The best way to maintain your health is to be proactive in protecting it. Along with a healthy lifestyle, regular health checks are important for maintaining your overall well-being.
Getting regular health checks are important for catching any potential issues early. Heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers can often be diagnosed early. Finding problems early increases the chances that treatment will be effective.
Why are health checks important?
It’s important to regularly visit your doctor, even if you don’t feel sick. This gives you a chance to catch any potential health issues, keep track of your risk of certain health problems, and maintain all vaccinations.
It’s also a good idea to regularly check your lifestyle and see if any improvements can be made for a healthier future.
How often should I get health checks?
There are a number of factors that impact how often you need health checks, including:
- Age
- Current health
- Family history
- Lifestyle choices
- Past health issues
Some health checks are often performed when you visit for another reason. It’s important to ask your doctor when you should visit again for further health checks. If you are at risk of a particular condition, your doctor may recommend health checks more regularly.
What happens during health checks?
When you have a health check, your doctor will talk to you about things such as:
- Your medical history
- Your family’s medical history
- Diet
- Weight
- Your lifestyle
- Exercise
- Whether you smoke, drink alcohol, or take illicit drugs
What can I do at home?
In between your regular doctor visits, there are some things you can do at home to help maintain your health:
- Maintain a balanced diet
- Aim for 30 minutes of exercise per day
- Try to have at least two alcohol-free days per week
- Quit smoking
- Take note of any health issues or symptoms, and speak to your doctor about them.
Due for a health check? Our team of GP’s are happy to help. To make an appointment, call our friendly team on (02) 9241 1577, or click here.
Resources
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/ServicesAndSupport/regular-health-checks
