Why are Annual Health Checkup Results so Important?

• Health checkups enable prevention before a disease progresses. This is especially important in the case of asymptomatic diseases, because by the time symptoms appear, the disease may be too advanced to treat. In cases where abnormal results are found after a health checkup, make sure to follow your doctor’s advice strictly.
• A single blood pressure screening may not conclusively determine high blood pressure. As such, it is necessary to repeat the reading 2-3 times and to check results periodically. This is because blood pressure values are easily affected by factors such as fatigue, excitement, stress and insufficient rest. 

You’ve had a health checkup and listened to your doctor explain your test results and the values outlined on the results print-out. You remember some of it, but other information you’ve forgotten, or maybe didn’t even fully understand, thanks to all the abbreviations, numbers, and the multitude of instructions. Perhaps you have high blood sugar, your blood pressure is fairly elevated, and your lipid panel shows you are at the top end of the target range. Do you know what each of those specific values and numbers tell you about your health and risk of disease? 
 

Blood glucose tests are used to screen for diabetes. Normal fasting blood glucose levels range are between 70-99 mg/dl. When blood glucose levels are from100 – 125 mg/dl, this is considered at risk of or prediabetes, while 126 mg/dl or higher indicates early-stage diabetes.

However, the HbA1c (Glycated hemoglobin) test tells you your average blood sugar levels over the past 2-3 months and you are not required to fast before taking the test. It is often used as a diagnostic test for diabetes and to monitor diabetes control. It can also be used to assess any risk of complications that might occur. With this test, a normal HbA1c level is below 5.7 mg%, a level of 5.7–6.4 mg% indicates risk or prediabetes, and a level of 6.5 mg% or more indicates diabetes.  

In addition to diabetes, which in itself if already a dangerous disease, there are also other dangers in the form of possible complications, such as coronary heart disease, stroke resulting in full or partial paralysis, peripheral arterial disease, chronic kidney disease, diabetic retinopathy, which can affect the vision and eventually result in blindness.  

In order to provide the most accurate blood lipid profile and results, your doctor will instruct you not to eat or drink anything for approximately 12 hours prior to testing. A blood lipid panel includes a few different aspects as follows:   

• Cholesterol: The total amount of cholesterol in the blood is measured. If levels are found to be higher than 200 mg/dl, this can result in hardening, narrowing, and blockage of the blood vessels, which is a major risk factor for heart disease.
• Triglyceride: High triglycerides of 150 mg/dl or more may contribute to hardening of the arteries or thickening of the artery walls (arteriosclerosis), pancreatitis.
• High-Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol (HDL-C): Also known as good cholesterol, HDL cholesterol helps to carry excess cholesterol away from artery walls and transporting it to the liver for disposal. Good levels of HDL-cholesterol help reduce the risk of ischemic heart disease and should not be less than 40 mg/dl in male, 50 mg/dl in female. Desirable level should be 60 mg/dl or above.
• Low-Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol (LDL-C): Also known as bad cholesterol, LDL cholesterol increases the risk of peripheral vascular disease in organs such as the heart and brain when high levels are present. As such, LDL- cholesterol levels should not be higher than 130 mg/dl.

Blood pressure readings provide valuable information regarding your basic cardiovascular health. For a normal reading, your blood pressure should show a systolic pressure of less than 120 mm Hg and a diastolic pressure of less than 80 mm Hg. For the diagnosis of hypertension, a blood pressure reading of 140/90 mm Hg is considered hypertensive.

If a patient does have high blood pressure, they may also be at risk of developing other serious diseases, such as stroke, heart disease and kidney disease. However, a single blood pressure reading may not conclusively determine high blood pressure. As such, it is necessary to repeat the reading 2-3 times and to check results periodically. This is because blood pressure values are easily affected by factors such as fatigue, excitement, stress and insufficient rest.  

