proactive about your health and with many of us being a bit lax when it comes to getting regular checks, it’s the perfect opportunity to take stock of your health.

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Perhaps you’ve noticed a bit of weight gain recently, or you’ve been putting off that skin cancer check or bowel cancer screening. Whatever the reason, now is the time to do something about it.

Make your first action item a visit to the Staff Wellbeing and Health Expo on Thursday 12 September. Drop by the Expo anytime between 10.30am and 2pm to get your free health assessment at the Health Kiosk, or speak to medical professionals at the MQ Health stall.  The free health assessments will continue for the duration of Wellbeing Month (you will find the Health Kiosk just inside the entrance to the MUSE Building ,18 Wally’s Walk).

Then, book in to hear Macquarie’s own Dr Luke Morphett talk about preventative health on Tuesday 17 September. He’ll be talking about how to interpret your results from the Health Kiosk, as well as lifestyle changes you can make today to improve your health tomorrow (why not try Wellbeing Month’s free lunchtime fitness classes, which start on Thursday?).

Once you’ve got the basics covered, here’s how often you should be getting other checks and screenings, according to the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (download your own preventive health checklist here).

All ages

Regular check-ups with your GP – discuss diet, exercise, smoking and alcohol intake. Check weight, height, BMI, waist circumference.	Yearly
Blood pressure check	Every two years
Screening for sexually transmitted infections	As needed
Talk to your GP about mental health concerns or family and domestic violence	As needed
Consider skin check for cancer	Self-examine for concerning changes yearly
Cervical screening text – for women 25 to 74 years	Every five years

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From age 40-50 years, add:

Comprehensive cardiovascular risk assessment (heart health check)	Every two years
Cholesterol check	Every five years (or more frequently if needed)
Check for risk of developing diabetes	Every three years
Bowel cancer screening (from 50 years, if not at increased risk)	Every two years
Mammograms (breast cancer check) – for women from 50 years (if not at increased risk)	Every two years
Talk to your GP about kidney health and bone strength	Regularly
Discuss any changes to your urinary flow or frequency	As needed

From age 65 years+, add:

Regular visits to your GP to discuss exercise, mobility/balance, hearing and dental health.

 

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Register for Staff Wellbeing Month. Highlights of the first week include:

• Event launch and mental health seminar – Thursday 12 September
• Free staff hearing checks – Wednesday 18 September
• Female heart health seminar – Wednesday 18 September
• Social media and body image seminar – Wednesday 18 September

Don’t forget that by attending a lunchtime seminar or exercise class, you can enter the draw to win some fantastic prizes!