Types of Health Checkups and Their Significance

Choosing the path of optimal well-being involves understanding the different types of medical checkups and their significance. From routine medical examinations that detect early warning signs to specialised screenings tailored for specific age groups or conditions, health checkups help individuals to take charge of their health, paving the path to a longer, healthier, and happier life. Let’s take a look at the types of body checkups available. 

Routine Health Checkup

Many types of medical checkups may be recommended based on your age and health. It is recommended that you do these check-ups even if you feel absolutely fine.  Let’s understand the checks typically included in health checkups:

• Review of your medical and family history: The healthcare professional will discuss your medical history, family's health background, and lifestyle habits with you. If high-risk factors are identified in these, such as a family history of a certain condition, regular checkups become essential to detect early warning signs of the condition.
• Physical examination: The doctor will assess your overall health, examine organ function, address any concerns, update vaccinations, and support you on your journey to good health.
• Body mass index (BMI): Excess weight increases the risk of health conditions like cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Your doctor will suggest a measurement of BMI and waist circumference every two years or more often if you're at a higher risk as a part of your regular medical checkups.
• Skin checks: The various types of body checkup tests done by an expert include regular skin assessments to monitor for abnormal moles, freckles and other unusual findings.
• Blood pressure: Have your blood pressure monitored professionally every 2 years if you're below 40 years of age with no family history of high blood pressure. However, if you're above 40 years of age and have high blood pressure, or have a history of related conditions; the checkup has to be done every year.
• Blood tests: The doctor will recommend cholesterol and triglyceride level checks as a part of your blood tests to detect potential health risks such as heart disease. They may also recommend several other blood tests to check the health of other organs.
• Eye tests: Healthcare providers will suggest annual eye examinations for individuals aged 65 years and above. If you wear prescription glasses or contact lenses, they will suggest yearly testing. For those without glasses or lenses, an eye test every 2 years is recommended.
• Sexually transmitted diseases: For sexually active individuals aged between 15 to 29 years of age, your doctor may advise a urine test to screen for chlamydia, which may not always display symptoms despite its prevalence. Further testing may be advised if you are at risk of other sexually transmitted diseases.

Women's Health Checkup

To maintain general wellness and a healthy body, certain checkups, in addition to the earlier-mentioned different types of medical checkups, are needed in women:

• Breast examination: If you're at a higher risk for breast cancer due to a family history of breast cancer or carrying a high-risk genetic marker, your provider may suggest magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, mammogram, or ultrasounds.
• Cervical cancer screening: Cervical cancer screening for women should ideally start at 21 years. If you are between 21 and 29 years of age, you may need a Pap test every 3 years (no HPV test). If you are aged between 30-65 years, you can choose to have a Pap test every 3 years, an HPV test every 5 years, or both tests (co-test) every 5 years. Post-cancer treatment, continue Pap tests should be done for 20 years or till 65 years of age.
• Pregnancy checkups: Before getting pregnant, you should get pre-pregnancy checkups to address health risks during pregnancy. Regular antenatal checkups monitor the baby's development and assess your health after you are pregnant.

Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Health Checkup

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises regular STI screenings or testing for sexually active individuals. STIs, especially HIV, can be life-threatening without proper intervention. Therefore, regular testing can help you get an early diagnosis, which can lead to better treatment outcomes. 

Various types of health checkup can be done for sexually transmitted infections, for example – testing of cheek swabs, urine test, blood test, fluid samples from skin sores, and discharge or cell samples from specific body parts (vagina, cervix, urethra, anus, penis, or throat). 

Health Checkup for the Elderly

As you start to grow older, your body changes. These changes can increase the risk of developing certain medical conditions. Therefore, it is necessary for older adults to get advanced full-body checkups more regularly. These tests include:

• Physical exam: These are performed yearly or as recommended by your doctor. They include height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) assessment. 
• Blood pressure screening: This is usually carried out annually. Depending on your health conditions and the presence of diseases such as kidney problems, heart disease, diabetes, or others, more frequent checks may be necessary.
• Cholesterol screening and heart disease prevention: These tests should be done every 5 years to maintain normal levels. The presence of high cholesterol, or comorbidities like kidney problems, heart disease, and diabetes may require more frequent checks.
• Diabetes screening: Your doctor may recommend this test every 3 years as a part of your health checkup. If you are overweight or have other diabetes related risk factors, your doctor will advise more frequent screening.
• Osteoporosis screening: Discuss with your doctor about screening if you have risk factors like heavy alcohol use, long-term steroid use, smoking, low body weight, or a family history of osteoporosis.
• Bowel cancer screening: If you are above 50 years of age, you may be recommended to undergo a simple stool test (also known as faecal immunochemical test) for bowel cancer screening every 2 years.
• Lung cancer screening: These tests include blood tests, chest x-ray, CT scan, lung function tests, and biopsy. This screening is advised if you are a current smoker or have quit within the past 15 years.
• Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening:  This screening is done for former/current smokers, especially older men, to detect blood-filled bulges (abdominal aortic aneurysms) in the major blood vessel in your abdomen (aorta). 

How to Book Health Packages Online at Home

Here are a few quick steps you can follow to get an essential full body checkup: 

• Visit the “Orange Healthcare” website
• Next, click on “Health checkups”
• You can then go ahead and select one of the full body health checkup packages recommended to you by your doctor from the categories mentioned on the site. 

Getting checkups as well as advanced full body checkups as needed is vital for understanding your health risks and monitoring for any health conditions. It allows you to focus on living your life to the fullest instead of worrying about the underlying cause of each symptom your body may show. From various types of body checkups to specialised tests for specific conditions, these examinations play a crucial role in early detection, prevention, and effective management of health concerns. Prioritising regular checkups empowers individuals to lead a happy and healthier life.