The Importance of Annual Health Check Up

There can be nothing more important to any individual than their health, and that of their loved ones. To varying degrees, we are more informed about health issues than at any time in history. In our modern, digital world we have an incalculable amount of information at our fingertips, informing us of how to maintain our health and we can prevent ourselves falling victim to sickness and disease.

Arguably, being better informed has helped us to become more-healthy and has improved our quality of life for longer than ever before. Of course, being informed is important, but our improved levels of awareness is only a small part of the picture.

It must be remembered that our awareness through greater knowledge hasn’t just magically appeared. Around the world there are dedicated professionals that work tirelessly to that, afore mentioned, end. It is medical genius that continues to extend the limits of knowledge in prevention, diagnostics, treatments and cures. It is the tireless work of the medical profession which has given us the tools which has made us more aware of how we can maintain our health and fitness.

As a result of medical advances and personal health awareness, life expectancy across the world has increased. I the UK in 1960 the average life expectancy was 71.1 years, in 1990 it was 75.8 and in 2018 it had risen to 79.2 years. Similar percentages in the rise of life expectancy are mirrored across the globe in all developed countries.

A significant element of our greater life expectancy is attributed to earlier diagnostics, and our own personal awareness of our health plays a large part in this. The more aware we are, the better equipped we are to acknowledge potential health problems. This allows the possibility for preventative treatment, or key lifestyle changes aimed at prevention, which is far better than cure.

Prevention is by Far the Best Option

We are all taking far more responsibility for our health, we now live a healthier and fitter life than at any time in the last hundred years. Although this is true, there are still many aspects of our lives that expose us to health risks. Some of these risks we bring upon ourselves, some of them come about through environmental issues or working conditions. The levels and types of risks will be different for every one of us, but there is one universal action we can all take in our efforts to be aware and informed about our individual state of health.

If we feel sick or fall victim to disease, we seek professional help from the medical profession. For the most part, our doctor will provide a cure should it be for a minor problem, or for a major, ongoing health problem, extended, intensive treatment. The one key factor for any medical problem is early diagnosis, or better still, the identification of a potential problem before it becomes an issue.

Identifying risk factors, and then reducing those risks, is the best way in which our health can be maintained and extended. How can this be done? Well, why wait until you are sick to see a doctor? It is better for you and your doctor if any potential problem is identified early, so the answer is a full medical check-up.

A medical check-up greatly improves the chances of prevention and certainly helps in the early diagnosis of disease, be it induced or inherent. Generally speaking, preventative treatment is categorized into three areas, they are:

Primary prevention: The objectives here is the complete elimination of known conditions and diseases. Polio and measles are good examples of primary prevention, these, and many other diseases, are routinely immunized against throughout the world.

Secondary prevention: With secondary prevention the objective is to identify the early signs of a disease or physical abnormality. Then, to minimize its effect by stopping its progression or at least reducing it.

Tertiary prevention: The aim here is to reduce the effects of any existing disease or physical condition whilst also diagnosing the direction in which the management of long-term treatment should take. Tertiary prevention is particularly important for anyone with very complex multifaceted health issues.

These 3 methods of preventative care are essential tools for the medical professionals. But for the experts to take full advantage of them, we must play our part by having a full medical check-up.

An Annual Check-Up Goes Much Further

An annual check-up does much more than simply assessing your current state of health and identifying potential risks. Your annual health check-up, year on year, builds a history of how your health is evolving. There is of course the possibility in the future that you may fall victim to a negative health issue. Should this situation arise, the history of your medical check-ups will be of vital assistance to the medical experts in being proactive in identifying and administering the appropriate treatment.

A major factor affecting our health in our modern world is stress. Stress should never be under estimated, it has a devastating effect on many peoples lives every year. Stress can manifest itself in odd, negative health anomalies, these changes can be identified by doctors through your annual health check-up. It may be that simple advice can then be given in how to alter your lifestyle in order to eliminate these stress related health issues.

A comprehensive medical history allows doctors to more accurately monitor any ongoing medical issues, be it simple ailments or complex diseases. We know that diseases such as cancer are more successfully treated after early diagnosis. Many problems, like rheumatism and arthritis are much better managed after early identification. In fact, there are no medical conditions that cannot be better dealt with, or prevented, through early diagnosis.

Your medical history builds a picture, a picture which is a significant aid in the planning of preventative and ongoing treatment. Prescribed courses of treatment and drugs can be properly evolved to suit any changes that occur and are identified through the history that your annual check-up provides.

Annual medical check-ups also build a relationship between you and your practitioners. A relationship which builds trust. This should not be under estimated, doctor patient relationships are an added plus in gaining a comprehensive understanding of your lifestyle, and any health risks that it may be exposing you to.

Where to Undertake Your Annual Check-up

Thailand has emerged as the world’s top choice for private medical treatment. Over 38 million visitors are expected to visit Thailand this year, and around 4 million of these visitors will be coming for medical treatment, endorsing the nation’s standing as the world’s leading destination for medical treatment. The kingdom has been rated as such by the Medical Quality Alliance after equating it for quality and value for money.

The world recognized, Joint Commission International Accreditation’s Gold Standard, based on Western standards and practices, has been awarded to more than 60 medical establishments in Thailand, this makes the country attractive to medical tourists, and is very good news for resident expats.

These medical facilities have Western trained medical professionals who are trained in the very latest medical techniques. The medical establishments are furnished with state-of-the-art equipment and are designed to be modern, comfortable and stress reducing. The professionals running these medical facilities are dedicated to the preservation of healthy living and a healthy life along with the very best in medical treatment.

You can help them, by helping yourself. Have an annual check up, make yourself aware and give the professionals all the tools they need to treat you and keep you healthy.