When you monitor your health at home, you can find concerns early so your doctor can help you address any problems. If you have a health condition, self-monitoring and reporting to your doctor is an absolute must. Board-certified internist, Lifestyle Medicine diplomate, and HMSA Medical Director Rupal Gohil, M.D., answered our questions about home monitoring, shared six types of health checks you should perform regularly, and how to do them.
Why is monitoring your health at home important?
When it comes to managing health, there’s one person who knows your body best: you. While medical professionals are essential partners in your care, you’re the first line of defense in noticing changes, tracking symptoms, and ensuring you receive care that fits your individual needs. In today’s world of accessible health tools and knowledge, self-monitoring at home is more convenient than ever and doing self-checks should be a standard part of everyone’s lives.
What should you ask your doctor to make sure you check the right things at home?
- Based on my age and risk factors, what health checks should I be doing at home and how often should I be doing them?
- How should I track and share my self-check findings with you? What changes would require me to schedule a visit?
- Is there anything specific that I should be doing to help improve my health?
- Is there anything you’re aware of that I’m doing that could harm my health?
If you have a health condition, why do you need to monitor and report your health findings
Tracking your health is non-negotiable if you live with a chronic condition such as diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, or heart disease. Following your doctor’s instructions for at-home monitoring can:
- Help adjust medications safely.
- Prevent serious complications.
- Minimize ER visits or hospitalizations.
- Improve long-term health outcomes.
Be sure to visit your doctor as directed. When you come in consistently and communicate openly, you and your doctor can make better-informed decisions about your health care.
Waist size can be an indicator of increased risk for some conditions.
What types of health checks/self-exams should everyone do regularly?
1. Blood pressure: High blood pressure (hypertension) often has no symptoms but affects your blood vessels when persistently elevated. This increases your risk of stroke, heart attack, and kidney disease over extended time.
How to check: Use an automatic home cuff weekly or go to your local fire station, Federally Qualified Health Centers, or pharmacy, especially if you have a family history or other risk factors. Check online for a location near you and call ahead to ensure availability.
2. Stools: Changes in stool can signal a range of gastrointestinal issues. For example, pale or clay-colored stools may suggest gallbladder, pancreatic or liver problems, while persistent changes in consistency or the presence of blood or mucus could indicate infection, inflammation, or more serious conditions. Any unusual or ongoing changes should be reported to a health care provider promptly.
How to check: Regular visual inspection when using the bathroom is usually sufficient. Note color, shape, consistency, and the presence of blood or mucus. Keep track of any patterns or changes. In addition, be sure to get your colorectal cancer screening per guidance for your age.
Use the ABCDEs of melanoma to regulary check your skin.
3. Skin checks: Spotting new or changing moles and lesions can lead to early detection of skin cancer. Anything that appears unusual (learn the ABCDEs of melanoma) or has changed recently should be brought up with your primary care physician.
How to check: Perform a full-body check once a month- this includes all skin including palms and soles, using a mirror for hard-to-see areas. Ask a family member for help if you have difficulties, especially for looking at the back and scalp areas.
4. Breast self-exams: It’s important to become familiar with your normal breast tissue. This can help you detect lumps or changes early. Any hard spots, changes in the nipples or the skin, drainage or discomfort should be brought to the attention of your doctor. Don’t panic if you find something, but don’t ignore it.
How to check: Learn how to examine your breasts and report any changes to your doctor. Remember to check your underarms , breast tissue extends into the armpit and lymph nodes are located there. Ask your doctor if you’re not sure how to do one. Self-exams do not replace your doctor’s recommendations for breast cancer screening using additional tests.
5. Weight and waist circumference: Sudden weight gain or loss may indicate fluid retention, hormone imbalance, or changes in metabolism. Waist size is a simple but powerful measure of visceral fat (fat around your organs), which is linked to an increased risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers — even in people with a normal weight.
How to check: Weigh yourself weekly or monthly and measure your waist a few times per year with a goal to decrease to less than 35 inches for women and less than 40 inches for men. These thresholds may vary slightly based on ethnicity and body type. For example, some health organizations recommend lower cutoffs for people of Asian descent (e.g., >35.5 inches for men, >31.5 inches for women) due to a higher risk at lower levels of abdominal fat.
Monitor your temperature when sick or after surgery.
6. Body temperature: Fever is often the first sign of infection or inflammation and is generally defined as a temperature of greater than 100.4 degrees F. It’s normal for body temperatures to naturally fluctuate throughout the day and temperatures can also shift with hormonal changes. However, elevations greater than 100.4 or a persistent elevation in the 99.5-100.3 range, particularly if accompanied by symptoms, may warrant an evaluation.
How to check: Use a digital thermometer when feeling unwell or monitoring post-surgical recovery.
You know your own body best and can notice subtle changes in weight, skin, or energy levels. By keeping tabs on your health at home, you can catch potential problems early, provide real-time data to your doctor, make better-informed health decisions, and actively manage chronic conditions.
Your health is your responsibility and your right. With the proper tools, questions, and commitment, you can become your own best advocate, leading to better care.
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