Even without any discomfort or symptoms and while feeling healthy, regular health check-ups, including examinations of the reproductive system, have become an essential part of the normal lifestyle for many women in modern society, aimed solely at prevention and early disease detection.
Benefits:
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– The opportunity for healthcare providers to inform about potential risk factors associated with age.
– Allows healthcare providers to understand each woman’s unique health characteristics and easily monitor changes over time.
– Aids in the early detection of latent health issues, making treatment more effective.
To maximize the effectiveness of each regular check-up, women should prepare in advance about what to inform the healthcare provider, as typically, providers have limited time for each patient (around 20 minutes).
The following information is commonly requested: personal health history (reasons for illnesses or surgeries, previous emergencies, any health incidents over the years, if possible, copies of tests conducted, surgical reports…) – family health history (heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes… that family members have experienced, age of onset, and if possible, reasons for death) – medications commonly used, whether for treatment, supplements (vitamins, minerals), or reactions to medications, including over-the-counter or traditional medicines – vaccination history, recorded in the health book to recall the last year vaccinated against tetanus, diphtheria, measles, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, pneumonia, and flu – pre-written questions or concerns to be addressed by the healthcare provider.
Disease prevention is the focus of regular check-ups, so healthcare providers will emphasize necessary screenings for early detection or programs aimed at maintaining better health and quality of life (e.g., nutrition or physical activity…). Of course, if any discomfort is present, immediate attention from the healthcare provider is necessary, not just waiting for the next scheduled check-up.
Questions based on long-standing concerns help women actively participate in lifelong disease prevention, as only with knowledge of risks can one develop a conscious attitude towards disease prevention. Age and level of understanding encourage individuals to pay more attention to their health. Everyone needs to know their current health indicators (blood pressure, blood sugar levels, cholesterol levels… health risks by age; necessary screenings; ways to maintain health (diet, exercise, stress management, necessary vaccinations…).
Not every regular check-up is complex; for younger women, it often involves pelvic examinations to detect common gynecological issues, measuring blood pressure, and receiving lifestyle and sexual health advice. However, as they age, screenings like mammograms, colonoscopies, and blood lipid tests may become necessary. When to start regular check-ups, how often, and what tests to undertake depend on the specific health concerns of different age groups. Yet, when women become aware of the necessity and benefits of these check-ups, it indicates a positive shift in their health protection behavior.
Dr. ĐÀO XUÂN DŨNG
