60 second health check you should be doing

The 60 second health check you should be doing

It could save your life. - by Olivia Hart

While women are taught to check for breast lumps from a young age, other areas of the body go overlooked.

WATCH: 5 breast cancer symptoms that don't come in the form of a lump

This easy one-minute health scan which you can do in the mirror may just save your life. It targets those easy to miss areas on your body like the neck, head and mouth.

With a 3.6 percent rise in head and neck cancer since 2016, it’s more important than ever that people are keeping tabs on their own health.

Try incorporating this quick check-up in your mornings routine. It's easy to do when you’re putting on makeup or brushing your teeth.

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Here’s how

Face

Turn your head from side to side in the mirror and inspect the skin on your face for any unusual swelling. Be on the lookout for moles that have increased in size or started to itch or bleed.

Neck

Run your fingers up your neck and along your jaw line feeling for bumps and lumps. Paying attention to the muscles on either side, check that they are the same and one does not feel swollen.

Mouth

Have a look over the outside of your lips for anything unusual including returning ulcers or changes in texture. Inspect the inside of your mouth including the roof and the gums for redness or bumps and feel your cheeks inside and out for tenderness, making sure they are even on both sides.

Be sure not to forget the tongue, all you have to do is look on both sides for any red or white patches, numb spots or lumps.

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