Are you still healthy?

Most of us are guilty of neglecting our health in one way or another. We work long hours, eat too much unhealthy fast foods, don't get enough exercise and live highly stressful lives. The problem with such an unhealthy lifestyle is that it places strain on our bodies over time and can even make us sick. This is why we should improve our lifestyle and ensure that we have regular medical check-ups. A medical check-up can detect a medical problem early and ensure that we keep ourselves healthy.

As part of the Government Employees Medical Scheme's (GEMS) ongoing effort to educate our members and future members on a range of healthcare topics, we would like to provide you with some information on the benefits of regular medical check-ups. 

Going for a medical check-up with your healthcare practitioner is called "preventative medicine"; you have your health checked to try and prevent serious medical problems later in your life. GEMS supports the idea of preventative medicine because it wants people to learn about their problematic health conditions, such as heart disease or cancer, early enough for them to be treated.

While we are used to going to the doctor whenever we are ill, most of us do not go for regular check-ups. The problem is that many health conditions may develop over a long period of time and may not make us feel sick at first. Many serious, even life threatening medical conditions, do not cause any symptoms that we are aware of until the disease is well developed and cannot be treated.

High blood pressure is a good example of such a medical condition. Over time, high blood pressure can irreparably damage the heart and blood system and indeed other organs in the body. If it can be detected and treated early, however, this can be prevented. High blood pressure may cause no symptoms whatsoever in its early stages and many people with it feel healthy. It is not without reason that it is known as the "silent killer". The only way that high blood pressure can be detected is to measure it. This can be done by your doctor or other healthcare practitioner with a special machine called a sphygmomanometer.

Diabetes is another medical condition that is best detected early on and that usually does not have any symptoms in its early stages. The only way anyone will know that they may have developed the illness in these early stages is through a blood sugar test. There are many advantages to detecting and treating diabetes early. Some early stage diabetics may, for example, be treated with a special diet rather than with medications. Ongoing elevated blood sugar levels also damage organs in the human body. If the diabetes can be treated early, this can be prevented.

No matter how busy we think we are, we should be sure to make the time to go for regular medical check-ups. A medical check-up can be compared to taking your car for a service: the oils and seals in the engine are replaced to ensure the smooth running of your car in the future and the vehicle is checked for any other potential problems. The amazing thing is that most of us seem to worry more about the condition of our cars than we do about the state of our health. We make sure that our car gets those services regularly, but we don't do anything to protect our health. It is time to change that now.

Health, age, family medical history, lifestyle choices such as whether you drink or smoke, and your diet, will determine how often and what medical check-ups you need. However, doctors recommend that the average person over the age of 40 should go for a medical check-up once a year while younger individuals over the age of 20 years should go once every three years.

Men and women should have the following routinely done as part of their medical check-up:

• Blood pressure must be checked to ensure that it is not elevated.
• Cholesterol levels must be checked to ensure they are not elevated.
• Blood sugar levels must be checked to ensure that you don't have a problem with diabetes.

Men over the age of 40 must also have a prostate screening. Unfortunately it involves a rectal examination, but it can save your life as early stage prostate cancer is very treatable.

Women on the other hand must have a pap smear and mammogram done regularly for cervical and breast cancer respectively. Cervical cancer and many types of breast cancers also respond well to treatment if they are detected early.

Both men and women can also ask their doctor to look at any moles or other skin blemishes they may have. Moles can occasionally be malignant, or cancerous, and should always be checked by a healthcare practitioner. Smokers, meanwhile, should have their chests x-rayed from time-to-time to check for lung cancer.

Take charge of your health now by paying a visit to your healthcare practitioner for a medical check-up. Spending just a little time going for that doctor's visit can be a big investment in your health and wellbeing.

For any GEMS member queries, please contact the GEMS Call Centre on 0860 00 4367 or visit our website at www.gems.gov.za. GEMS will assist you in every way possible to ensure your family's health and wellbeing.

Sources
1. ‘Go for Regular Health and Medical Check Ups', Buzzle.com, www.buzzle.com/editorials/7-27-2006-103659.asp
2. ‘The Benefits of Medical Check Ups, Suite 101.com, www.suite101.com/content/the-benefits-of-medical-check-ups-a255576.
3.  ‘The Importance of Regular Checkups', Ask Men Health, www.askmen.com/sports/health/29_mens_health.html