Preventative Healthcare: An Ounce of Prevention
Why annual medical checkups are the best investment in your health and your family's health.
4 min readAn ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. This ancient saying is the cornerstone of modern medicine. Preventative medicine focuses on protecting you from illnesses before they occur, rather than waiting to treat them.
A General Practitioner or Family Doctor provides comprehensive health guidance for all family members, focusing on discovering early indicators of health problems when they are in their most easily treatable stages.
What does an annual health checkup include?
The annual checkup includes evaluating your lifestyle and family history, a comprehensive physical exam measuring vital signs like blood pressure and BMI, plus essential lab tests for blood sugar, cholesterol, liver and kidney functions, and a CBC.
Tailored care by age and gender
Screenings are not one-size-fits-all. What a young man in his twenties needs differs from a fifty-year-old man. Women's screenings also differ from men's (such as Pap smears for women or prostate exams for men).
The Value of a Comprehensive Checkup
- Detecting silent diseases in their infancy
- Ensuring vaccines are effective and up to date
- Receiving health and nutritional guidance specific to your body
- Building a reliable medical record for emergencies
- Peace of mind for you and your family
How to prepare for your GP appointment?
- Write a list of any unusual symptoms, even if they seem minor
- Prepare a list of all medications and supplements you take
- Ask if any tests require fasting before your appointment
- Be ready to answer questions about your daily lifestyle honestly
FAQ
I am healthy and play sports, do I need an annual checkup?
Yes, many physiological changes do not manifest as physical symptoms immediately. An athlete might have hereditary high cholesterol, for instance.
How long does a comprehensive checkup take?
The medical visit takes about 20 minutes, blood draws take a few extra minutes, and results usually appear the same or next day.
Start with the right doctor
Book at the general medicine clinic — from there we point you to the exact specialty you need.
