GET CHECKED OUT! By Jeff Salmond, CSFM


Editor’s Note: Tis article originally appeared in the January 2019 issue of SportsTurf magazine.


On August 28, 2018, my life was turned upside down ... for the better. Te story begins last year when I turned 45 years old; at my annual physical in May, I asked my doctor about checking into a few things.


Jeff Salmond, CSFM


I have spent a better part of my life outside. When I was a kid growing up farming, I was outside working all the time. Trough college and my career as a sports


field manager, more than 20 years, I have spent outside working. During my 20’s and 30’s I thought I was invincible, I didn’t need to get checked out, right? I’m young and in shape, I don’t have time anyway, and I’m working all the time, etc. Field managers are typically hardheaded, and we can let things slide, too.


But over the past 10-12 years, I have thought better about it and have had an annual physical, with about the same results every year. Cholesterol not bad, with a slightly elevated blood pressure. Over the years I thought I could manage my elevated blood pressure with exercise and diet, but let’s be honest, sometimes that is hard to do. And I do have some hereditary links such as my grandpa quite possibly died of a heart attack, and my father and younger brother


18 TPI Turf News March/April 2019


take blood pressure medicine. So I got on blood pressure medicine this past July. Check #1.


I also wanted a skin cancer screening, for good reason. We sports turf managers of all people should be getting checked out, because working outside is what we do. I have always wanted to do a screening at the annual STMA Conference when the booth is set up, but never made it there. But I was worried that I was going to have to have chunks cut out of my face and arms. I hardly ever wear sunscreen even though I make it available at work for our employees and have plenty at home. So when I saw the referred dermatologist, I was surprised to hear that this fair skinned kid of Scottish descent had no issues. Check #2.


I also asked my primary care physician when do I need to get checked out for “wink-wink” those things men my age are supposed to get checked out. My doctor said not until I was 50. Whew! Check #3, I get a pass for 5 years.


Te last thing I asked my doctor about was a stress test. I had heard about them, but really didn’t know what they were all about, and frankly didn’t think it really applied


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