10 things you should know about your health

Maybe you like spicy food, Beaujolais and big dogs but you don't like wet socks or Sunday afternoons alone. Overall, you think you know yourself pretty well. But do you? You could have hidden health and lifestyle problems, and you should know about them now so you can prevent medical problems before they arise.

1. Your health pedigree
Like it or not, you probably have a medical skeleton in the closet. Whether it's undiscussed mental illness or three generations of breast cancer, you need to know about genetic health concerns like heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease.
Take action: Compile a medical family tree (go to www.mayoclinic.com for help), then ask your doctor to recommend preventative strategies.

2. Your body shape: Apple or pear?
According to UCLA nutrition expert Dr. David Heber, the fruit your body resembles determines many health risks. Apple shapes carry most of their weight in their waist and are susceptible to heart disease, cancer and high blood pressure. They tend to gain and lose weight quickly. Pear shapes carry weight in their hips and butt, have a slower metabolism, and lose weight slowly.
Take action: If you're an apple, make protein 30 per cent of your diet and do aerobics and weight training in equal parts. Pears should avoid alcohol, eat more vegetables and do strengthening exercises.

3. Whether you're insulin resistant
Considered a risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, obesity and cancer, insulin resistance occurs when the body metabolizes carbohydrates improperly, forcing the pancreas to overproduce insulin.
Take action: If blood tests reveal that you're insulin resistant, get moving. Combine aerobics and strength training five times a week, lose 10 per cent of your body weight if you are overweight, increase greens in your diet and talk to your doctor for more lifestyle and prevention tips.

4. Your risk of early menopause
Early menopause may mean a 50 per cent increase in your risk of heart attack or stroke and a doubled chance of osteoporosis. And it may be genetic. A Brigham and Women's Hospital study in Boston found 37.5 per cent of women who started menopause by age 42 had a family history of early menopause.
Take action: Your doctor may suggest taking 1,200 mg of calcium a day. Do weight-bearing exercises three times a week, don't smoke, enjoy a low-fat diet and visit www.menopausecanada.com for more information.

5. Hidden food allergies
Although the prevalence of food allergies has doubled in the past 30 years, many Canadians live with symptoms without realizing the cause. Allergies can trigger everything from eczema and asthma to migraines and teeth-clenching. A 1984 Turkish study even linked mouth ulcers to allergies to wheat, oranges, tomatoes, chocolate, nuts, tea and cola.
Take action: Purify yourself with a detox diet, "then, when you reintroduce certain foods, you get a reaction and you know where your allergy lies," says Dr. Nish Joshi, author of Dr. Joshi's Holistic Detox (McArthur/Hodder & Stoughton, 2006).

Click to continue for 5 more essential facts you need to know about your health...

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6. The state of your oral health
Caused by dental plaque, gingivitis is associated with a 63 per cent increased risk of pancreatic cancer, according to a 2007 Harvard School of Public Health study. Dentists say that because we have our own teeth longer than previous generations, gum disease is on the rise, with an estimated 75 per cent of Canadian adults affected, according to the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association.
Take action: Brush and floss regularly and maintain a well-balanced diet, particularly during pregnancy and menopause, when women are more susceptible to gum disease.

7. Whether you sleep enough
On average, Canadians get 20 per cent less sleep than they did a century ago, before electric lights were introduced. And we're paying for it. Not only does sleep deprivation cause increased fatigue and mental disorders, a Columbia University study found that adults who get less than four hours of sleep a night are 73 per cent more likely to be obese.
Take action: Stick to a relaxing bedtime routine; avoid food and alcohol after 8 p.m. and don't watch TV in bed.

8. If you're at risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS)
Described as the disease with no known cause or cure, MS attacks the central nervous system and causes fatigue, impaired vision, memory loss and poor motor skills. Canadian researchers recently found the incidence in women has tripled in the past 60 years, possibly due to lifestyle, environment and genetic factors.
Take action: Educate yourself. Visit the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada's website at www.mssociety.ca.

9. The pattern of your menstrual cycle
Irregular periods can have several causes but if you also have facial hair, a deepened voice and benign ovarian cysts, you may have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormone imbalance disorder that affects five to 10 per cent of Canadian women. PCOS sufferers have trouble conceiving, a 70 per cent miscarriage rate and are seven times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.
Take action: Talk to your doctor, get plenty of exercise and rebalance your hormones with a diet that matches carbohydrates and protein, gram for gram.

10. If you're getting enough zinc in your diet
Do you love carbs, but have dermatitis, stomach pain, diarrhea, respiratory problems, no appetite and slow-healing wounds? Far from minor irritations, they spell a suppressed immune system from zinc deficiency. Caused by a high-cereal/low-protein diet, zinc deficiency affects everything from your skin to gene regulation.
Take action: Boost your intake of legumes and other protein sources and take 6 to 12 mg of zinc daily.

If you're concerned about any aspect of your health, it's important to visit your doctor. Learn how to talk to your doctor and make the most of your visit.

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