Healthy Isn't A Look

I have high cholesterol but I don't look like it. Healthy isn't a look or a feeling, it's a lifestyle. It's preventative care, not urgent care. 

 I got my first high cholesterol reading at 21 years young. Two different doctors brushed it off because I was young, thin, and “seemed healthy.” Heart disease runs in my family so this wasn't something I was comfortable with just brushing off. I kept hearing, “You’re too young to have a heart attack.” Maybe that felt comforting to them, but to me it just didn't sit right. Even if that were true, I’m not too young to prevent one.

 In my opinion your 20s are when you should start paying real attention to your health. I consider it an adult milestone to schedule and attend your first doctor's appointment alone.  No parent, no partner, no friend, just you asking questions, getting labs, and learning your numbers. This is what self advocacy looks like when it comes to your health. Yet so many people never do this and then just never end up seeing a doctor at all. 

I often hear, “I know my body. I’ll go in when something feels off. I know when my blood pressure is high. I know when I’m not feeling well.” The problem is that many serious conditions don’t give you an early warning. High cholesterol and high blood pressure are often silent for years. Why wait until you don't feel good to do something about it? Preventative care keeps people out of the ER, out of hospitals, and alive longer. Routine checkups, lab work, and honest conversations about family history can catch risks early, with lifestyle changes and, if needed, medication can actually make a huge difference.

We live in a time when so many people do not have to keep dying from conditions that can be managed or delayed with consistent care, lifestyle support, and follow-up. But shame, fear, and past negative experiences with the medical system keep a lot of us away from getting help. We’re embarrassed by our numbers, scared of lectures, or worried about being dismissed because we’re “too young” or we “don’t look sick.”

There’s no magic switch, pill, or spell to being healthy. There’s just full dedication to yourself and your well-being. Being skinny isn’t the fix for being healthy. Skinny doesn’t equal healthy, and fat doesn’t equal unhealthy. Health looks different on everyone, and only you can find out what that looks like for you.You deserve a life where you’re not waiting for a crisis to finally pay attention to your health. Taking back your power starts with the thing that matters most: your healthcare. Schedule the appointment. Ask the questions. Get the numbers. Make caring for your health a habit, not a reaction.

How do you feel about routine checkups and lab work?

• "I'm on top of them regularly."
• "I go only when something feels off."
• "I avoid doctors when I can."
• "I want to go, but I feel anxious or unsure how?"