Importance of regular health checks
Health is a serious concern in today’s lifestyles. The various meals we eat, the less-clean environments that we are exposed to, have become direct causes of poor health conditions. Over the years we have seen that those with conditions such as diabetes, High Blood Pressure (HBP), cholesterol often go for regular health check-ups after they are diagnosed with a particular condition. Living in a planet that speaks about trending health conditions, shouldn’t we be more concerned about what is going on in our system? Why don’t people do regular check-ups? Are they stingy of the extra few bucks that will be wasted if a clean report is given? The Daily Mirror Life spoke to several people to find out if doing regular health check-ups is an important task to add to their to-do lists regularly.
Mohammed
I think Sri Lankans are quite neglectful. Maybe they don’t want to pool in huge amounts of money for a report card. Of course if a clean report comes then they should be happy but I think they are just happy assuming that they are fit.
Priyantha
I think they need to be made aware of the importance of doing regular health checks.
Mallika
Early detection of certain health conditions such as diabetes will help patients to adjust to their lifestyles and therefore it is advisable to do health check-ups regularly.
Anoma
They need to get used to the entire process of doing a health check. Some people just don’t have the time to devote for these minor but very important requirements in life.
Wasantha
I have seen people getting to know that they have diabetes and have become depressed. But they would have known beforehand if they went for regular health check-ups. Now it has become a habit only in affluent families.
What is included in a check-up?
Depending on your age, sex, and family medical history, a checkup with your doctor may include:
· Blood, urine, vision, and hearing tests to evaluate your overall health.
· Assessments of your blood pressure, cholesterol level and weight.
· A discussion about your diet and exercise habits and any tobacco, drug, and alcohol use.
· Immunizations and booster shots.
· Screenings to assess your risk of developing certain diseases, including diabetes (if you already have high blood pressure or high cholesterol) and cancer.
· Depending on your age and sexual lifestyle, testing for STDs and possibly HIV.
· Starting at age 50, or younger if you have a family history, a screening test for colorectal cancer.
· A discussion about depression and stress to evaluate your mental health.
By Kamanthi Wickramasinghe
Photographs by Waruna Wanniarachchi
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