2023-10-04 19:08:04
The World Health Organization (WHO) establishes that prevention in public health are measures aimed at preventing and reducing the risk of diseases, and also serve to stop the progression of symptoms presented by the patient and mitigate their consequences. For this reason, it is essential when it comes to maintaining optimal health, periodic medical check-ups play an essential role in this process, since they allow medical conditions to be detected in their early stages, when they are easier to treat.
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Doctor visits are a crucial part of preventive health care. According to the Merk manuals, these reviews typically include medical evaluations, laboratory tests, and screening procedures designed to corroborate the patient’s health status and detect potential health problems before they become serious.
Although there is no precise figure for how many times people should go to the doctor, it varies depending on many factors, which can be pre-existing diseases, family history, or emergency situations in which a person can go to a hospital.
The American Association of Family Physicians recommends acting from preventive medicine for the periodic supervision of patients, identifying risk factors, and care that the person must take to optimize their state of health.
Medical care must be preventive and diagnose diseases in a timely manner.
For this reason, timely detection of diseases is necessary, where regular check-ups are essential because they can identify pathologies in early stages, which often allows for more effective and less invasive treatment.
Likewise, there must be joint work between patient and doctor to prevent diseases; Health professionals should provide guidance on lifestyle changes and preventative measures to reduce the risk of disease and patients should follow instructions to avoid repercussions in the future.
Long-term health monitoring is also an important factor, as regular checkups can provide a continuous medical history, allowing doctors to track health progress and spot trends over time.
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Personalized medicine facilitates the diagnosis and treatment of a patient.
Recommendation for medical check-up according to age
According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, the recommended frequency of checkups may vary depending on age, gender, personal and family medical history, and other individual risk factors. Below are some general guidelines:
Young adults (18-30 years old): For those in good general health, medical personnel focus on routine exams, such as checking sugar levels, heart rhythms, vision and dental exams, among others. Also, during these exams, topics such as vaccination and advice on healthy lifestyle habits can be addressed. Middle-aged adults (30-50 years): Doctors discuss risk factors during the consultation, where they perform various tests that may include evaluations of blood pressure, cholesterol, and screening for chronic diseases. Older adults (over 50 years old): It is recommended that most older people should have an annual checkup. These screenings may include cancer screening, bone density assessment, and other tests specific to your age group.
With advancing age, visits to the doctor to evaluate the state of health become more advisable.
The importance of medical advice
In addition to general recommendations, it is important to take individual factors into account. If you have a family history of certain diseases, specific risk factors, or chronic medical conditions, you may need to have more frequent checkups.
Ultimately, the frequency of medical checkups should be determined in consultation with a healthcare professional. These professionals can evaluate your individual situation and provide personalized recommendations.
The most important thing is to prioritize prevention and care for your health throughout your life, regardless of the exact frequency of medical checkups. Preventative care can make a difference in the early detection and management of medical conditions, contributing to a longer, healthier life.
DYLAN ESCOBAR RUIZ
School of Multimedia Journalism EL TIEMPO
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