Why are annual health check-ups essential?

• Statistics from October 2016 show that a mere 2% of Thai people attend annual health check-ups, with 59% of the population considering themselves to be healthy.
• Health programs differ according to a person’s age. For instance, anyone over 45 should undergo colon cancer screening, while women aged over 40 should be undergoing screening for breast cancer.
• Each of us should be attending a health check-up at least once a year even though we are free from illness and disease because there are a whole host of external factors that we may otherwise be unaware of but which can gradually impact our health each day. Examples include PM2.5 air pollutants, exhaust fumes, chemicals and carcinogens found in fruit and vegetables, infectious diseases, such as new strains of the flu and Covid-19, as well as personalized health risks, including inherited diseases.

Statistics shared by the Department of Health Service Support in October 2016 revealed that a mere 2% of Thai people attend annual health check-ups, with 59% of the population considering themselves to be healthy.

However, the key pillars of good health that many people adhere to – eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and maintaining a positive mindset – may not be sufficient as there are many occasions where a person may think they are already leading a healthy lifestyle, but their body may, in fact, be suffering from an illness of which they are completely unaware. Moreover, for those people with unhealthy lifestyle habits, including smoking, drinking alcohol, sleeping late, not exercising, being overweight, and enjoying a little too much rich, grilled, or fried foods, the dangers are even greater, with high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and heart disease all very real risks.

Health check-ups are the basis upon which a long, healthy life is built, but many people still do not understand why, when, and how these check-ups should take place. If we compare our body to an engine, annual health check-ups can be viewed as the yearly service, but if we enter the mechanic’s garage with no idea as to what areas need attention, we could end up driving back out again without having addressed the true problem.

Additionally, our health is not necessarily a completely personal issue as it can significantly affect the lives of our families, including our partners, parents, and children, as well as our careers and professional lives. Therefore, annual health check-ups are a personal responsibility necessary to ensure your families do not undergo unnecessary anguish. Furthermore, we are extremely fortunate to live in Thailand, where there are a multitude of JCI accredited hospitals offering the latest medical innovations in this digital era that ensure rapid results with the highest levels of accuracy available.

Each of us should be undergoing health screening at least once a year even when we are free from illness and disease because there are a whole host of external factors that we may otherwise be unaware of but which can gradually impact our health each day. Examples include PM2.5 air pollutants, exhaust fumes, chemicals and carcinogens found in fruit and vegetables, and infectious diseases, such as new strains of the flu and Covid-19. There are also a range of personalized health risks, including hereditary diseases and lifestyle changes, such as a reduction in exercise, eating more than usual, smoking regularly, drinking alcohol, stress, and not getting enough rest. Hence, the best way to protect our health is to prevent the onset of illness and disease with annual health check-ups that can detect indicators of illness before they can develop and become difficult to treat.

Annual health check-ups are designed to improve health at different stages of life - regardless of gender - by detecting irregularities at the outset, which can then allow for the immediate implementation of preventive measures and treatment planning. Examples of age-related health tests are as follows:

• Get plenty of rest, meaning at least 6 hours of sleep, because a lack of sleep could lead to irregular results, especially in relation to blood pressure, pulse, and body temperature.
• For testing that requires fasting from solids and liquids, be sure to fast for at least 8–10 hours prior to screening (small amounts of water may be sipped periodically).
• For testing that requires abstaining from alcohol, be sure to abstain for at least 24 hours prior to screening as alcohol consumption may impact results. Should you have drunk alcohol within this time, notify the doctor or nursing staff in charge of screening.
• Continue taking medication as directed by your doctor if you are a patient on regular blood pressure drugs.
• In cases where patients have congenital health conditions or other underlying health conditions, results from previous tests should be brought to the attention of the doctor in charge to aid the diagnostic process.
• Women should not undergo screening during the 7 days leading up to or following their period. Should you be on your period, avoid any urine tests as there may be blood present which will impact results.
• Women scheduled to undergo mammogram breast cancer screening should avoid screening during their period as the breasts will be tighter and firmer at this time.
• Women who suspect they may be pregnant should notify a member of staff to ensure they are not asked to undergo an x-ray or Fibroscan screening.

Annual health check-ups are not just a matter of detecting potentially dangerous conditions but are also a way for you to find out more about your body. This may involve medical staff identifying irregularities likely to develop in the future or areas that could place you at high risk of disease if they are not dealt with in the present. Additionally, some patients may already know that they are at risk of inheriting genetic conditions, so annual health check-ups can help them create a plan to ensure their health can be maintained moving forwards. Should a risk be identified through screening, patients can receive a medical consultation from an expert doctor, who can provide advice on the preventive measures and treatment necessary to ensure good health.

Despite the investments you make in terms of your health not providing immediate or tangible returns, the value of such an investment cannot be underestimated. Whatever you do, make sure you are not one of those who end up lamenting that if they had only known about their condition sooner, they would not need to undergo lengthy treatment when it is probably already too late!