As a physician with years of experience, I wish I had a dime for every time I had a patient say they didn't need a physical because the are in good health. Well, if the outside appearance of a human was all we needed to see to understand the inside wellbeing - I would be out of a job. The truth is heart disease, cancer, and multiple other problems often arise in the people that we would least expect. Understanding the myths of good health, and learning how to truly identify problems will help you take charge of your wellbeing and may prolong life. Preventative measures do save lives.

MYTH 1 - I HAVE A GREAT HEART BECAUSE I EXERCISE EVERYDAY

Although exercise is a very important role in health maintenance, it does not prevent heart disease in and of itself. Many people who exercise have high cholesterol due to genetics, or blockages that they are unaware of. This is why you hear stories of people who just "drop dead"yet they appeared "so healthy".

MYTH 2 - I ONLY NEED A COLONOSCOPY IF I HAVE A FAMILY HISTORY OF COLON CANCER

Family history of colon cancer does increase your risk, but is not the only risk factor. Age, diet, activity level, smoking, and colon polyps have all been linked to this type of colon cancer. Colon screenings have changed dramatically and the Virtual Colonoscopy does not require a sedative and you can return to work the same day. If you wish, you can obtain a CD of the procedure and "fly" through your own colon for entertainment!

MYTH 3 - ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION ARE A NORMAL PART OF LIFE

Anxiety and depression episodes that are few and far between (and with cause) can be normal. What isn't normal is losing sleep because you lay awake worried. Feeling tired and run down on a regular basis is not something you have to live with. A number of medical conditions can play into these symptoms and may be warning signs. If you are experiencing these symptoms, talk to your doctor and obtain medical testing to rule out a physiological cause.

MYTH 4 - IF I STOP SMOKING NOW IT WON'T MATTER

Nothing could be further from the truth. Smoking causes continuous damage to your organs. Many diseases and disorders are linked to cigarette smoke, both first and second hand. People who stop smoking actually feel better and report less illness. Kicking the habit is tough, but well worth it. Do it for you and do it for your loved ones.

MYTH 5 - WORKING 60 HOURS A WEEK WILL NOT AFFECT MY HEALTH

Wrong. Our bodies were not meant to be machines. Health is directly linked to life balance. Take time to relax and spend time with your family, and take time to enjoy a good game of golf. Burn-out is non-productive and detrimental to your health.

How often do you work to perfect your golf swing? I bet you have worked it from all angles and analyzed it thoroughly, even in your sleep. Now, how often do you take an in-depth look at your personal health? Often, people try to get by with as little information as possible and ignore the warning signs. This approach is not going to prevent anyone from getting sick or developing problems; it only pushes the inevitable to the point of unfixable. The other choice is to take control of your health and take steps to ensure that you are doing everything possible to stay healthy as long as you can.

There are a few warning signs that should never be ignored and should prompt you to schedule your yearly physical exam without hesitation:
" Recurring pain or ache
" Blood in the stool
" Dizzy spells
" Fatigue
" Family history of cancer, heart disease, or diabetes
" A feeling of anxiety or depression
" Shortness of breath

Getting a thorough physical exam is not painful, and only requires one or two days out of the 365 you have per year. Medical technology has advanced to levels that we never would have dreamed, but we are lucky enough to experience. The choice is yours, you can chose to take responsibility for your health, or you can chose to ignore it. I bet if you look around you can find a few great reasons why ignorance is not an option.