Taking care of your health is a habit that requires attention and discipline, fundamentally with regard to the schedule for carrying out check-ups to monitor the state of your body.
Preventive medicine is the main method for taking care of your body, after all it will bring general analyzes, helping the early diagnosis of diseases that may arise.
To learn more about the importance, how it works and the benefits of a checkup for your health, follow this post until the end!
What is the checkup?
The check-up is nothing more, nothing less than a battery of tests that aims to analyze the functioning of your body and assess the state and possible changes in your body.
The exams may vary according to the patient and his health history, focusing on clinical, laboratory and imaging exams.
Anyway, the tests that are usually done in this battery are: blood collection to analyze blood count, cholesterol and blood glucose, in addition to the electrocardiogram and ultrasound.
What are the benefits of the checkup?
Well, through the requested exams, the doctor will be able to verify the existence of diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and even cancer, starting an effective and immediate treatment, increasing the chances of combat.
Thus, you will not only be able to monitor, but also prevent the development of any illness or complication of physical or psychological health.
This is because issues such as stress, for example, can lead to cardiovascular problems and irritable bowel syndrome, in addition to depression and eating disorders.
Who should have a check-up and how often is it necessary?
The check-up should be carried out by everyone, after all, it is a way of preventing possible illnesses that may arise.
But, for people over 40 years old, it becomes essential since from this age group the changes in the body are bigger and more impactful due to the aging process that gets more accelerated.
The frequency will depend on the health history of the patient and his family, but normally the check-up should be carried out annually or, at most, every two years.
Women’s health: double attention
In the case of women, there are other issues that should be added to the tips mentioned above. This is because the female body has specificities that need attention, especially with regard to the reproductive system.
Most women know the importance of seeing a gynecologist frequently, usually annually.
In this sense, the main gynecological exams requested at the check-up are: pap smears, endovaginal ultrasound and mammography.
Mammography is more requested for women over 40 years old, but depending on family history it should start to be done from 30 years old.
With these exams it will be possible to analyze the state of the cervix, the organs of the pelvic region and the mammary glands and possible alterations.
Men’s health: prostate exams
In the case of men, there is also a specificity that should have due attention: the rectal exam, better known as the prostate exam .
It is through him that doctors check the state of the rectum and possible cancer in the region, through the level of prostate antigens present in the blood.
It should be done by men from 50 years old, or 45 in case of family history.
All these exams are easily accessible and have quick and practical achievements, so be sure to have your checkup and keep your health up to date.