Why Preventative Screenings Belong in Your Annual Health Routine

For many diseases, early detection is the only form of prevention. Keeping track of your health and symptoms is crucial to prioritising your well-being. Preventative screenings are medical tests or exams that identify potential health issues before symptoms develop, playing a vital role in maintaining optimal health. Conditions are often more manageable when detected early while delaying diagnosis can lead to more serious complications. Read on to discover key health indicators your GP can assess.

Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is a key indicator of heart health. High blood pressure (hypertension) increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney problems, while low blood pressure (hypotension) can cause dizziness, fainting, or indicate underlying issues. However, you don’t need to wait for symptoms to appear before prioritising a check-up. Regular monitoring helps detect problems early, allowing you to make lifestyle changes or seek treatment before more serious complications develop.

Cholesterol

Maintaining a healthy heart requires regular cholesterol testing. If left unchecked, high cholesterol can lead to fatty deposits in the arteries, increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and other complications. Since high cholesterol often has no noticeable symptoms, routine testing is essential for early detection. Identifying elevated levels early gives you the opportunity to make necessary lifestyle changes or get the necessary treatment to lower your risk.

Sugar Levels and Diabetes

Since diabetes can develop gradually and sometimes go unnoticed, monitoring this is essential, especially for those with risk factors like family history, obesity or high blood pressure. Catching diabetes early improves long-term health outcomes by allowing you to treat it in time, preventing complications and related conditions like heart disease, kidney failure, nerve damage and vision loss.

General Screenings

Regular health screenings are essential for catching potential issues early and staying on top of your well-being. They help monitor your health, ensure medications are working as they should, and provide guidance on lifestyle changes that can improve your quality of life. Keeping up with routine check-ups gives you the chance to take control of your health before problems arise.

Our practice is committed to trying to find the cause of the problem rather than simply treating the symptoms. We adopt a holistic, patient-centred approach to family practice and this includes preventative screenings. Visit our website to book a consultation: https://takecareclinic.co.za/our-doctors/.

Live well!