Top 7 Medical Checks Every Adult Should Take!

Last Updated on January 4, 2021

When you become an adult, there are certain diseases that you should look out for, and doing some of these exams now and then is key to catching the disease before it catches you.

When you’re a kid or teen, your body is still developing, which means that even if you do these exams, they aren’t very precise.
Once you stop growing, you should evaluate your body by doing a blood test.
Most people only do a medical test when they haven’t been feeling well, and normally those tests end up finding a lot more to worry about than you anticipated.

Healthcare is something that the US is very famous for, and not for good reasons. Exams and a doctor’s visit can cost the same as the rent of your own house.
Meanwhile, in other countries, it might be more accessible. However, unfortunately, most people still end up getting diagnosed a little bit too late, making it harder or impossible for them to survive.

Because we are responsible for our bodies, we should take medical exams as a requirement, and we need to save up for it every single month of our lives.
Take a look at what some of these exams are in the following list!

1. Cholesterol levels

The easiest and most efficient way to evaluate your cholesterol levels is by taking a simple blood test. Normally, you shouldn’t eat before taking one, so taking them first thing in the morning is preferable.

But what is blood cholesterol, and what are the acceptable levels? Your blood needs cholesterol to help build healthy cells (HDL is the name of the good cholesterol). However, high levels of it can cause serious heart problems. Bad cholesterol goes by the name of LDL.

Your overall cholesterol level shouldn’t be more than 200 mg/dL. If it is, you probably should consider having an extremely healthy diet and do regular exercise from now on. If you have someone in your family with high cholesterol, have a BMI over 30, or smoke a lot, then you should be tested in your 20s, sometimes even sooner, depending on the case. If not, you shouldn’t worry too much about it while you’re young and healthy, after you reach your 30’s keep a check on it now and then.

2. Skin check

Skin cancer targets over 1 million people worldwide every year. It is mostly diagnosed in older people, but in reality, nobody is safe, not even children. Some of the risk factors of this serious disease include fair skin, a lot of sun exposure, and the presence of multiple and unusual moles.

Having family members that had skin cancer, or suffering from blistery sunburns in the past can also be some factors that make you automatically prone to it. In this case, you should pay a visit to a dermatologist, who will examine your skin looking for odd moles or suspicious growths that could be related to cancer. Unfurtanelly, you can have healthy skin on the outside, but not inside. Don’t forget to always wear sunscreen, even during the winter.

3. Diabetes

More than one million people die every year due to diabetes. Because it’s so serious, doctors advise you to get a diabetes test not once but twice every year. You can get tested for diabetes by doing a hemoglobin A1C blood test, an oral glucose tolerance test, or an FPG, which stands for fasting plasma glucose.

Some of the symptoms you might have type 2 diabetes are: feeling extremely thirsty and tired, having blurry vision, peeing more than usual, having cuts on your body that don’t seem to heal, and of course, a high blood pressure, which is any number higher than 135/80 mm hg.

Diabetes type 2 disease has no cure. However, it can be prevented by maintaining a healthy body and weight with the help of exercise and healthy food. When diagnosed early, it can be slowed down by medication and sometimes, just by adapting to a different lifestyle.

4. Hepatitis

Hepatitis is an inflammatory disease located on the liver. Viral infections usually cause this liver disease, but it can also be caused by drinking a lot of alcohol or taking certain medications.

What’s dangerous about this disease is that it can be a silent one. Some people notice a lack of appetite, abdominal pain, or even diarrhea, while others don’t have symptoms at all.

That’s what makes it one of the most dangerous chronic diseases out there; it can be weakening your immune system without you even knowing it. There are many types of hepatitis, while hepatitis A and E are normally caused by the consumption of contaminated water and food, hepatitis C, B, and D are related to contact with infected fluids. It is advisable that you get checked for hepatitis once a year.

5. Pap smear

This one is for the ladies. Every woman should get a pap smear or pelvic examination every three years after they turn 21 years old. The objective of this test is to check possible cervical cancer symptoms.

These exams will look for abnormal changes in cells that might need further testing. Fortunately, thanks to this exam, the death rate has lowered more than 70% over the years! Don’t avoid the test just because you’re scared, it’s easier than you think and it’s always best to be on top of your health.

6. Blood cancer

Blood cancer or leukemia can be found by a simple blood test. There are around 137 types of blood cancer; the main ones are leukemia, myeloma, and lymphoma.

While some of the symptoms of blood cancer include chills, fatigue, overall weakness, and fever, others include nausea or coughing, which can be ignored and often misdiagnosed. This is why you should take blood tests very seriously; doing them at least once a year will help you keep track of your health and avoid future complications.

7. Bone loss

When talking about bone diseases, you have arthritis, which comes from inflammation of the joints and tissue, and osteoporosis which makes you lose bone density, leading to possible fractures. Both of them affect older people, millions of them, all around the world.

When you reach a certain age, it’s normal to develop joint problems and suffer from a lot of back pain, joint pain, and so on through your life. Even though there are medications and physiotherapy, there’s no magical cure for these conditions.

There’s a way to analyze your bone density and possible inflammations you might have going on by a urine sample and an X-ray. If you’re above thirty, you should keep an eye on the density of your bones, especially if you live a sedentary lifestyle.

Everyone should do at least 30m a day of exercise, even if it’s just walking to prevent future health problems related to bone malfunction and many others. No matter what age you are right now, health is something that should always be prioritized.

Even if you don’t relate to any of these conditions, and consider yourself a healthy person, doing these tests every year will only reassure you or alert you for something you should take care of. Start thinking about saving your money not only for traveling and new furniture but also for your health. You might not need a lot of exams now but who knows about the future?