Liver function can be examined using blood tests and patients do not need to refrain from eating prior to testing. Blood tests used to show liver function results can be divided as follows:

• Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) is one type of enzyme in the liver cells. Normal ALT values are considered to be 0-34 U/L female, 0-45 U/L male. If abnormal values are detected, this can indicate liver cell abnormalities and possible development of liver disease, such as cirrhosis.  
• Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or Serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) is another type of enzyme found in liver cells, as well as in other organs such as the heart, kidneys, brain, and muscles. It is usually tested along with ALT in order to assess liver function. A normal AST range is 5-34 U/L.  
• Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) ALP is an enzyme protein found throughout the body, but it is mostly found in the liver, bones, kidneys, and digestive system. If you show signs of liver or bone disorder, ALP level test is usually done with ALT and AST tests to assess liver function. An ALP level between 40 and 150 U/L is considered normal for an average adult. High ALP levels may indicate liver problems, such as hepatitis or liver cancer, or that the patient has taken drugs which are toxic to the liver.
• Albumin is a protein made by the liver and is an important component of the blood. Albumin blood tests help to assess liver function as well as the balance of hepatic albumin production and renal excretion. A normal albumin range is 3.5 - 5.2 g/dL.
• Total bilirubin. A bilirubin test can be used to assess liver function. Normal values are 0.2 – 1.2 mg/dl

Health checkups enable prevention to take place before a disease progresses, and may help to detect the risk of a disease or aid in its early diagnosis. In cases where abnormal results are found that indicate the onset of disease, the doctor may then be able to prescribe medication or provide additional recommendations specific to the disease, such as behavior modification to improve the patient’s health, or provide references for treatment under a specialist physician.
Good healthcare as recommended by your doctor is key. After a health checkup, it is important to follow the doctor’s advice, especially if you find you are at risk of a disease but do not yet have the condition itself. This is because getting treatment early on provides a much greater chance of a cure, allowing you to return to your normal life and daily activities as quickly as possible. In addition, the following behavior modifications in your everyday life can help to prevent a wide variety of ailments and diseases:

• Eat nutritious foods from all 5 food groups; avoid high fat and overly spicy foods; drink 8-10 glasses of water per day; and get plenty of fiber from natural fruits and vegetables.
• Exercise regularly. In the case of underlying diseases, if you are overweight, or if other risks are present, take care to consult a doctor before embarking on an exercise program.
• Take good care of your emotional and mental health and stay free of stress or anxiety.
• Get sufficient, restful sleep for maximum relaxation.

“HEALTH RACE” for total health and well-being

Oftentimes it seems we start out thinking that our behaviors will be easy to change, when in fact, it turns out to be more difficult than we originally thought, either because we lack the knowledge, time, inspiration or motivation, or because we simply decide we don’t really want the change badly enough. How great it would be if you had a “Health Companion” to walk with you on your health journey, especially if that health companion was a medical expert and health professional specializing in a variety of health fields. Well now you can have exactly that with the Health Race program, a holistic healthcare program that helps you beat and set new personal health and wellness records. In addition to providing you with modern, highly effective healthcare tools, it can also improve the way you care for your long-term health, helping you to become healthier through the 4 types of wellbeing. These 4 types of wellbeing are the principle guidelines of our Health Race program, allowing you to achieve your health goals as follows: 

• Physical Wellbeing: Tailored fitness solutions for a sustainable state of optimal health. This encompasses evaluating your cardiac readiness and physical fitness prior to engaging in any exercise regimen, conducting body composition assessments, and devising an ongoing personalized exercise plan.
• Dietary Wellbeing: Customized dietary guidance designed specifically for you to promote overall health while managing your body weight. Your nutrition plan will be meticulously crafted based on recommendations from our seasoned dietitians.
• Emotional Wellbeing: Comprehensive emotional and mental health support delivered by a team of specialized physicians to analyze the impact of stress on your daily life.
• Sleep Wellbeing: Attentive care for sleep-related issues such as insomnia, poor sleep quality, or snoring. Targeted treatments, including a sleep apnea test (sleep test), acupuncture, and more, aim to address the specific sleep challenges you may be experiencing.

An annual health check-up helps to detect abnormalities, provides information about organ functions in the body, and shows clear results of disease risk factor analysis, allowing doctors to diagnose any diseases or abnormal conditions that may be present. If any test results show levels higher than standard or that are abnormal in any way, you should follow your doctor’s advice and recommendations, especially if you are at risk or do not yet have those diseases.

These days, so many people are paying greater attention to their own individual healthcare. They are interested in tailored, personalized healthcare programs, and want ongoing health supervision and advice. This includes those who are in good physical shape with normal, healthy test results. The Health Race Program answers all of these healthcare needs, helping you to reach your own personal health goals and achieve holistic, sustainable health and wellbeing. Contact the Wellness Center for your very own Health Companion to get in touch and provide you more information about how they can help you stay healthy with the Health Race Program.