Do you still remember your last medical check-up? The importance of good health is being stressed right now given the threat of COVID-19 looming across the globe. We have seen health advisories and tips on how to prevent the virus from spreading but the best protection against any disease is to take care of one’s health. Aside from adopting a healthy lifestyle, a health check routine can also safeguard your health. As such, here is a list of medical exams and the recommended frequency to have it done.
Annual Medical Exam. The annual physical exam is done to check one’s overall health and general well-being. Your physician will screen for diseases, assess future health risks, and advise you on how to better care for your health. This process usually involves a medical interview about your health, physical examination, x-ray, and lab tests. Your doctor will normally check your blood pressure, BMI, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels. However, additional tests may be required if you have medical conditions like hypertension, diabetes, asthma, etc. As the name implies this health check routine should be scheduled once every year.
Dental Check-up. Oral health is another aspect of health care that people tend to take for granted. Some people would go to the dentist only if they have a tooth ache or dental concerns. But if you want to preserve the health of your pearly whites then it’s best to see your dentist for routine checks. The recommended dental health check routine is to have your teeth cleaned and checked by the dentist every 6 months or at least once a year.
Eye Check-up. Routine eye check-up is usually recommended for people aged 40 and above as well as those who have been diagnosed with vision problems. If you are between 40 to 54 years old your eye check-up should be scheduled every 2 years or every 4 years at most.
Reproductive Health Check. Diagnostic tests for reproductive health can be done regularly to safeguard one’s health from common diseases and detect cancer. Pelvic exam and Pap smear is done to check for cervical cancer. This is recommended for women aged 21 and up to be done every 3 years. Mammogram is another important test that can detect breast cancer. However it is not recommended for women under 40. On the other hand, women who have a family history of breast cancer should consider annual mammograms.
