Not so long ago, many of us would not even consider going to the doctor's office unless we were feeling sick. Today, however, we are much more aware about the importance of regular health checks for early diagnosis and treatment of various conditions, including heart problems, diabetes, cancer, hormonal disorders and immune system diseases. This increased awareness of preventive healthcare, coupled with the fact that regular check-ups help us look after our own health in a more informed manner, contribute to our quality of life as well as our wellbeing—both physical and mental.
What is a Check-up?
Check-ups are regular health tests and examinations carried out in accordance with a schedule and frequency determined according to your age, gender, family health history and environmental factors. Regular health checks are important for updating your clinical data, enabling early diagnosis of diseases, and increasing the effectiveness of any subsequent treatment you might receive from a holistic care perspective.
5 Important Reasons to Get a Check-up
- Check-up helps identify your risk factors and enables early diagnosis of potential diseases based on an examination of your lifestyle and genetics.
- It increases the accuracy and effectiveness of later treatments.
- It helps increase your awareness of your current health and what you should do to maintain it.
- It can help reduce healthcare expenses significantly in the long run.
- It enhances health and quality of life.
Who Should Get a Check-up?
An annual check-up is recommended for everyone, whether they have any health problems or not. Individuals who have a family history of chronic and hereditary conditions, live or working in risky environments, lead a busy and stressful life, have a history of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes or cancer or undergoing an important physiological transition such as menopause should take particular care to follow-up on their health checks on a regular basis.
When Should You Get a Check-up?
Although there is no lower age limit to start getting check-ups, current programs are usually intended for individuals ages 20 and up. It is important to start getting regular health checks as early as possible to prevent health problems later in life. The scope and content of check-up programs vary with age, and include more comprehensive examinations for older patients.
What Does Check-up Include?
The contents of a health check-up vary depending on your age, gender and risk factors. This may entail visits to more physicians and a broader scope of tests and examinations. However, regardless of age and gender, almost all check-ups involve basic checks such as blood pressure, pulse, body temperature and respiration rate, detailed physical examinations, and blood and urine tests.
Depending on your age the standard suite of examinations may be expanded with other checks such as detailed cardiovascular assessment, cancer screening including Pap smear, mammography and PSA test, hormone level tests and bone density measurements.
How Are Check-ups Done?
Check-up is not just a health check consisting of examinations and tests, as it also includes face-to-face meetings with specialists from various branches of medicine, from cardiology to chest diseases and internal medicine to neurology, who make comprehensive evaluations. Healthcare providers have developed programs to guide you through this process, which might seem daunting at first. Health check-ups general begin early in the morning, and specialized staff provides assistance as you move from one examination and physician to another.
How Long Does a Check-up Take?
Health check-ups take varying amounts of time based on the scope of the assessment. As a general rule, tests and doctor’s visits are completed within the day, while it may take several days to get your results back.
Preparing for Your Check-up
- You need to fast for some time before your tests in order to ensure the accuracy of the results. Avoid eating and drinking after midnight before the check-up.
- If you are on a prescribed medication, do not take your regular dose on the morning of the check-up. Consult your physician if you have any concerns, and take your prescribed medication with you.
- Avoid alcohol at least three days before the check-up date.
- Wear comfortable and easy-to-remove clothing.
- If your health check-up program includes cardiac stress test, make sure to bring extra clothing and sneakers.
- If you are to take a mammogram as part of the check-up, shower beforehand, but avoid perfumes and body lotions.
- Bring the reports of your previous tests, if any.
Common Misconceptions about Check-ups
- One of the most common mistakes when it comes to health check-ups is that you do not need one because you have no health problems or do not feel ill. A health check-up is not a medical procedure that is performed when you are actually sick. On the contrary, it is an essential tool for diagnosing diseases in their earliest stages, identifying any health risks you may have and helping you make healthy lifestyle changes.
- Another common misconception is that getting only one health check-up is enough. However, check-up programs vary greatly according to the specific needs of a person’s age and gender. Our bodies undergo multiple changes as we age, and it is essential to get regular health check-ups to monitor and manage these changes as necessary, and provide our body with the support it requires.
- Many people believe that a check-up is not necessary if they do not have any family history of heart problems or hereditary diseases like cancer. However, these diseases are not completely hereditary, and you may also be at risk due to other lifestyle factors. Health check-ups reveal these risks early and inform necessary precautions you can take.
- You may feel like you do not need a check-up if you are taking regular blood and urine tests. While it is important to follow-up on your results, a check-up is much more comprehensive than a simple test. It is a holistic assessment of your health condition, including laboratory tests, examinations, various imaging techniques as necessary, and specialists’ evaluations.
Âlâ Banking Offers Free Health Check-ups Exclusive to Customers!
Âlâ Banking believes that health is the best investment, and invites its customers to take advantage of free check-ups at Medical Park hospitals.
Medical Park's exclusive check-up offering for Âlâ Banking customers comprises four healthcare packages, namely Under 40 Female, Under 40 Male, Above 40 Female and Above 40 Male. Each program includes detailed checks, tests and physician's examinations tailored to the needs of the specific age group and gender. Click here for details of the exclusive offer, and learn more about how you can participate.
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