Benefits of periodic check-ups

People go to see their doctor for many different reasons. Some only go to the hospital when they are sick or are experiencing a new problem and are looking for a specific diagnosis or treatment.

Others see their doctor at more regular intervals for ongoing follow-up of a chronic problem or disease. Then there are those who, though not sick, visit the doctor to get a general medical examination because prevention is better than cure. This check-up may be annual or once in every two years.

Preventive health check-ups may have been around for a while. However, health experts are divided on whether regular checks are essential or not.

But perhaps the greatest benefit of an annual physical is knowledge – for both you and your doctor.

FREE CAMPS

A good number usually take advantage of the free wellness camps organised by different hospitals or well-wishers to have their eyes checked or to take random blood-sugar tests.

Regular health exams and tests can help find problems before they start. They also can help find problems early, when your chances for treatment and cure are better. By getting the right health services, screenings, and treatments, you are taking steps that help your chances for living a longer, healthier life.

As such regular visits establish a baseline of your personal health against which your doctor can detect unhealthy trends before they become risk factors.

Preventive screening remains controversial—and confusing. According to numerous studies testing that is routinely done can be expensive and, in some cases, causes unnecessary additional testing and anxiety.

That leaves doctors and patients with the difficult challenge of figuring out how much testing is enough.