It is never a bad idea to visit a hospital for a regular check-up. Lifestyles are changing every day. People develop habits and become stressed out with work and other things. All these can affect one’s health. Hence, there are medical tests you should do every year. These tests are important because it is far easier to spot the problems on time and deal with them accordingly than ignorantly wait for them to grow until it is almost too late to take care of them.
So, what tests should be taken yearly? Find out when you read this article.
5 medical tests you should take yearly
1. Blood pressure test
High blood pressure is one of the prevalent health issues that are often overlooked until it is almost too late. Many adults have high blood pressure but they are unaware. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), an estimated 1.28 billion adults aged 30–79 years worldwide have hypertension (high blood pressure), most (two-thirds) living in low- and middle-income countries. About 46 per cent of adults with hypertension are unaware that they have the condition. Also, high blood pressure is a major cause of premature death worldwide.
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Do you see why it is important to take blood pressure tests seriously? This is to ensure you detect when your blood pressure rises and make some lifestyle changes to address the problem.
2. Cancer screening
There are some cancer screenings you should be doing every year, depending on your gender, age group and family history. For instance, a woman who has a family history of breast cancer or cervical cancer should be taking the tests regularly. Men of a certain age range should take colorectal and prostate cancer tests. According to the National Cancer Institute, the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends routine screening for breast, cervical, colorectal and lung cancer.
Doing a regular cancer screening test can help doctors find several forms of the disease at an early stage and treat them more effectively.
3. Diabetes test
Diabetes is one of the leading chronic metabolic diseases worldwide. The disease is characterised by elevated levels of blood glucose (or blood sugar) which can, over time, cause serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves. Type 2 diabetes is the most common type, especially in adults. It typically occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin or does not make enough insulin.
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About 422 million people worldwide have diabetes, the majority living in low-and middle-income countries. Also, 1.5 million deaths are directly attributed to diabetes each year. The prevalence of diabetes continues to increase each year, which is why it should be one of the five top medical tests you should take yearly. Of course, this test is meant to detect the disease on time and make some lifestyle changes, along with some medications to treat it. So, make sure you undergo FBS, PPBS, HBA1C, SGPT, Urine Routine and ECG every six months.
4. Cholesterol profile
High cholesterol causes 4.4 million deaths every year, according to the World Heart Federation. This is because it is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke in both high- and low-income countries.
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance found in your blood. It is crucial to the healthy functioning of the body, which needs it to build healthy cells and make vitamins and other hormones. Hence, the liver either makes cholesterol or uses cholesterol obtained from other sources such as dietary cholesterol and saturated fat, cholesterol carried in the blood or by reabsorbing bile from the gastrointestinal tract.
However, too much cholesterol can be a serious health problem. So, it is best to do a regular test to detect the problem on time, especially if you have a family history of heart disease.
5. Dental check-up
Doctors often recommend a regular dental visit at least twice a year. You may brush twice a day as recommended by dentists and even floss regularly. But it does not hurt to go the extra mile by going to see a dentist regularly so they can look for cavities, gum disease and other problems in your mouth. This is to ensure that you keep your teeth and gums healthy.
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