Live Long And Prosper

Yes, the key to a healthy life is healthy choices, but what do healthy choices do? Prevent issues. The best way to prevent issues? Routine Checkups. Routine checkups provide early detection of an illness and can lead to cheaper healthcare costs in the future. Routine checkups might even save a life.

Who needs preventative medicine?

Every single person can benefit from routine checkups. Those who engage in non-healthy activities such as smoking, drinking, and drugs may need additional checkups as these activities compromise the body’s immune system.

What factors affect the need for routine checkups?

The need for routine checkups is based on a combination of factors. Age and health are a large contributor. Genetics and family history play an important role in determining an individual’s pre-disposition for an illness. Age, genetics, and family history are factors out of a patient’s control. These are the cards the patient is dealt and just must deal with. Diet, activity level, and smoking/drinking levels are within a patient’s control. The patient is directly responsible for each action and can shape their health as the years pass. For children, the adults are directly responsible.

Younger does not necessarily mean healthier and less checkups will be needed. A person can be young but have a family history of diabetes, resulting in additional health care needs. A person could be older but extremely athletic, resulting in fewer healthcare needs. All in all, the healthier an individual is, the lower healthcare needs will be.

How are routine checkups done?

Medical professionals will use both physical exams and blood tests during routine checkups. X-rays may be used as well. Blood test are a way for the doctor to assess the health of internal organs such as the heart, liver, and thyroid. Diseases will likely show up in the bloodstream before symptoms are ever noticed. Many lives have been saved because blood tests discovered a disease early.

Benefits of routine checkups

• Early detection of health issues: Illnesses that are caught early are much easier to treat. The goal is to catch problems before they start.
• Cheaper health care costs: Preventative medicine saves money long term. By doing check ups along the way, people are preventing large and expensive health disasters in the future. Many times preventative medicine will eliminate the need for expensive treatments like surgery.
• Lower risk of getting sick: If vaccinations are up to date and recommended steps are followed during flu and cold seasons, the risk of getting sick is significantly reduced.
• Reduction in complications for pre-existing conditions: Regular checkups allow both the patient and doctor to stay on top of the illness, manage existing symptoms, and prevent new ones from arising.

Age for checkups

Think of routine checkups throughout life as a sandwich. Younger and older generations both require more checkups than those in the middle. A list of recommended routine checkups for adults are: breast cancer screenings, prostate and gynecology exams, annual well-visit, eye exam, hearing test, dental exam, and immunizations. A list of recommended routine checkups for children are: annual well-visit, eye exam, hearing test, dental exam, and immunizations. Routine checkups are especially important for children. It is a way for parents and doctors to assess the child’s development and growth. Children are quite adaptable at bouncing back from treatment and powering through life.

Prevention is the best route

Routine checkups stop problems before they start; this is the core of preventative medicine. The goal is prevention before treatment. Annual well-visits, immunizations, and monitoring family history are all steps a patient can take to secure a healthy future. Think now. Do now. Live Longer.