Preventive and Screening Tests Guidebook: Recommendations

Decades ago, scientists were worried about outbreaks and diseases caused by infections with harmful pathogens. Their dedicated efforts led to the development of vaccines, medications, and antibiotics that helped eradicate most of these diseases. Eventually, the mortality rate associated with the outbreak of such diseases fell. The human lifestyle evolved tremendously in the years that followed.

The physical activity levels of modern humans, however, have been declining since then. Most people are now stuck in sedentary jobs and hardly have any time to exercise, go to a gym, or simply take a stroll. This has given way to a new set of equally disastrous conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disorders. Obesity is one factor that is directly associated with the manifestation of such disorders. The management of such conditions is much more difficult than managing past epidemics. This is because there are often no symptoms associated with such complications, which are often a by-product of our affluent lifestyle.

Even if an individual experience a specific symptom, the condition is often diagnosed at a late stage when the damage has already been done. The objective of this article is to highlight the importance of preventive health checkups for people from all walks of life, including women, men, and children. Additionally, it lists and explains some of the basic cancer screening tests and other health checkups that one must undergo after a certain age.

Importance of Preventive Health Checkups and Screening Tests

How healthy we are and tend to remain depends on several factors. While genetics and accidental damage play a definite role, our daily lifestyle, jobs, and eating habits are the leading factors affecting our health. An unhealthy lifestyle puts us at an increased risk of several conditions. We all know we need to incorporate exercise and other physical activity into our daily routine. However, we still do nothing about it.

This is why it is all the more necessary to undergo a preventive health checkup regularly to keep vital parameters such as blood pressure, blood glucose levels, and body fat percentage under control. Beyond identifying problems before they manifest, preventive health checkups help people in several other ways. One of the leading benefits is a sense of security. Consider a person with a family history of diabetes and high blood pressure due to chronic kidney disease. Such individuals are constantly worried about being affected by the same conditions at some point of time in life.

Undergoing screening tests once a year instils in such people a sense of security, as they are assured that if there is something, they will know it before the damage occurs. To live a healthy, longer life, one must undergo the right tests at the right time and seek appropriate treatment from an experienced professional. Preventive health checkups help people identify problems in the initial stages.

Benefits of Preventive Health Checkup

The benefits of undergoing preventive health checkups and screening tests can be categorised into the following three categories:

Physical Benefits	Emotional Benefits	Financial Benefits
Correct status of the health Identification of potential risk factors, disease, or condition Detection of diseases in their earliest phase Detection of secondary infections Reduction in physical suffering Proper and timely counselling of the patient	Reduction in mental stress through timely detection Improved sense of security Prevents emotional trauma	Cheaper than hospital bills for actual treatment Health checkups save expenses pertaining to chronic disease management No financial loss due to absence from work Possible tax savings

Preventive Screening for Women Over 40

Breast cancer examination: Ultrasound of the breast and mammography
Cervical cancer screening: Pap smear and ultrasound of the pelvis
Skin cancer screening
Pelvic exam: Examination of the organs in the pelvis
Osteoporosis screening: One mineral density test
Thyroid screening: Thyroid function test, TSH, and T4
Nutritional Profile (Iron studies, serum calcium, and vitamin D3)

Preventive Screening for Men Over 40

Prostate cancer screening: Prostate-specific antigen (PSA test), digital rectal examination (DRE), and ultrasound (KUB)
Testicular cancer screening: Regular self-exam starting at puberty to identify changes in the testicles for early detection
Colon cancer screening: Coloscopy and flexible sigmoidoscopy (once in every 10 years) and stool test

General Preventive Checks for Both Men and Women Aged 30 and Above

Full body checkup
Blood pressure monitoring
Blood sugar levels
Urinalysis
Dental examination
Eye examination
Cholesterol screening

Important Immunizations

Vaccine	When to get it?
Influenza	Annually starting at the age of 6 months
Hepatitis A	Administered in two doses at a gap of 6 to 18 months in children aged 1 or adults at risk
Hepatitis B	Administered to children at the time of birth and then after 1 and 6 months or to unvaccinated children and adults who are at risk
Pneumonia	At age 65 and above
Tetanus	Every 10 years since childhood

General Guidelines for Preventive Health Checkups and Cancer Screening

Undergoing relevant cancer screening tests is recommended, but the final decision is up to the individual. However, it is non-negotiable for individuals with a family history of cancer. For example, men with a family history of prostate or colorectal cancer must undergo screening once they reach 40.
Undergoing screening tests for factors that are directly related to an increased risk of heart diseases is non-negotiable for people with a history of heart diseases. These include blood pressure monitoring, diabetes screening, and cholesterol screening. Also, people who smoke or have had kidney-related troubles in the past must take these tests.
As a general rule, every individual aged above 18 must undergo a physical examination and preventive health screening every 2 to 3 years. This is simply to assess potential future problems and get vaccinations if needed. Additionally, the doctor may advise lifestyle changes that you must make to maintain sound health.
Individuals who are at risk of osteoporosis due to long-term steroid use, excessive alcohol use, a habit of smoking, and low body weight must undergo regular screening. It is non-negotiable for people with a family history of osteoporosis and those who experience a fracture after 50 years of age.