Prevention is better than the cure

Every day we are more concerned about our health.
To stay healthy, not only should we focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as an adequate nutrition and regular physical activity but also look after our healthy by having periodic medical checks. This enables us to get more information about our general condition and how to take measures to improve it.

How could we undergo a medical check-up?

Medical checks consist of periodical revisions of people with no symptoms for prevention and early diagnosis of different pathologies. Medical experts would explain patients the assessment to the patients depending on their age and risks factors.

Blood test and urine analysis, ocular revision and cardiovascular, respiratory or gynaecologist tests in women are the most recurrent medical revisions; all under the supervision of a physician who would assess the patient or demand further tests if necessary.

At Vithas Xanit International Hospital, we have a unit specifically for medical Checks. Patients are offered different types of revisions dependant upon their particular needs. These checks can monitor their general health, or be more specific as is the case with our “Premium”, “Especial” and “Magnum” checks. These are aimed specifically at the prevention and early treatment of possible future problems.

When is it recommended to undergo a medical check-up?

Our medical experts recommend annual revisions in adults to control the different parameters: cholesterol, blood pressure, level of glucose in blood; as well as the prevention of other pathologies. People in good general condition should undertake only an annual review; however, those people previously diagnosed with a disease should be evaluated by a medical expert who would determine the periodicity of medical revisions. Check-ups in elderly woman are decisive, they are recommended to have a mammogram and a gynaecological review.

The frequency of medical checks in patients depend on the age of the patient, family history, lifestyle habits, risk factors, or the presence of if an existing pathology. This frequency can vary depending on the following risks:
•Abdominal aortic aneurysm: medical experts recommend men between 65 and 75 with a previous history of smoking to have an abdominal ultrasound.
•Breast cancer: medical experts recommend women between 50 and 74 have a mammogram every two years.
•Cervical cancer: medical experts recommend women with no symptoms or risk factors between 21 and 65 have cytology every three years.
•Colorectal cancer: medical experts recommend people between 50 and 75 have an annual testing for blood in the faeces, rectosigmoidoscopy, a faeces test every 5 years, and a colonoscoy every 10 years.
•Lung cancer: it is recommended that adults with no symptoms between 55 and 85 and with a previous history of smoking more than 30 packets each year to have an annual low radiation thoracic CT scan. They could be active smokers or former smokers who have given up smoking for a period of 15 years.
•High blood pressure: adults with no apparent symptoms are advised to have their blood pressure checked every 2 years if the reading is around 120/80, and annually if this increases to 139/80-90.
•Mellitus diabetes: patients with no symptoms are advised to check their blood pressure level if the reading is more than 135/85, the body mass index (BMI) is more than 25 Kg/m2 or other risk factors such as physical inactivity and family history of this pathology.
•Hepatitis C virus (HCV): people with risk factors and adults who were born between 1945 and 1065 are advised to have a check-up.
•Alterations of lipid metabolism: men older than 35 years old and women who are 45 years old are advised to check-up. People in risk of coronary disease, (family history of a coronary disease, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure…) men older than 20 and women older than 35 years old are advised to check-up.
•Osteoporosis: experts recommend women older than 65 without a previous break or symptoms of this disease and women under the age of 65 in risk for this pathology, to have a bone densitometry.

If you need further information about our medical checks or if you would like to ask for an appointment with any of our medical expert, please consult our Website.