Good health doesn’t just happen, it requires effort and maintenance to achieve. Planning and actually getting a health check-up regularly is a healthy practice. You do not have to go to the hospital only when you are sick.
You can see the doctor for a check or get a medical test even when you feel fine.
It is recommended for men of all ages to get a health check-up at least once a year. Even a car needs to have an oil change and a fitness check, it can’t just keep going and going without it.
Different seasons in life come with their own demands. Whether it is school, work or family, the pressures and lifestyle associated with each stage can affect your health and well-being.
Whether you are 24 or 45, getting an annual health check-up will be beneficial for your present and future health.
Physical Examination
Getting a physical exam regularly is a preventative health measure. It enables you to be aware of potential risks of certain illnesses (for example, hypertension or heart disease) or to detect illnesses early.
This can give you a chance to make necessary lifestyle changes.
Here is what to expect during a physical examination:
- Questions pertaining to your family history. If a close family member has or had a certain illness, that puts you at a higher risk for that particular disease.
- A calculation of your Body Mass Index (BMI). Here, your weight and height will be measured to calculate your BMI. From this, it can be established whether you are at a healthy weight, underweight, overweight or obese. Your BMI is
- Check and record your vital signs: heart rate and blood pressure.
- A head to toe examination of your body would also be carried out.
Sexual Wellness
No matter the age, whether sexually active or not, it helps to know your HIV status.
Testing for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) is important for a person\’s health and well-being as well as for their sexual partners.
Screening for STDs and HIV is a vital part of your annual health check.
Cholesterol
Your body needs a sufficient amount of good cholesterol to make healthy cells and for proper brain functioning. However, high levels of bad cholesterol can increase the risk of heart disease by causing fatty deposits to develop in the blood vessels.
These deposits can eventually grow and make it difficult for blood to flow through, or they can break suddenly and form a clot, causing a heart attack or stroke.
High cholesterol has no symptoms in the early stages.
A blood test is the only way to detect if you have it. Men can get their cholesterol checked every five years and then more regularly after 35 and then every one to two years after age 45.
Depending on risk factors, like weight, family history and an unhealthy lifestyle, men of any age should be tested regularly.
High Blood Pressure
The pressure of your blood pushing against the arteries is what is known as blood pressure.
High blood, also known as hypertension, is blood pressure that is higher than normal. High blood pressure develops over time and usually has no symptoms.
This makes it essential to have it checked at a health check-up but also as regularly as possible. Hypertension puts a person at risk of illnesses such as heart disease, heart attack and stroke.
Pre-existing conditions like diabetes or obesity can put a person at a higher risk of developing high blood pressure.
Diabetes
Most of the food that you eat is broken down into sugar (also known as glucose) and released into the bloodstream.
As the levels of glucose increase in the blood, the pancreas is signalled to release insulin.
Insulin is like a key that lets the blood sugar into the body’s cells to be used as energy.
Diabetes occurs when blood glucose is higher than normal. It is a disorder where the body does not produce insulin or does not use it efficiently. Diabetes is a chronic illness with no cure. Early detection is beneficial and lifestyle changes can stop the illness from developing complications.
Depending on your personal risk, it is recommended to take a blood test for diabetes every one to three years.
Cancer
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Nigeria. Early detection through screening gives a higher chance of successful treatment.
Prostate cancer occurs in the prostate, a small walnut-shaped gland in males that produces the seminal fluid that nourishes and transports sperm.
It is recommended that every man should be screened for prostate cancer every two to three years.
Depending on the results of your first test, the doctor may recommend being screened less or more frequently.
Men of all ages should be health-conscious and go for a check-up. Additionally, they can seek medical advice if they are experiencing symptoms that they are worried about.
HealthTracka makes things easy for you with our home tests.
Click here to browse through the general health check-up packages and book a test.
