Regular check-ups: An investment in your health
Jul 30, 2021
Regular medical check-ups play a vital role in maintaining your health and preventing disease. As we age, the need for these examinations becomes even more important. The selection of tests is tailored to your individual medical profile, taking into account not only your age and gender but also your personal and family medical history, along with other risk factors.
Why are regular check-ups important?
People who undergo regular preventive examinations tend to live longer, enjoy a higher quality of life, and spend less time in hospitals or undergoing rehabilitation. Research from countries that prioritize preventive healthcare, such as Sweden, Norway, and Japan, supports these findings.
It’s generally recommended to start regular check-ups between the ages of 25 and 30. Early detection of potential health issues through these exams significantly improves the chances of successful treatment.
What does a regular check-up include?
A regular check-up is a carefully designed set of diagnostic procedures aimed at providing a comprehensive overview of your health with minimal stress. The results can reveal potential health risks and guide any further necessary testing.
Basic check-up includes:
- Internal medicine consultation:
- Medical history review
- Physical examination by organ systems
- Measurement of body weight and height, BMI calculation, and cardiovascular risk assessment
- Electrocardiogram (EKG) and blood pressure measurement
- Laboratory tests:
- Complete blood count (CBC)
- Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
- Blood sugar (glucose)
- Kidney function tests (urea, creatinine, GFR)
- Liver function tests (AST, ALT)
- Lipid profile (cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides)
- Thyroid hormones (FT4, TSH)
- Urinalysis
- Optional:
- PSA (prostate-specific antigen) for men over 40
- Additional tests:
- Spirometry (lung function assessment)
- Abdominal and kidney ultrasound
Extended check-up
The extended check-up includes everything from the basic package, with the addition of further diagnostic tests:
- Cardiology consultation with heart ultrasound
- Ultrasound of the breasts (for women) or urology consultation (for men), depending on indications from the basic examination
- Thyroid ultrasound (if needed)
- Doppler ultrasound of neck blood vessels
What’s next after your check-up?
Based on the results, additional tests may be recommended, such as further laboratory and microbiological analyses, imaging (X-ray, ultrasound), Holter monitoring (for blood pressure or EKG), stress testing, or consultations with specialists in various fields (pulmonology, cardiology, hematology, rheumatology, endocrinology, allergy and immunology, urology, ENT, and more).
Early detection of health issues greatly improves the chances of effective treatment and leads to a better quality of life.
At our private health clinic Milmedika, we are here to work with you in creating a personalized approach to your healthcare.
Your health is your best lifelong investment.