- Although most people think that they should only go to the doctor when they are sick, in reality they can attend any day of the year.
- In addition to doing daily physical exercise and maintaining a balanced diet, it is necessary to go for regular medical check-ups.
- Some diseases do not cause initial symptoms and are only detected until they are in advanced stages.
Regular medical checkups are essential for the prevention and early detection of serious health problems. In Mexico, hypertension, diabetes and obesity are three of the main health concerns that affect the population. Coincidentally, all of them have the potential to be detected at an early stage and prevented.
“Prevention is key to maintaining good health and quality of life. Although many of us tend to ignore routine medical check-ups, these are essential to identify and prevent health problems before they become chronic or serious conditions”, explains Dr. Roberto Santos, Kabla’s Medical Director.
Sometimes there are health problems that do not cause symptoms during their early stages. Similarly, it is necessary to remember that You should not only go to a doctor when there is an illness, but any day is perfect to go for a consultation.
With this in mind, it is not enough to follow the basic directions of exercise daily and maintain a balanced diet. It is also necessary to go to medical check-ups periodically to identify the possible appearance of a disease or condition. The main ones that should be visited at least once a year are the following.
1) Blood pressure
High blood pressure is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular disease and stroke worldwide. Doctors recommend that all adults have their blood pressure checked at least once a year.
According to figures from the National Institute of Public Health (INSP) and the Ministry of Health (SSa), it is estimated that 25% of the adult population suffers from hypertension, but most do not know it due to the lack of regular medical check-ups.
2) Blood glucose
Diabetes is another common condition that affects millions of people around the world. Mexico has the highest rate in Latin America and the seventh highest in the world. Interdisciplinary research estimates that 13.7% of the adult population in Mexico has diabetes, and many more are at risk due to obesity and unhealthy eating habits.
It is recommended that adults have a fasting blood glucose check at least once a year. Likewise There are state-of-the-art glucometers that work to get a clear idea of the free glucose concentration levels in the blood.
3) Cholesterol
High cholesterol is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. For this reason, it is recommended that all adults have their cholesterol checked at least once a year. Figures from the National Institute of Cardiology indicate that four out of 10 Mexican adults have high cholesterol.
A blood test is the only way to detect it, but there are more and better tests that can also be fast (take 15 seconds) and measure different lipids.
4) Urea
According to data from the SSa, chronic kidney disease is a public health problem in the country and affects around 10% of the population. Urea is a substance produced by the liver and eliminated by the kidneys, so its level in the blood may indicate kidney function problems.
Early detection of any abnormality in urea levels can prevent the onset of chronic kidney disease, and in some cases even save the lives of patients.
5) Cancer
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Regular medical checkups can help detect it in its early stages, increasing the chances of a cure. It is recommended that men have an annual screening for prostate cancer and women have an annual screening for breast cancer and cervical cancer and in both cases a fecal occult blood test can be performed annually for screening. colon cancer.
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