Health Screening Guidelines For Every Age
When a new year begins, there are many things we need to take care of. Among them, we become more concerned with our health as we get older. If someone around us falls ill, we feel as if it could happen to us, so we tend to seek out better medicine or a better way of life. In this regard, having a regular check-up is important. We look into a mirror each day and we check if there are any new wrinkles or gray hair. Likewise, we need to regularly look after our body. By understanding the current condition of our body, we can prevent possible diseases. So today, I would like to talk about a personalized medical check-up for the New Year.
When we have a physical examination, it is important to choose tests that are right for you. Each age group has different physical conditions and the common diseases differ. Thus, your age, state of health, and family history should determine what medical exams are carried out. Let’s take a look at what kinds of tests are required for your age group.
[All age groups] Do not miss the basic checkups
The basic physical examination required for all age groups include measurements of: height, present-weight, obesity, visual acuity, hearing, blood pressure, blood, urine, chest X-ray and ECG. By having these basic tests, we can find out the condition of our general health. For a more detailed analysis however, additional examinations may be required.
[20s and 30s] The sooner you start the longer you live!
Young people aged 20 to 39 are overconfident about their health. A stitch in time saves nine. As the incidence of cancer among the young generation has increased recently, and a growing number of young people are falling victims to diseases of the elderly due to their lifestyle and dietary habits, even young people now are advised to have regular check-ups. Generally speaking, a hepatitis B blood test, blood pressure test, height and weight measurements to prevent obesity and chest X-rays to monitor tuberculosis are recommended.
[40s and 50s] Time to start screening for cancer
Those in their 40s and 50s need to have a complete medical checkup including a cancer screen for the five most common cancers (gastric, colorectal, breast, cervical, and hepatic cancer) people. A CT scan is required because it provides a clearer image of tissues. It can detect bronchial disease, aortic disease, lung cancer as well as pancreatic cancer, which is difficult to detect by ultrasound imaging. If you have any of the risk factors for these diseases, do not miss having a CT scan. In addition, check-ups on your heart from the age of 40, and colonoscopy from the age of 50 should be done every five years in order to monitor heart diseases, rectal cancer, and colorectal cancer.
▶ Men and Women in their 40s and 50s need to have different tests
- Men are three to four times more likely to develop cardiac disease than women. Therefore, regular checkups on blood pressure is needed. In particular, those who suffer from severe andropause should receive a hormone test.
- Postmenopausal women are recommended to have the bone density of their spine and femur monitored every two to three years. Additionally, liquid-based cervical cytology, a human papilloma virus test, pelvic sonography, and breast sonography are advised as well.
[60s and older] Pay attention to degenerative diseases!
From the age of 60 onwards, chronic diseases, including cancers, cerebral vascular disease, cardiac disease, and consequently death, becomes more common. During this period, your body parts are prone to degenerate rapidly, and fundamentally, it is hard to prevent diseases completely. In this sense, a medical checkup is necessary in order to delay the progress of disease and maintain the best health condition possible. In general your vision, hearing and dentine health should be monitored. Alongside this, tests in respect to brain and nervous system diseases, such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson' Disease, and geriatric illnesses, including cardiovascular diseases, as well as musculoskeletal diseases are recommended.
No matter how busy you are, you need to make time for basic check-ups.
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