Why Routine Health Checks Are Necessary
Routine health checks can guide to identify early warning signs of disease or illness. Heart disease, diabetes, and some cancer forms can often be picked up in their early phases, when treatment may be more successful.
When you have an analysis, your doctor will talk to you about your medical history, your family’s history of disease, and your style of living. Your diet, weight, how much you exercise, and whether or not you smoke and drink alcohol or take illegal drugs will also be commented.
If you have high risk factors, such as a family history of a condition, it could be more likely that your body will create a particular disease. Routinary checks will help your doctor pick up early warning signs.
You can try a basic health check at home to verify your health in relation to:
- Diet – a healthy diet improves your general health and wellbeing. Have at least two serves of fruit and five portions of vegetables each day.
- Weight – maintaining a healthy weight dimension helps prevent longer-term diseases, such as arthritis and diabetes.
- Dental care – cleaning your teeth regularly and eating a low-sugar diet can reduce your risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and tooth loss. Visit a dentist or other oral health professional at least once a year for a dental examination and professional cleaning, or more frequently as advised by your dentist.
- Physical activity – regular physical activity is good for your mental health, heart, and bones, and can prevent many diseases. Aim for 30 minutes to an hour of moderate physical activity a day. Moderate physical activity takes some effort, but still allows a conversation to be held (for example, brisk walking, gentle swimming, social tennis).
- Skin checks – check your skin regularly for unusual moles or freckles, and see your doctor if you notice anything unusual. People who work outdoors need a yearly examination by their doctor or a dermatologist.
- Smoking – smoking regularly increment your risk of many diseases, including heart disease, stroke, lung disease, and thin bones. If you smoke, quitting as soon as possible helps reduce the harm.
- Alcohol – persons who have at least two alcohol-free days per week and stick to no more than 2 standard drinks per drinking day have better long-term health.
Usually health checks for women
In order to stay in good condition and select possible health issues at an early stage, it is necessary for women to have regular health checks. There is an estimate of some tests that you should make part of your common routine.
– Pregnancy
You may have a general analysis before becoming pregnant to comment on any health risks during pregnancy. Once you are pregnant, regular antenatal checks help monitor your baby’s development, pick up abnormalities and assess your health.
– Cervical Screening Test
The Pap test has been changed with a new Cervical Screening Test (CST) every five years. The CST is safe, more detailed, and detects human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, the main cause of cervical cancer. Your first CST is due at 25 years of age or two years after your last Pap test. If your analysis is normal you will be due in five years to have your next test. Even if you have been vaccinated against HPV, you should keep having regular screening as the vaccine doesn’t protect against all types of HPV infection known to cause cervical cancer.
– Breast cancer screening
It’s suggested that women between the ages of 50–69 years attend the Breast Screen Program every two years for screening mammograms. There is no data that clinical examination or self-examination offers any health help to women.
Usually health checks for men
It’s a good idea to make regular health checks part of your regular routine. This will help you stay healthy and pick up potential problems early.
– Checks for your bones
When you get older, osteoporosis is a significant risk factor for both men and women. A bone density test exam to determine the health of your bones. Generally speaking, people over the age of 50 should be measured for the need to have a bone density test.
– Other health checks
Your doctor may also recommend other exams based on your family history, your medical history, or current symptoms. Depending on the results of those tests, your specialist may then want to provide a course of treatment, investigate further or refer you to a doctor for diagnosis and prescription.
– Checks for prostate cancer
Examine analysis with your doctor. It is not recommended that all men are routinely tested for prostate cancer. You will need to consider the benefits, risks, and uncertainties of testing, as well as your risk of developing the infection.
The importance of routine health checks
Health checks are commonly incorporated into routine medical care. Your doctor will often perform these checks when you are visiting for another condition, such as a cold or another problem. Your doctor will then tell you how often you need to have a health check.
Having a health check is also a time to examine your lifestyle to see what improvements can be made. This may be something you regularly do yourself or discuss with a healthcare professional.
