Why Should You Get A Health Check-Up?: 5 Simple Reasons

30/04/2023

Do you want peace of mind? Would you like to live a fulfilling life where you get to experience all the precious moments that life has to offer? The big moments, the little moments and the sentimental milestones…

 

Imagine the routine of your life being snatched from you with no warning and transitioning into a potential cycle of chaos, panic and despair. 

 

Then you begin to reflect on what once was or what life could have been like if you had just gone for a health checkup when you had the chance… 

 

Nothing is more valuable than investing in your health and well-being. 

 

It’s an immensely sad situation that many deaths in Nigeria occur due to diseases which can be prevented (1). The situation will continue to persist especially if proper health interventions and strategies are not put into place (1). Several of the most prevalent diseases present in Nigeria include tuberculosis, meningitis, malaria, stroke and HIV/AIDS (1). Early detection is a vital aspect in helping the process of disease management (2). For example, spotting the signs of vision-related diabetes issues early could allow treatment to progress quickly and approximately 98% of these types of issues have the possibility of being prevented (2). Furthermore, a review of research relating to Sub-Saharan Africa found that a massive percentage of the condition hypertension goes underdiagnosed and this is also associated with the increase of cardiovascular disease within Sub-Saharan Africa which is of concern (3).

 

Here are five reasons why you should get a health check-up - the sooner the better

 

1. Determine Your Risk for Developing Particular Diseases

 

For example, there are a variety of diseases which could have a significant negative impact on your life such as diabetes and heart disease. The regular way of life you once knew could shift dramatically and forcefully push some harsh lifestyle adjustments to the surface. Going for a checkup with a healthcare professional can allow them to look deeper into specific risk factors, such as age, sex, family history, diet, lifestyle and other aspects that could increase your likelihood of developing certain conditions.

 

For example, a study showed that factors such as an increased BMI, growing older, in addition to working for long periods such as years, has been associated with hypertension which has not been diagnosed amongst some Nigerian workers (4).

 

Having a health checkup could give you a chance to establish any worrying signs or unusual symptoms early before the condition escalates into a more harmful situation and preventative measures can be put into place, as well as making useful changes to how you live your life. You can also learn from a healthcare professional the best way to manage your symptoms and understand the picture of what is happening to your body much better.

 

2. Have an Opportunity To Get Insightful Health Tests

 

Having health tests could allow you to solve the confusing jigsaw puzzle in your mind and make sense of your symptoms in addition to what you may learn directly from your doctor. 

Specific health tests can help provide an even clearer comprehension of what is occurring with your body. 

 

Examples of some types of medical tests include:

• Blood Tests 
• Biopsy
• Medical Scans - including X-Rays & MRI Scans
• Genetic Tests

 

3. Get Specialist Medical Advice Tailored to You

 

Feel supported by health professionals and less alone in your struggles.

Going to speak to a medical professional on a 1:1 level allows you to get advice that is specifically catered to you and your body’s needs. For example, you could seek fitness and nutritional advice, advice relating to mental health and you could even get resources to enable you to ultimately improve your life. Your medical specialist could help you produce a personal health plan which could help you set clear goals to work on. This could also help to boost your confidence as your doctor has insight into your strengths, weaknesses and what personally works for you which could further empower you to meet your target. 

 

4. Gain Knowledge & Ask Questions

 

Do you have any medical questions that have constantly been bugging you? Are there any aspects of your health that you’ve been confused about? 

 

Speaking to a health professional at your appointment opens the floor up for you to gain more useful knowledge relating to your health and can give you a better sense of ease. Don’t worry, health professionals are there to support you and provide an empathetic space to voice your concerns. Know better so that you can strive to do better.

 

5. Get a Second Opinion

 

Get an alternative perspective on a health issue or concern that you may have been unsure about for a while. These types of appointments are a chance to potentially gain some more clarity and support about your situation so that you can positively progress forward in your life. 

 

 

In Summary

 

All in all, getting a health checkup is necessary for a wide variety of reasons. Understanding the state of your body and carefully listening to its signals is extremely key for maintaining your well-being. Getting a health checkup could allow you to identify any medical issues early on and in many situations it makes the journey to a solution or relief much more effective than later down the line. Getting the state of your health examined can also enable you to learn the best management approaches for what you may be experiencing from a health specialist. Whether you’re seeking awareness, support, education or are looking for action to be taken at an appropriate time - taking charge of your health is more important than ever. 

 

Being in the know is much better than being in a state of ignorance, a possibly rocky road to regret. Choose peace. Don’t you want the best quality of life you can have? If you have an opportunity to check your health, it would be highly beneficial to do so. There are many medical professionals out there that look forward to supporting you, educating and advocating for your overall wellness.

 

by Tasnim Tayo

 

References:

1.  Muhammad F, Abdulkareem JH, Chowdhury AA. Major public health problems in Nigeria: a review. South East Asia Journal of Public Health. 2017 Dec 31;7(1):6-11.

2. Ferris FL. How effective are treatments for diabetic retinopathy?. Jama. 1993 Mar 10;269(10):1290-1.

3.  Ataklte F, Erqou S, Kaptoge S, Taye B, Echouffo-Tcheugui JB, Kengne AP. Burden of undiagnosed hypertension in sub-saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Hypertension. 2015 Feb;65(2):291-8.

4. Egbi OG, Rotifa S, Jumbo J. Prevalence of hypertension and its correlates among employees of a tertiary hospital in Yenagoa, Nigeria. Annals of African medicine. 2015 Jan 1;14(1):8.