Staying healthy is about keeping a close eye on your own body. Here are ten great ways that you can make sure you stay in touch with the signs your body shows.

1. Have a PERF-ect day

There are four things you should monitor every day to make sure you are living healthily: the amount of fresh fruit and vegetables you ate that day (Produce); whether you walked and were active (Exercise); whether you got at least 15 minutes of laughter and fun time for yourself (Relaxation); and whether you got enough beans, grains and other high-fibre foods (Fibre).

If you can say you did well on all four, your day has been extremely healthy.

(Now the bad news: this doesn?t apply if you spent the rest of the day drinking, smoking and eating chocolate.)

2. Get naked every two or three months

Conduct a head-to-toe skin check, looking for any new moles, changed moles and suspicious spots or rashes. Be sure to check your scalp, between your toes and fingers, and the underside of your arms. If you find anything worrying, see your doctor.

Do the ABCD test when checking moles, looking out for these possible danger signs:

  • Asymmetry The two halves of the mole don?t match.
  • Border irregularity The edges of the mole are jagged.
  • Colour Uneven, different shades of black, brown or pink.
  • Diameter More than 6mm.

    3. Monitor your sleepiness

    There are three good ways to tell if you?re not getting enough sleep. First, do you require an alarm clock to wake up most mornings? Second, do you become drowsy in the afternoon, to the point that it affects what you?re doing? Third, do you doze off shortly after eating dinner?

    If the answer to any of these is yes, you need more sleep. And if you?re getting enough sleep (about eight hours) and still have these troubles, talk to your doctor about your low energy.

    4. Measure your height every year after you turn 50

    This is especially important for women as a way of assessing posture and skeletal health. A decrease in stature can be as informative as a change in a bone density test for monitoring your overall bone health. If you notice changes or you have other concerns, speak to your doctor.

    5. Keep track of the colour of your urine

    This may sound weird, but it?s a useful health indicator. Your urine should be a clear, straw colour; if it?s dark or smells strong, you may not be drinking enough fluids. If it stays dark-coloured even after you increase your liquid intake, make an appointment with your doctor. If it?s bright yellow, it may be the B vitamins in your multivitamin tablets (if you take them).

    Click to page two to learn how to detect diabetes, heart problems and blood pressure issues in good time.