Health checks are a preventive step to fight against the potential threats to your health. It helps individuals to monitor their overall health and determine potential health-related problems that may become severe over time. For sure, it’s not just a step, but a series of screenings and tests with consultations that provide a comprehensive overview of an individual’s health.
In this post, you will explore the importance of regular health examination, your expectations versus reality, and more. So, let’s begin with its vitality.
Regular Health Checks: Why Are They Important?
Well, routine health checks are not only for those who are feeling sick. Instead, they are crucial for everyone. Its obvious reason is life, which can be threatened through communicable, non-communicable, and lifestyle diseases.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has revealed in this regard that 71% of patients are succumbed to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as health problems, cancer, and diabetes across the globe. Fortunately, these medical conditions are manageable and preventable also, given that they are detected. This is where the regular health checks emerge as important. These examinations provide an opportunity to spot risks by discovering chronic conditions. Accordingly, they can go ahead with vaccinations to maintain optimal health. Overall, it’s in your hands to live a healthy or unhealthy life. And, getting a full–body checkup guides you to be well.
What to Expect During Routine Health Checks
Now that you know how crucial routine health screening is, let’s discover what people expect from them. Obviously, they visit the doctor with high hopes, which is to stay healthy. This is the foremost expectation. These checks are not ideally similar for people of all ages and genders. Each has his own medical history and lifestyle factors. So, the experienced general practitioner recommends according to various factors. However, some standard procedures can be the following:
- Medical History Review
Before recommending any test or medicine, a qualified doctor thoroughly examines the medical history of the patient. He will certainly want to dig out your past illnesses, surgeries, family health problems, current medications, allergies, etc. Besides, he discovers other lifestyle habits, such as what you eat, how much you exercise, and your smoking and alcohol consumption habits also. These all details reveal various conditions and risk factors for the patient.
- Physical Examination
The next expectation is associated with physical examination. This screening measures vital signs, which can be blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature. Besides, your eyes, ears, throat, and abdomen are also thoroughly examined to monitor the physical condition of your reflexes and mobility. Majorly, these checks are recommended:
- Blood Pressure Check
Your blood pressure needs consistent monitoring. The reason is obviously its deep connection with heart diseases like stroke and heart attacks. Overall, high or low blood pressure can prove the silent killer if it remains ignored or unchecked. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) surveyed and found that nearly half of its adult population suffers from hypertension. Despite knowing its severity, only 1 out of 4 proactively keeps it controlled.
- Body Mass Index (BMI)
Your body mass index enables you to assess your weight. Certainly, it is calculated using this formula:
BMI= Weight (kg)/ Height (m)2
Or, BMI=Weight (lbs) × 703/Height (in)2
This formula enables you to calculate your BMI and find out if you’re underweight, overweight, or ideally maintained. Typically, people gain weight and become obese, which mutely summons many chronic conditions like diabetes and heart problems.
- Laboratory Tests
The next expectation is associated with blood and urine tests. These examinations reveal these insights into your health condition:
- Complete Blood Count (CBC)
Sometimes, people feel lethargy and weakness but continue with their routine activities. These are some common symptoms of imbalanced red and white blood cells, haemoglobin, and platelets. With it, doctors discover which blood component is inadequate. Accordingly, the doctor discovers if he or she is suffering from anaemia, infection, or leukaemia.
- Blood Glucose Test
This test is certainly helpful in discovering your blood sugar levels. Its identification is a must to discover if you’re suffering or likely to suffer from a dangerous lifestyle disease called diabetes. The International Diabetes Federation reveals that 1 in 11 adults has diabetes, and many of them don’t know about it.
- Lipid Profile
This test introduces you to your own cholesterol levels. Simply put, you discover if you have LDL (bad cholesterol) or HDL (good cholesterol) and triglycerides. The second level reveals that you have a significant risk for heart disease.
- Screenings for Specific Conditions
The aforementioned tests and screenings are for everyone. But specific screenings are recommended if the patient shows any concern. So, the general practitioner recommends the following tests according to the age, gender, and risk factors.
- Cancer Screenings
It is recommended for those who have any tags or moles that are changing over time. Besides, females are suggested mammograms if they see any changes in them. It helps in detecting breast cancer timely. Likewise, if the patient complains about headaches, grinding or popping noise or sensation when turning neck or muscle spasms in neck and shoulders, he recommends Pap smears. It identifies cervical cancer. These screenings help in early detection, which increases the chances of successful treatment.
- Bone Density Test
This test is for those who are 65 or 70 years old. It determines the density of the bone, which helps in detecting a condition called osteoporosis. It scans weak bones and possibility of fractures. At this age, it won’t be possible to recover bone injuries. So, this test is considered important.
- HIV and STI screenings
This is a test to identify sexually transmitted infections, such as HIV. It is for every individual who is between the ages of 13 and 64.
- Vaccinations and Immunisations
Another obvious expectation is the medicine or treatment. The routine health checks guide patients to know about vaccinations related to their illness. The certified physician recommends vaccines and immunisation treatment, like for influenza, tetanus, HPV, etc., according to the age and health status.
- Mental Health Assessment
If you’re mentally strong and healthy, your overall health will be fine. So, doctors often suggest mental health screening when you complain about your mood swings, stress, and any other symptoms of anxiety or depression. These are some obvious conditions that can arise due to emotional breakdown, trauma, or high expectations from you. The World Health Organisation forecast that depression affects over 264 million people across the globe, which makes it a big concern.
How to Prepare for a Routine Health Check
Considering all main tests and screenings, you should be psychologically prepared for a routine health check. Want to know how? Here is the answer.
- Review Your Medical History
Before visiting the clinic, assess your medical history. You should jot down all medicines that you take, which include over-the-counter drugs and supplements. And if there was any history of health changes or surgeries, reveal it to your physician.
- List Your Questions and Concerns
Before reaching there, think of any questions or concerns related to your health. These burning questions can be related to any symptoms or lifestyle changes that you witness. It will not let you forget any serious concern related to your health at the time of appointment.
- Fast if Required
Some blood tests, such as glucose or lipid profile tests, are not done with a full stomach. You must ask your doctor about the guidelines before undergoing any specific screening.
- Bring your medical records.
If you’re visiting a new healthcare provider, bring a copy of your previous medical records, including test results and vaccination history. This information will help your new doctor provide better care.
If this is your first time seeing a new healthcare professional, take along with you all previous medical records and vaccination history. This will help the new doctor to make better decisions regarding medication and care.
- Wear comfortable clothing.
If any test is prescribed, always wear comfortable clothes. They should be loose-fitted with short sleeves. This kind of attire helps in the smooth examination of your body.
- Prepare mentally for the visit.
It is necessary to be physically and mentally there during routine health checks. Some patients become anxious, especially when there is any possibility of potential diagnoses. In that situation, stay cool and calm.
These are some tips to prepare yourself for routine tests and screenings.
Conclusion
Routine health checks truly help in preventing any severe disease that is prospective. These checks help in identifying them and preparing for their treatments because early detection increases the possibility of recovery, even if it is any life-threatening disease like cancer.