AN IMPORTANT reminder — do not just visit the doctor when you feel something odd in your body. Always make sure that you have a regular medical check-up either annually, semin-annually, or quarterly.

As they say, prevention is still the best cure. In fact, medical experts say that early detection is very crucial in survival rates in cancer, where the survival rate of stage 1 cancer is at 100 percent as opposed to stage 2 cancer which is at 93 percent.

Being able to visit the doctor will not only give you the peace of mind that you need but more importantly, this is the best way to help diagnose any potential problems that might be cropping up. This is why it is also necessary to find out your family’s medical history and background to anticipate any medical incidences in the future.

For young or old, doctors recommend the regular check-ups as “these form the cornerstone of early detection methods and vary according to age, sex, family health and history.” Knowing that you’re in the pink of health, or if there is a tiny bit of a health issue that you need to address is one way of lowering the costs of medicines and other medical procedures. The doctors can advise numerous tests and preventative screenings to help detect any risk to the patient. These screenings can identify diseases at the onset making it easier to cure them.

Blood tests, which are usually required by the doctors are also important in monitoring various heath indicators and can help eliminate the risk of diseases. These include cholesterol, diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, anemia, HIV/AIDS, as well as coronary artery diseases. Blood tests also help doctors to properly evaluate the functioning of various body organs like liver, kidneys, heart and thyroid.

Regular check-ups also help identify the occurrence of stress-related illnesses, both physical as well as psychological, such as hypertension, high blood pressure, weight gain, mental disorders, Alzheimer’s, depression, asthma, and even gastrointestinal problems.

The essential tests and screenings include cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), breast and cervical cancer early detection, colorectal cancer screening, oral health for adults, immunization schedules, skin cancer, prostate cancer screening, viral hepatitis, and HIV/Aids.

Ignoring our health is killing our bodies slowly, and if we want to live longer, then it is a must to keep it in the best condition possible. Checking on yourself regularly and subjecting yourself to routine check ups is the best way to ensure our good health.

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This column is dedicated to my cousin, Emmanuel Regala Lising, who passed away at the early age of 56. Rest well, Kong Emy. You are now peacefully under God’s eternal protection.