There is a good reason why resolutions are made just before January. Each New Year signifies a chance to reboot, to start fresh on a clean slate, with 365 days to make things right, and really start living a “healthy normal” especially these days when the pandemic seems far from being over.
So, it’s no surprise that getting fit and eating right remain the top resolutions people make each and every New Year. If there is anything the pandemic has taught us, it’s the value of life and how a healthy body can protect us from diseases like the deadly coronavirus.
Before jumping on the exercise bandwagon or replacing the contents of your fridge with healthier choices, consider taking an annual physical exam or executive checkup.
“The annual physical exam gives you an idea of where you are and how you are doing health-wise,” says Minerva M. Laconico, MD, of Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed, www.makatimed.net.ph). “According to a 2017 study by the Department of Health, more than 12 million Filipinos are hypertensive. Yet half of them—roughly 1 in 4 people—are unaware of it. Same with diabetes: 1 in 14 Filipinos live with diabetes but many do not know they are diabetic until they experience the symptoms of this ‘silent killer.’”
“Knowing your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and other vital information could spell the difference between a healthy person and one who may suddenly suffer a heart attack or stroke. It is highly recommended that all of us, regardless of age, undergo an annual physical exam.”
Not convinced? Here are three reasons why you should schedule your annual physical exam in January:
To have a baseline of your health. Annual physical exam packages vary, depending on what your doctor recommends.
To develop good health habits. “Knowing the results of your annual physical motivates you to continue with your healthy practices,” Dr. Laconico points out. “It may also be a wake-up call to finally do something about your health, like cutting back on sweets or salty food and signing up for a virtual Zumba class or committing to walk every day.”
To establish a relationship with your health practitioner. “Your doctor will not only know the details of your medical history, he or she would have followed your progress through months and years, and will be able to recommend treatments suited to your needs,” says Dr. Laconico. “You in turn would have developed a level of trust with your primary physician, making you comfortable enough to speak honestly and from the heart about your health concerns.”
The MakatiMed’s HealthHub outpatient services includes the annual physical exam, which involves screenings for hypertension, diabetes, and identifying risk factors for cardiovascular conditions, and gastrointestinal and liver diseases. Specialized packages to screen for colon, breast and cervical cancer, as well as osteoporosis are also available.