It is commonly said that an apple a day keeps the doctor away and also prevention is better than cure. With this, it is important to have regular medical check-ups in your to-do list. Regular checkups help you to know the state of your body and also alert you in case there is anything that needs to be addressed. Staying healthy is not only about diet and exercises. Preventive medicine experts recommend a few steps that can help you stay in good health. A health check together with a medical history can help the doctor assess your general body health and well-being. Health checks should not only be done when you are feeling unwell but as often as the doctor suggests even though you are feeling fit and fine.
Many serious health problems do not have symptoms but can be found by a doctor during a regular check-up. Some of them are like high blood pressure which can lead to a heart attack and stroke. Most people never know about it until the problem is more advanced. Preventable causes of death like poor diet, tobacco smoking and physical inactivity and misuse of alcohol cause a high number of deaths annually and they can be avoided if checked early.
Benefits of regular health-checks include:
- Some diseases like diabetes, cancer, heart diseases and osteoporosis can be identified and treated at an early stage
- It helps build a relationship with your doctor. If you have a problem that requires medical attention, you can visit a doctor that you know well. Many people feel uncomfortable seeking care from a ‘stranger’
- People who see a doctor regularly are more likely to take steps towards improving and maintaining their health
Regular screening is the key to the preventive healthy puzzle. It can help detect a disease before it advances further and causing more damage. Some diseases can also be prevented if the risk factors are found during the screening process.
There are some employers and health plan institutions that are realizing the benefit of preventing employees from becoming ill and thus saving money in the long run. Chronic conditions require costly treatments and can cause an extreme loss in productivity on the workforce and if there is an opportunity to save and prevent a full-blown disease, it can be done with preventive medicine. This approach helps to treat conditions before they become chronic and at the end of it all, save money and time for patients.
