A Yearly Doctor’s Check-up May Save Your Life

A significant segment of our population, especially our men, avoid check-ups altogether. Such persons are unwittingly opting for illness over health and or death over life.

Reasons why people avoid check-ups:

• Fear of what may be uncovered.
• Do not like visiting a doctor’s office.
• Fear of needles and some procedures.
• Not covered by medical insurance.
• Worried about confidentiality.
• Have not identified a doctor that they feel comfortable with.
• Fear of contracting germs from doctor’s office.
• Feeling in “pink of health”.
• Assuming that having been told they were in good health a few years ago, still holds today.
None of the above mentioned reasons can justify not having a check-up.

Some of the benefits of having regular checkups

• To mitigate modifiable risk factors.
• Identify illnesses in their early stages.
• Early intervention regarding any medical condition generally improves outcomes.
• Periodically reviewing a chronic condition reduces the risk of complications.
• Allows for counselling.
• Reduces overall expenditure on healthcare.
• Can keep track of your health – especially blood tests.
• Improves the chances of better health and an increased lifespan.
• Over time, lessens anxiety associated with doctor’s office visits.
• Avail yourself to benefit from the latest medical findings and clinical recommendations.

SOME factors that lead  to suboptimal health

• Cigarette smoke
• Poor diet
• Excessive alcohol intake
• Unprotected sex
• Risky activities
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Lack of exercise
• Obesity
• Aging
• Hair dyes/ straighteners
• Prolonged sitting
• Genetics/ Family history
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Chronic infections
• Cannabis habits
• Environment – occupation/ general
• Hearing loss
• Eyesight challenges
• Compromised socioeconomic status
• Poor education
• Suboptimal awareness
• Depression/ Anxiety
• Limited access to healthcare.

SOME symptoms that should be of concern:

• Change in weight – loss or gain
• Change in appetite – increase or decrease
• Swelling of leg(s), joints, hands, abdomen, neck, face, other
• Leg pain
• Change in urine pattern
• Change in bowel habits and or stool’s shape/ consistency
• Blood in stool, urine, sputum
• Post-menopausal bleeding
• Spotting from the vagina between periods
• Change in colour of stool or urine
• Light-headedness, dizziness, fainting, seizure
• Yellow eyes
• Generalized itching
• Slurred speech, weakness
• Difficulty swallowing
• Chronic hoarseness
• New lump(s) or change in characteristics of an existing lump
• Daytime tiredness
• Shortness of breath/ persistent cough
• Pain – chest, abdomen, pelvis, head, back, limbs, breast, testicles, other
• Ulcers – mouth, throat, breast, skin
• Persistent fever
• Depression/ anxiety
• Confusion
• Hallucinations – visual, auditory
• Numbness
• Sudden change in vision
• Nipple discharge
• Any breast changes
• Recent onset tremors
• Skin discolouration, dimpling, rash, warmth, pain
• Other

Preparing for your check-up:

• Make a list of health concerns.
• Gather information regarding your family’s medical history.
• Carry a list of all current medications (prescription and non-prescription), vitamins, and supplements.
• Be in a position to share with your doctor your allergies – medicines/ foods/ other; medical and surgical history; immunization history; past test results.

Tailoring your medical check-up

The type of check-up that you need depends on:
• Current and past medical/ surgical/ occupational history
• Age
• Gender at birth
• Lifestyle
• Family history
• Genetics
• Smoking, alcohol, drug history
• Other.

What a check-up involves (specifics determined by your doctor)

• Physical Exam – BP/ Pulse/ Weight/ General examination Investigations
• Urinalysis
• Complete Blood Count (CBC)
• Kidney Function
• Liver Function
• Fasting Blood Sugar & HbA1c
• Lipid profile
• ESR/ CRP
• Thyroid Function
• Prostatic Specific Antigen (PSA)
• Mammogram
• PAP smear
• Stool – Occult blood/ DNA screen
• Colonoscopy
• H. Pylori
• Vitamin – B12/ D/ Folic Acid
• STD screen
• Eye/ Dental/ Hearing Exam
• Low-dose lung CT scan (Smokers)
• Ultrasound – abdominal/ pelvic
• Digital Rectal Examination (in select individuals)
• Exercise stress test

Adult Medical Check-up

• First at age 18.
• Second at 21. Then every 2-3 years up to 39. From 40 every 1-2 years. Yearly from 50.
• Those with a chronic illness should be seen every 3-4 months.
• Colonoscopy every 10 years from 45 to 75.
• Osteoporosis check after the age of 65 for women and 70 for men.

Women over 21

• PAP smear – Every three years, once the previous PAP is normal, up to 65.
Or
• PAP smear and HPV screening – Every 5 years after 30 up to 65.
• Even if sexually active, no need for a PAP smear before 21.
• Discuss with the doctor the need for a PAP smear beyond 65.
• Pelvic Exam – Usually done at the time of PAP smear.
• Clinical breast exam – This can be done every 1-3 years from 25 to 39 then every year thereafter.
• Mammograms – From 40 to 75. Every 1-2 years depending on one’s risk.

Men over 40

• Prostate exam – A PSA yearly. DRE is only recommended for men who have prostate-related symptoms. Discuss with your doctor the need for screening beyond the age of 75.
• Abdominal ultrasound if over 65 in smokers (screening for aortic aneurysm).

Persons over 75

• Yearly general examination; blood tests – CBC, blood sugar, lipid profile, thyroid, kidney, liver, calcium, B12, D, folic acid; stool – occult blood/ DNA; clinical breast exam; low-dose lung CT scan for smokers/ former smokers.
• Selective mammography, colonoscopy, and abdominal ultrasound as determined by the doctor.
• Bone density every 2-5 years.

Author: Dr. C. Malcolm Grant – Family Physician, c/o Family Care Clinic, Arnos Vale. Former tutor, Faculty of Medical Sciences,
University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados. For appointments:
clinic@familycaresvg.com, 1(784)570-9300, (Office), 1(784)455- 0376 (WhatsApp).
Disclaimer: The information provided in the above article is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if you are seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment. Dr. C. Malcolm Grant, Family Care Clinic or The Searchlight Newspaper, or their associates, respectively, are not liable for risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information provided above.