As a child, the majority of people were used to being told when to visit the doctor by their parents or guardians, reminded to brush their teeth thoroughly twice a day, and reminded to watch what they eat and drink.
However, just one tiny element of becoming an adult and being financially, physically, and emotionally independent involves taking control of these reigns and taking responsibility for looking after your own levels of physical health and well-being. With that being said, here are the top five most important health checks you should have annually, at the least.
1. Blood Pressure
First up, mainly for older adults and the elderly, but a good idea for anyone of any age, you should have blood pressure checks to ensure everything is working correctly regarding your heart, circulation, and your blood.
When blood pressure is left unchecked and is too high, it can lead to a myriad of health problems, including kidney disease, strokes, heart attacks, and heart failure.
2. Cervical Screening
Perhaps one of the most important, if not the most important, health check women of child-bearing age should have each year without fail is to have a cervical cancer screening, which is more colloquially referred to as a smear test.
Even though it can be worrying after you have had your screening and are waiting for your results, it is far better to find out if there is anything wrong health-wise sooner rather than later, and such tests genuinely save hundreds of lives across the country year in and year out.
3. Dental Check-Up
Good oral health is essential for not only a healthy mouth, tongue, and gums but also for the rest of your body too, and visiting an established dentist like the-oakwoodclinic.co.uk every year, or even better, six months will make a huge positive difference to your overall health.
Poor oral hygiene can have a wide range of negative impacts, including, but certainly not limited to, the following:
- Memory and concentration issues
- Infertility
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Prostate issues
- Cardiovascular disease
4. Breast Screening
Hopefully, you are fully aware by now that it is most certainly not just women who can suffer from breast cancer. Indeed, men are susceptible to cancer around the chest and breast area as well.
Regular breast screenings, just as the aforementioned cervical screening, have proven time and time again to be by far the most effective way of ensuring that if an individual does have breast cancer, their chances of survival are at their highest.
5. Cholesterol
Finally, the fifth and final health check on this list is one that becomes more and more important as you get older, and for people over the age of fifty, you should certainly be keeping a close eye on your cholesterol levels.
Your medical doctor will be able to accurately measure your body’s cholesterol level with a quick and simple blood test. Once you are aware of how much cholesterol you have in your body, you can work together with your doctor on what to do next.
