Being healthy, is attaining the perfect state of physical, mental and social well-being. It is imperative that wellness be a part of daily routine. We are moving at a fast pace today. Slowing down seems like a nightmare. But we do not realize that we compromise on our health to maintain the pace. Erratic schedules, irregular meals and stress contributes to the lifestyle disorders. Eating right, exercise and enough sleep is as much important as avoiding drugs, alcohol and tobacco. Inspite of taking all the necessary steps in ensuring our complete well-being, one can never be too sure. Uncertainties are always lurking like shadows. Opting for regular health check-up is a preventive step towards avoiding illness. The basic aim is to find the symptoms and traits of hidden disease in your body, prevent it from developing and curb its effects at an early stage.
Who should do it?
It is recommended that every family member should do a check-up, at least once a year or in two years, depending on the health conditions. Individuals in the working group between the age of 30-60 are susceptible to lifestyle diseases. People with history of ailments have to undergo check-ups after regular intervals. A simple complete blood count (CBC) test helps evaluate overall health, oxygen carrying capacity of the blood, hemoglobin level and white blood cell count which if not normal indicates infection. For men, the level of C-reactive protein (CRP) in blood is an important test to detect any early signs of cancer. For Women, who after 25 years of age, are likely to develop reproductive system disorders due to lifestyle and hormonal changes, preventive check-ups are a must. Health check-ups can detect abnormalities and indicate symptoms of hypothyroidism, breast cancer, PCOD, diabetes etc. For women above the age of 50, especially after the onset of menopause, checking bone health is extremely vital to avoid arthritis and bone diseases.
Stages of screening
Research states that any disease goes through stages of development, in a person. Screening helps to understand the level, depending on which preventive steps can be taken either to eradicate the early signs or nip the further progress of the disease. Regular health check-ups help understand the level of prevention and analyze immediate course of action.
Heart health
Heart attack usually strikes after gradual buildup of cholesterol in blood vessels. A health check-up will determine the cholesterol level. Alterations in dietary and lifestyle can help you avoid this fatal condition. This is important for men and women above 30 years of age.
Detect deficiencies
Vitamins and minerals are crucial to appropriate nutrition and normal body function. Deficiency of certain vitamins can cause immediate disorders or sometime later in life. For eg: prolonged deficiency of vitamin D from childhood may trigger thyroid disorders in adulthood. Or otherwise, excess of any vitamin and mineral can be toxic to the body.
Blood pressure screening
It is necessary to record your blood pressure periodically. High pressure usually does not have any symptoms, but it sure affects the arteries which can cause a stroke, kidney disease or a heart attack.
Sugar level check
Diabetes today, has spread like a rising epidemic. Regular check of blood sugar level helps control diabetes and the complications arising from it.
Checkup for children
Even schools today insist on annual check-up to ensure that the development & growth of the child is on track. It is important to test dental, eye, metabolic health of children.
The frequency and type of check-up for an individual can be determined by consultation or pre-existing conditions. Today there are healthcare or wellness centres that provide a holistic service of checkup, physician, dietician, physio consultation and much more, all under one roof.
No comments