One of the matters we tend to wonder about a fair deal is: how often must we do our regular health check ups. Perhaps the most common suggestion is that we should do an annual medical checkup. But does having an annual medical check up (or yearly medical checkup) really provide us with the correct frequency at which we should go and do these tests? We will review the reasons that we are given to go and do our annual medical checkups.
The Frequency of Our Medical or annual medical check up
Growing up we always had assumed that having medical check ups at a yearly (or annual) frequency was perhaps the most desirable and appropriate frequency to have. However, when one surveys the expert literature – there appears to be some divergence of opinion on this topic. Certain experts appear to feel that we should certainly organize these health (or medical) checkups on ourselves on an yearly or annual basis. However, other experts have recommendations for alternative frequencies. Indeed, one expert felt that the frequency with which we do our annual medical check ups should also vary with our age. Thus, children would have a completely separate set of schedules for when to do their health checks.
It was recommended that younger people (teenagers transitioning into younger people) should stick to annual or yearly frequency. However, the most significant difference was this: for people between the ages of 26 and 50 – it was recommended that they should have health check ups once in 5 years. For the people in the next age group, people between the ages of roughly 50 and 70, it was recommended that they should have their health check ups once in 2 years. For people older than 70 – the recommendation was that they should move back to annual or yearly schedule. What we have found is that the most reasonable and accurate frequency that we felt was right for us to have a health check up was to do them once a year, annually.
What does an Annual Medical Checkup Include?
The Annual medical check ups should typically include the following different kinds of tests:
- Blood pressure
- Blood Sugar
- Ratio of Bad Cholesterol to Good Cholesterol
- Pap test (for women)
- Mammogram (for women)
The list of tests we have provided will assist with diagnosing many of the most significant underlying ailments and conditions. Abnormally high blood pressure is often a sign of heart disease and risk of stroke; it can indicate clogged blood vessels. The insulin test will help diagnose diabetes. The cholesterol test will indicate the extent to which blood vessels could be clogged because of the presence of bad cholesterol. The Pap test helps with diagnosing cervical cancer in women. The mammogram can be used to diagnose breast cancer in women.
annual medical check up can be very useful any way you look at it. Since we are completely responsible for how we manage our bodies and our health, it is vital that we provide ourselves with the most accurate information that allows us to make the wisest medical choices.
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