What You Need to Know About Medical Check-Ups

It is said that health is the greatest wealth. People claim that if you want to live a long and healthy life, you have to incorporate a routine complete with exercise and good dieting, and it is crucial you stay consistent with that regime. However, not many talk about seeing your doctor on an annual basis as a means of living a healthy life, and this makes medical check-ups severely underrated. Medical check-ups are a series of tests conducted by doctors or medical professionals in order to get an assessment of your health. Through a series of exams, your doctor will be able to identify any symptoms or health-related concerns that may arise due to a plethora of reasons.

What happens during a general medical check-up?

 A general medical check-up will include the following;

• Measurement of the patient’s weight and height as a means of calculating the Body Mass Index (BMI).
• An analysis of the person’s ears, nose, throat and eyes.
• Listening to your heart, lungs and bowels using a stethoscope to look for abnormalities.
• Blood pressure inspection to get an idea of whether its high, low or normal.
• Laboratory tests such as a complete blood count test, urine analysis, blood glucose levels, etc.

This is the standardised procedure that all persons go through when they are getting a medical check-up. This rudimentary sequence of steps usually doesn’t take too much of your time, and it is painless and effortless.

What are the benefits of getting checked up annually?

There are many advantages that are associated with medical check-ups and a few of them are given below;

• Boost lifespan. This is the most evident merit that is linked with going for regular check-ups. Your physician will provide you with lifestyle related advice in order for you to be more cautious and proactive with your health.
• Detect diseases early on. Regularly visiting the doctor’s office allows your doctor to detect potential health risks before they become problematic. This gives you the best chance of prevention or recovery while saving you time and money.
• You get to form a good doctor-patient relationship. This allows your doctor to construct your clinical history, which greatly helps with the treatment process.

What should you do before a check-up?

There are important instructions that you are going to have to follow before you get a medical check-up done. Failure to conform to these directives will result in inaccurate test results that could lead to an incorrect diagnosis by your doctor.

• Get at least 6 hours of sleep prior to your check-up.
• Avoid food and drinks for 8-10 hours before going to the hospital. Water may be consumed to avoid dehydration.
• Abstain from alcohol for 24 hours before seeing your doctor.
• If you have a chronic illness or any other health problems, make sure to take past test results and/or medical reports to assist your doctor with the diagnosis.
• Wear apparel that’s loose and comfortable to provide your physician access to your upper body.
• For females, it is advised to go for a check-up 7 days before or after the menstrual period.

Types of laboratory tests done during a check-up

There are many different kinds of laboratory tests that could be performed by medical professionals. It could sometimes be difficult for the average individual to distinguish between them. A list of the general laboratory tests is provided below;

• Complete blood Count (CBC)

It is the most basic and most common test that patients go through. The goal of this test is to evaluate your blood composition and measure the quantities of the components of blood. A report of this test will include your red blood cell count, white blood cell count and platelet count. Any abnormal increase or decrease in blood count may help to reveal underlying medical conditions.

• Fasting blood sugar test

This test is used to determine whether an individual has diabetes and/or anaemia. You are required to fast for 8 to 10 hours before the diabetes test but for the anaemia test, you will be asked to fast for up to 12 hours.

• Lipid profile/Lipid panel (Cardiac health)

A lipid panel is a common blood test that has the objective of measuring your cholesterol levels as well as your triglyceride count to see if you are at risk of a cardiovascular disease that could possibly lead to angina (agonising pain in the chest) or even death.

• Creatinine and eGFR test (Kidney and renal health)

Creatinine is a waste product that is produced in your muscles and is eliminated from your body. The measurement of Creatinine levels along with eGFR (estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate) determines how well your kidneys filter toxins and waste from your blood and is indicative of your kidney function.

• Gamma GT (Liver health)

A Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT) test determines the amount of GGT that’s present in the blood. GGT is an enzyme present throughout the body but is mostly found in the liver. If excessive amounts of GGT are detected in the blood, then it could signify a liver disease.

• SGPT (Liver health)

SGPT (Serum Glutamic Pyruvic Transaminase) test is a blood test to determine the quantity of GPT (Glutamate Pyruvate Transaminase) enzyme present in the blood. This enzyme can be found in the heart, kidneys and liver and this test is needed to monitor if the liver is malfunctioning.

• SGOT (Liver health)

The SGOT (Serum Glutamic-Oxaloacetic Transaminase) test is a test that ensures that your liver is flourishing. An excessive amount of enzyme AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase) in this test will let your physician know that your liver is in trouble.

• TSH test

TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) is a hormone that is secreted by the Thyroid gland. The TSH test determines whether there’s a suitable amount of this hormone in your bloodstream. If exaggerated amounts of the hormone are present in the blood, then it could possibly be a case of hyperthyroidism. However, if an insufficient volume of TSH is being secreted, then that could translate into the patient developing hypothyroidism.

• Urine full report

A full urine test is when a patient’s urine is tested for the presence or absence of certain substances in order to detect disorders such as urinary tract infections and kidney disease among others.

• Stool occult test

Here, stool (faecal) samples are observed to detect the presence of blood that may be concealed (occult). A positive result for this test could indicate colon cancer, issues with the rectum and/or colon or bleeding in the small intestines.

• ECG (Cardiac health)

An ECG (Electrocardiograph) is a simple and uncomplicated test where metal electrodes are placed on your chest, arms and legs with the intent of measuring your heart rate and rhythm. An irregularity in the heart rhythm could reveal an enlarged heart or a potential heart attack.

 

The habit of seeing your doctor once every year is essential for living a life free of diseases and illnesses, and given the benefits that are associated with going for a check-up, you have zero reason not to turn it into a habit. Keep in mind that delving deep into the topic and doing your own research is recommended before consulting the right doctor and deciding what kind of check-up you wish to opt for.

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