Business Insight presented by Arlington Dermatology Health and Wellness! What does it mean to be healthy? There are some general standards setting the metrics for what our health should be and how to assess it and meet those metrics. Many people would say: I feel great, I have no complaints and have not seen a doctor for years. This is a good sign and a bad sign. The good sign is that you feel great. The bad sign is that you have not had a check up for years. Let's discuss why. All of us are born with a pre-set genetic disposition that we might have inherited from our parents or grandparents. These genetic dispositions may also go through some changes occurring just in our body. In medicine, we call them mutations. In other words, you may but you do not have to carry exactly the same dispositions as your older family members. Medical examinations usually do not verify those differences. First of all, it would be very impractical from the cost perspective and secondly, I am not sure it would be totally ethical. However, in some instances, especially during pre-natal and neonatal care, genetic testing is recommended. It is still very imperfect, and we need to be very careful with the final diagnosis and determinations. All of us live in some set environment and we eat and breathe air and drink water. Our genetic code with all the pre-dispositions is then affected by the environment. Industrial areas will probably see much different outcomes of health from rural areas, park- like surroundings, or desert. Each of those, and there are many more factors, will bring additional determination to how our dispositions will evolve. And finally, there are many factors of our own doing. What we eat, whether we smoke, whether we stay with people who smoke, if we drink alcohol and how much, whether we exercise and do physical work, or if we do any other risky behavior that might contribute to our wellbeing. All these factors are cumulative over the years. Again, if you smoked for 10 years and quit, that is great, but you still have 10 years of poisonous toxin in your body that is not going anywhere. It stays with you forever. Now, I always stress how important it is to detect problems early. Any problems, including health. Thus, not seeing a doctor for many years is not a positive contributor to your health. There are many potential medical problems that give no symptoms. You may feel great and still have cancer. Especially if you can identify some genetic influence or risky behavior. This is why most of the metrics of health and wellbeing ask questions about your medical history, family history, and habits. Only when a doctor can establish your full medical profile, it can be determined if you are at potential risk of developing a problem and should continue screening more frequently. Skin cancer is a very good example of early detection and genetics working together.I see a lot of patients with super fair skin who, by definition, are at higher risk of developing skin cancer. If they come in for a check up early enough, we can catch pre-cancerous lesions and eliminate them with a very much non-invasive treatment. However, if they do not bother to be checked by a doctor, their pre-cancerous changes easily and can change into skin cancer and we must apply more invasive procedures. The example of skin cancer is just a small instance. But it can be extended to all parts of our body. And we have power, at least partial, to protect our wellbeing and health. Michael Bukhalo, MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows, IL 60008 Tel. 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net Business Insight presented by Arlington Dermatology Health and Wellness ! What does it mean to be healthy ? There are some general standards setting the metrics for what our health should be and how to assess it and meet those metrics . Many people would say : I feel great , I have no complaints and have not seen a doctor for years . This is a good sign and a bad sign . The good sign is that you feel great . The bad sign is that you have not had a check up for years . Let's discuss why . All of us are born with a pre - set genetic disposition that we might have inherited from our parents or grandparents . These genetic dispositions may also go through some changes occurring just in our body . In medicine , we call them mutations . In other words , you may but you do not have to carry exactly the same dispositions as your older family members . Medical examinations usually do not verify those differences . First of all , it would be very impractical from the cost perspective and secondly , I am not sure it would be totally ethical . However , in some instances , especially during pre - natal and neonatal care , genetic testing is recommended . It is still very imperfect , and we need to be very careful with the final diagnosis and determinations . All of us live in some set environment and we eat and breathe air and drink water . Our genetic code with all the pre - dispositions is then affected by the environment . Industrial areas will probably see much different outcomes of health from rural areas , park- like surroundings , or desert . Each of those , and there are many more factors , will bring additional determination to how our dispositions will evolve . And finally , there are many factors of our own doing . What we eat , whether we smoke , whether we stay with people who smoke , if we drink alcohol and how much , whether we exercise and do physical work , or if we do any other risky behavior that might contribute to our wellbeing . All these factors are cumulative over the years . Again , if you smoked for 10 years and quit , that is great , but you still have 10 years of poisonous toxin in your body that is not going anywhere . It stays with you forever . Now , I always stress how important it is to detect problems early . Any problems , including health . Thus , not seeing a doctor for many years is not a positive contributor to your health . There are many potential medical problems that give no symptoms . You may feel great and still have cancer . Especially if you can identify some genetic influence or risky behavior . This is why most of the metrics of health and wellbeing ask questions about your medical history , family history , and habits . Only when a doctor can establish your full medical profile , it can be determined if you are at potential risk of developing a problem and should continue screening more frequently . Skin cancer is a very good example of early detection and genetics working together.I see a lot of patients with super fair skin who , by definition , are at higher risk of developing skin cancer . If they come in for a check up early enough , we can catch pre - cancerous lesions and eliminate them with a very much non - invasive treatment . However , if they do not bother to be checked by a doctor , their pre - cancerous changes easily and can change into skin cancer and we must apply more invasive procedures . The example of skin cancer is just a small instance . But it can be extended to all parts of our body . And we have power , at least partial , to protect our wellbeing and health . Michael Bukhalo , MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows , IL 60008 Tel . 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net