Medical Check-Ups that you Should do at Least Once a Year

On more than one occasion, you will have heard that visiting the doctor frequently is one of the best strategies to keep our health in the best possible condition. Regular preventive medical check-ups allow us to rule out the presence of diseases or detect pathologies (many times silent) in their early stages, the ravages of which intensify over time.

“A preventive check-up can be defined as a contact between a professional and an asymptomatic patient in which several screening tests are carried out to assess general health. Its objective is to prevent future disease through early detection of health conditions or risk factors, or to provide peace of mind”, thus indicates an article published in the Medical Journal of Clínica Las Condes.

It is normal for doubts to arise as to which check-ups should be done frequently. The first thing to consider is that these will vary according to the age, gender, and family history of the patient. In this article, we will discuss some prevention and control practices that health professionals recommend carrying out at least once a year.

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General check

This is a type of medical check-up that we could all have at least once a year. It is especially indicated for people over 50 years of age. In these consultations, the doctors carry out physical examinations (pressure control, weight, etc.), laboratory tests such as urine or blood, electrocardiograms, nutritional evaluation, among others. All of them with the intention of having a general notion of the current state of our health and ruling out various problems such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, among others.

Gynecological consultation

Gynecological care is of vital importance in women's health. The regularity of these consultations should increase with the beginning of sexual life and with the passing of the years, since risk factors increase with age. The objective of these check-ups is the detection of various pathologies, such as sexually transmitted diseases or cervical cancer. Therefore, the specialist could perform Pap smears or pelvic exams. It is also the time to keep track of the contraceptive method that the patient uses.

From the age of 40 or 50, gynecologists indicate mammograms once a year so that breast cancer can be diagnosed early. Aspect of great importance, since the early discovery of this disease multiplies the possibilities of its cure.

Urological consultation

In the case of men, specialists suggest going to the urologist once a year from the age of 40 or 50, so that tests related to the prostate gland can be carried out. The specialist could carry out a rectal examination, together with blood tests, and rule out pathologies in this organ. As with breast cancer, if prostate cancer is detected early, there is a better chance that it will be successfully treated. The urologist will also be in charge of evaluating that there is no abnormality in the genital area, such as changes in color and size.

Dental control

The mixture of good habits with periodic dental check-ups usually prevents oral health problems such as halitosis, cavities, or loss of dental pieces. However, the number of people who do not comply with an annual dental check-up is high. A fact that the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) regrets, which indicates that "nine out of 10 people worldwide are at risk of having some type of oral disease, which includes everything from cavities to gum diseases, passing to mouth cancer. In relation to the latter, PAHO emphasizes that "oral health professionals can play a key role in early detection by examining their patients for signs of oral cancer at check-ups."

Ophthalmological control

Examining the eyesight is fundamental for the maintenance of our health and quality of life. An annual correction made by a specialist can guarantee both that we are seeing in the clearest and most comfortable way possible, and that we do not have any eye condition that compromises the well-being of our eyes, such as cancer or other diseases. Professionals in the area insist on the importance of people over 50 years of age undergoing an annual ophthalmological check-up, especially to control eye pressure and prevent damage from glaucoma.

Heart checkup

This type of annual check-up is indicated for those who have cardiovascular risk factors, obesity, hypertension, or smoking. Its objective is to verify the patient's predisposition to suffer from cardiovascular diseases, the state of the heart and the circulatory system, as well as the identification of family history that may compromise their health.

In order to have better health, in addition to visiting the doctor regularly, other basic recommendations provided by health professionals are to avoid alcohol consumption, not smoking, maintain a balanced diet, exercise, and sleep for 7 to 8 hours daily.

Prevention is always the best ally

To these check-ups, you must add those related to diseases in which you have a family history. Especially when you are over 30 years old. Remember that prevention is the first alternative to take care of health. The ideal is not to wait for the onset of the disease to take care of yourself, but to take care of yourself to prevent or detect the disease in time.