Hospitals and medical appointments are slightly scary for quite a few of us, while others are outright terrified. That is quite possibly the foremost reason most of us end up in a clinic or a lab only when we absolutely have to. But how many times has your doctor told you that your issue could have been avoided only if you had been a little mindful? Or how many of us have lost a dear one to a sudden stroke, or a cardiac arrest and left thinking, “did we see that coming?”
Our bodies are mostly designed to function as a machine, as long as we are treating it right. But changing lifestyles, hectic work schedules, and/or plain lack of effort are some of the reasons our health goes neglected, and it continues till we are forced to pause and take notice. It is for this reason that one should invest in regular full-body checkups so that the pause does not turn into a complete halt.
Importance of Complete Health Check-Ups in Human Life
A general physical exam including your weight, height, blood pressure, and pulse rate.
Blood tests to determine infections or anemia.
Lipid profile to understand cardiovascular risk.
Liver function tests.
Kidney function tests.
Analyzing blood sugar to identify the risk of diabetes.
Chest x-ray.
ECG for your heart rate and uniformity of heartbeats.
Ultrasonography for studying the spleen, gallbladder, liver, pancreas, and kidneys.
Urine examination.
Why do you need routine check-ups in the first place?
Early detection and prevention of disease: When you appear for health checks, the laboratory tests will help in detecting and treating a potential health problem. In any scenario, if you have a disease, the sooner it is discovered, the better the chances for recovery.
A routine health check is a reliable way to prevent health issues. Say, for instance, you do a routine check of your sugar and cholesterol levels. By doing so, you will know how likely you are to get diabetes/cholesterol in the future, and if you are borderline, you will be equipped with steps to reduce your sugar intake. Therefore, you end up with better control over your health.
A regular health check-up will actually be a financial savior in the long-run. By keeping you aware of potential risks to your body, it will help you moderate your diet and lifestyle in a way that will prevent incurring expensive medical bills over diseases that you would otherwise be unaware of.
Health check-ups can reduce the risk of medical complications during treatment. If you have a particular health condition which you have been diagnosed with at an early stage, chances of safe treatment are far higher than if the same diagnosis happens at a late stage.
Finally, because of the comprehensiveness of health check-ups, you will have a chance at a longer life. By potentially increasing awareness of ailments, and conditions that your body is sensitive to, a health check-up will prepare you to handle your body and mind in a way that is best suited to your requirements. Therefore, you will be more prepared in terms of managing your own health.
It is understandable that for many of us, regular health check-ups often seem like a waste of time and money, and at times, plain unnecessary because well, you are feeling fine. But, the benefits of a regular check-up far outweigh the minimal time and resources you will invest in it. Your physical shape might not always be an indicator of what is going on inside your body. The more aware you are of your own functioning, the more equipped you will be for a healthier life.
