When did you last get a health checkup done? Playing with health can prove costly, what do experts say?

Rishikesh: In today’s fast-paced life, we get so entangled in work, responsibilities and everyday hustle and bustle that we leave our health behind. We often think that when we feel unwell, we will go to the doctor, but do you know that many diseases develop slowly in the body without any pain or visible symptoms. In such a situation, a small question, ‘When did you last get your health checkup done?’ Can change your life. According to medical science, getting tested on time is the easiest and cheapest way to avoid diseases. Still, crores of people in India do not get any health checkup done for years and by the time they do, it is too late.

Why is regular health checkup important?

During a conversation with Local 18, Dr. Rajkumar (Ayush) said that people often believe that if there is no pain in the body then everything is fine, but the reality can be exactly the opposite. Many diseases like high BP, thyroid, diabetes, fatty liver, kidney problem, cholesterol etc. harm the body silently without any symptoms for years. These gradually take the form of a big threat and we come to know late. Every person must undergo a complete health checkup once a year, which includes testing of blood test, liver function, kidney test, sugar, thyroid, hemoglobin, uric acid and vitamins. People who are aged 30 or above or have a family history of diabetes, BP or heart disease are advised to get a checkup done twice a year. By receiving timely reports, the disease can be prevented in its initial stages and treatment becomes easier and less expensive.

Why don’t people get checkups done?

Many people postpone checkups because they feel fit. Some people think that it is a waste of money because of the expense, but the truth is exactly the opposite. As the disease progresses, the cost of treatment is many times more than the checkup. Secondly, lack of time is also a big reason in this busy life. People do not give priority to going to the doctor, but in case of health emergency, they stand in line for hours outside the same doctor’s room. In today’s time, not getting a checkup done is such a carelessness that one may have to suffer the consequences throughout one’s life.

Everyday lifestyle increases the risk

Rapidly changing eating habits, less sleep, stress and lack of exercise have a direct impact on our body. Today youth are also falling prey to diseases like heart attack, diabetes and blood pressure. Junk food, digital screens, staying awake late at night, working while sitting give rise to ‘silent diseases’ in the body. In such a situation, just eating healthy or going to the gym is not enough. It is important that the internal condition of the body is also checked from time to time, so that we remain healthy not only externally but also from inside.