The phobia of being diagnosed with a particular ailment, high cost of health care coupled with the hectic work schedules of this generation have made many people put regular medical checkup on the back burner.
Personally, I am always scared to go for my medical checkup. I always have this fear of unknown even when I have access to free medical treatment, but the truth is, regular medical checkups can actually save lives. Some would argue that, it's better they don't know whatever might be the ailment as long as they can go about their normal duty.
A medical checkup is the process by which a medical professional investigates the body of a patient for signs of disease.
Wikipedia.org
This test, evaluation or examination is a common form of preventive medicine which involves a visit to a doctor by a well-feeling adult on a regular basis. Medical checkup is thorough examination with variety of tests being carried out depending on the age and sex of the person.
The American Medical Association suggests that adult from ages 18 to 40 should have a medical examination once every five years. This is because any medical problem that adults under 40 have can easily be detected through a physical examination, but for those over the age of 40, they should ideally have once every one to three years. It is recommended for people in this age group to take specific medical exams to determine if they have any underlying illnesses or condition that may need attention. However, your health, age, lifestyle choices and family history, along other crucial factors can influence the type and frequency of medical checkup.
Based on a research, you should specifically have a dental test every six months and diabetes test every three years if you are above 50 years. Full physical test, pap smear, pelvic, HIV, eye and STD test should be carried out once in a year.
It is very important you have a holistic regular medical checkup if you want to live healthier and longer life. No one should see a visit to the doctor as unnecessary and waste of time. Probably because of your tight schedules which will not matter when the chips are down. Your health is your greatest treasure and taking care of it, is utmost importance.
Regular medical checkup is beneficial to your general health and well-being. Here are some of the reasons why you should;
It helps you take some degree of control over your health. You have the opportunity to detect any potential serious health challenge early before they become complicated and serve.
It also gets you well informed and aware of symptoms and warning signs of some ailments through the doctor's advice.
Regular medical checkup saves money because treating and managing an ailment is usually at a lower cost when detected early. So, the huge sum that would've been spent to manage a severe undetected case can be saved.
It equally makes you better informed and aware of your health status and also helps you adopt healthier lifestyle.
Wellness checkup helps you to be more productive at work because it will reduce your sick leave, thus improving your efficiency record.
In conclusion,
To stay fit and healthy, ensure you go for a regular medical checkup. Don't just think about your health when you are sick alone, take responsibility for your well-being and you'll be grateful you did.
Thank you for reading
Reference 1: Checkup
Reference 2: 10 Health Screening Tests That Men Should Get After Age 40