Medical check-ups are great allies when it comes to maintaining good health. The solution to these problems is not to ignore them, but to treat them in time. The earlier a disease is detected, the better and faster the results will be.
However, few people undergo preventive medical check-ups, as most of them wait until they have serious symptoms. As years go by, less importance is given to medical check-ups, but when people get old, they begin to take them up again frequently, which is usual since they haven’t gone for check-ups for years, several conditions usually arise.
So, why waiting until we feel bad or reach old age to start visiting the doctor regularly? Some people have the mistaken belief that visiting the doctor is to call diseases, but the truth is that medical checkups can prevent or eliminate them in their early stages.
How often should you have medical check-ups?
Now that you are aware of the importance of medical check-ups, how often should you have medical check-ups? Although it is important to do them, you should not exaggerate and go to the doctor again and again.
Everything will depend on the health of each person, as well as the medical history, because depending on the diseases you have had, it will be recommended to go to the doctor every so often.
But in the case of those who are in good health, it is recommended to visit the doctor at least once every 2 years. However, when you visit the doctor, she/he will tell you when you should visit her/him again. As time goes by, the body changes and it will require more care little by little.
However, depending on the gender there are medical checkups that should be taken into account every so often. But in both cases, the body mass index (BMI) should be considered, so as to ensure that you are at a weight within the normal range, in order to avoid future complications. Also, both men and women should be tested for sexually transmitted diseases (STD) from the first sexual encounter or if they have consumed intravenous drugs.
Medical check-ups that men should have
From the age of 40 onwards, men should pay more attention to their health, starting with a prostate examination (once a year) and PSA measurement.
At age 45, they should be tested for diabetes, in some cases it may be earlier, depending on family history or if they have high cholesterol, overweight or high blood pressure.
Then, after the age of 50, they should have a colonoscopy in order to rule out colorectal cancer or any irregularity in the colon.
But this is not all, since blood pressure should be measured every 2 years from the age of 18 and cholesterol from the age of 20; but special attention should be given to the latter in the case of diabetes, high blood pressure or being an active smoker.
Medical check-ups that women should have
Women should mainly go to a gynecologic consultation once a year in order to determine whether or not there is any alteration in the female reproductive system. Among other tests such as: ferritin, pap smear, vulvoscopy, transvaginal ultrasound and breast ultrasonography.
It is also very important to have a mammogram every year from the age of 35 and in the case of having a family history of breast cancer, at the age of 30.
On the other hand, it is also important to perform breast self-examination every month 3 to 5 days after the period since adolescence.
How can you prevent diseases?
The best way to prevent or treat any disease successfully is to have medical check-ups. In spite of having good health and an excellent physical performance, you need to have this type of check-ups in order to maintain a good lifestyle; since doctors try to detect and eliminate diseases and, the sooner they are detected, the easier it will be to eliminate them, therefore, the greater the expectations for the patient’s quality of life.
In addition, in the case of being well in each medical checkup, the professional will be in charge of giving a series of recommendations in order to maintain your good health. For example, in some cases they usually recommend vitamins, a certain specific physical activity, therapies, and recommendation or prohibition of food so that you can reach old age in a healthy way and minimize the risk of diseases, thus the risk of physical suffering. Therefore, medical checkups can be defined as an investment that will allow you to enjoy a good quality of life.
