Routine checkups are important. They don’t only reduce your risk of getting sick, but they also help you detect any health threats early and find quick, permanent solutions to them.
Experts recommend doing routine physical exams once a year (If you are over 40) and once every 3 years if you are below 50 and healthy. However, the real question is, what kind of checkup should you prioritize? While there are many checkups, some cannot be ignored due to their importance.
Here are 8 important checkups and tests you shouldn’t miss.
1. Regular physical exam
Some individuals schedule a checkup annually to ensure that they are perfectly fine. While some go annually, some schedule regular checkups semiannually, prompting debates regarding whether you need to go for a checkup often. Eventually, the answer depends on the following:
- Overall health
- Age
- Risk factors for some issues
When you go for a checkup, your doctor will ask certain questions about your health and lifestyle. They’ll also check your heart and lungs and probably get your weight and vital signs.
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2. Height and weight
It doesn’t matter if you go for a routine checkup or some other checkup; your doctor may check your height and weight. This will enable them to measure your body mass index (BMI), which helps measure if your weight is in healthy proportion to your height.
Keeping your body mass index in a healthy range is crucial. It helps prevent medical conditions like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some types of cancer. If your doctor takes your height and weight and discovers that you aren’t in a healthy range, they will offer tips on achieving the range. If you are found overweight, your doctor might suggest what to do and how obesity affects your sex life.
3. Testosterone
Testosterone is a popular hormone in the human body, responsible for the growth, reproduction, and maintenance of a healthy body. For optimum health, your hormone needs to be neither high nor low, as both come with effects like reduced sexual drive, hot flashes, sleep apnea, etc.
We recommend testing your testosterone levels if you notice strange symptoms like hair loss, weight loss, acne, or low energy. You can visit somewhere like this ED Clinic North Hollywood to get the relevant tests, and discuss your symptoms and how treatments such as testosterone replacement therapy can help alleviate these, and ensure your hormones balanced again.
Low energy is a common symptom of low testosterone levels. Hence, if you are experiencing this symptom, consider testosterone testing for low energy. Overall, undergoing a testosterone test will help you determine if there are underlying conditions, health problems, or lifestyle choices affecting your testosterone production.
4. Blood pressure
Blood pressure tests are common, especially among older people and those with higher risks of high blood pressure. This test measures the pressure of your blood against your arteries. High blood pressure raises your chances of heart disease and stroke.
You should aim for a normal blood pressure, which is less than 120 over 80. High blood pressure, according to doctors, is usually around 130 over 80 or higher. Ensure you check your blood pressure every 2 years starting at age 18. If you discover that it’s high, you should do regular tests. Your doctor should be able to tell you how often.
5. Blood sugar test
Blood sugar tests are common among people with type 1 diabetes. However, you can do this test even if you are diabetes free. A blood sugar test helps check for diabetes or prediabetes. This simple test measures the level of sugar or glucose in your blood.
We advise you to conduct a regular blood sugar test when you reach 45. However, your doctor may advise that you go for one earlier if you:
- Have had gestational diabetes
- Have high cholesterol or high blood pressure
- Are overweight
6. Dental checkup
Even if you brush twice a day and floss regularly, it’s important you visit the dentist so they can check for gum disease, cavities, and other dental issues. You can go for a dental checkup once or twice annually. How often you go for a dental checkup depends on your oral health and lifestyle habits. As a rule of thumb, you should visit a dentist twice a year. However, according to this experienced dentist in Downey, you may need to visit more often depending on your dental health situation.
7. Skin check
The skin is the largest sense organ in the body. For many of us, it’s a source of our pride. To ensure your skin remains fresh and clear, you should go for a routine skin checkup. The checkup is designed to check for any changes in moles, freckles, and other weird signs on your skin.
Experts recommend that you conduct a skin self-exam once every month. When skin cancers are discovered in time and treated, they are almost always curable. Have you or a family member had skin cancer? If yes, we advise that you go for a routine skin check.
8. Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a type of fat found in your blood. When this fat gets too high, you become at risk of heart disease and stroke.
Ensure you conduct a cholesterol test every 4-6 years if you are older than 20. Your doctor may advise that you get checked regularly if you are an older adult, male, overweight, or you have:
- A personal history of high cholesterol
- Diabetes
- A family history of heart disease or high cholesterol
Conclusion
While there are certain timeframes to conduct certain checks, ensure you ditch the timeframe and go for a checkup if you observe any strange symptoms that may indicate a certain condition.
For instance, rather than do a dental checkup once a year, consider going for a regular dental checkup if your gums are red or swollen.
