Thanes Sinsongsook, M.D. on Apr 14, 2021
5 min read
3.9
Statistics shared by the Department of Health Service Support in October 2016 revealed that a mere 2% of Thai people attend annual health check-ups, with 59% of the population considering themselves to be healthy.
However, the key pillars of good health that many people adhere to – eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and maintaining a positive mindset – may not be sufficient as there are many occasions where a person may think they are already leading a healthy lifestyle, but their body may, in fact, be suffering from an illness of which they are completely unaware. Moreover, for those people with unhealthy lifestyle habits, including smoking, drinking alcohol, sleeping late, not exercising, being overweight, and enjoying a little too much rich, grilled, or fried foods, the dangers are even greater, with high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and heart disease all very real risks.
Health check-ups are the basis upon which a long, healthy life is built, but many people still do not understand why, when, and how these check-ups should take place. If we compare our body to an engine, annual health check-ups can be viewed as the yearly service, but if we enter the mechanic’s garage with no idea as to what areas need attention, we could end up driving back out again without having addressed the true problem.
Additionally, our health is not necessarily a completely personal issue as it can significantly affect the lives of our families, including our partners, parents, and children, as well as our careers and professional lives. Therefore, annual health check-ups are a personal responsibility necessary to ensure your families do not undergo unnecessary anguish. Furthermore, we are extremely fortunate to live in Thailand, where there are a multitude of JCI accredited hospitals offering the latest medical innovations in this digital era that ensure rapid results with the highest levels of accuracy available.
Each of us should be undergoing health screening at least once a year even when we are free from illness and disease because there are a whole host of external factors that we may otherwise be unaware of but which can gradually impact our health each day. Examples include PM2.5 air pollutants, exhaust fumes, chemicals and carcinogens found in fruit and vegetables, and infectious diseases, such as new strains of the flu and Covid-19. There are also a range of personalized health risks, including hereditary diseases and lifestyle changes, such as a reduction in exercise, eating more than usual, smoking regularly, drinking alcohol, stress, and not getting enough rest. Hence, the best way to protect our health is to prevent the onset of illness and disease with annual health check-ups that can detect indicators of illness before they can develop and become difficult to treat.
Annual health check-ups are designed to improve health at different stages of life - regardless of gender - by detecting irregularities at the outset, which can then allow for the immediate implementation of preventive measures and treatment planning. Examples of age-related health tests are as follows:
| Recommended screening procedures |
18-29 years
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30-39 years
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40-49 years
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50-59 years
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Over 60
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| Review of medical history, including familial history of illness and previous medication usage |
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| Basic health assessment, such as a blood pressure test and BMI assessment |
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| Complete blood count (CBC), including white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets, to assess for any hematological disorders, such as anemia, immunological issues, and leukemia |
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| Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test and average blood glucose level (HbA1c) test to assess risk of and to screen for diabetes |
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| Blood cholesterol test to assess LDL (bad) cholesterol, HDL (good) cholesterol, and triglyceride levels, which can act as an analysis of coronary artery disease and stroke risk |
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| Uric acid assessment to identify gout risk |
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| Kidney function analysis, including a creatinine test, which is a waste product produced by muscles, and a blood urea nitrogen (BUN) test, which is a waste product produced by the breakdown of protein in the body, with the levels of these two chemicals enabling analysis of how well the kidneys are processing said waste products |
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| Liver function analysis through screening of enzymes and various other chemicals found in the blood to detect for hepatitis and jaundice |
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| Hepatitis screening, including hepatitis B, with HBsAg and HBsAb tests |
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| analysis used to aid the diagnosis of urinary tract disorders and diabetes |
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| Stool analysis to aid the diagnosis of digestive system disorders, such as colitis, parasite presence, and the presence of blood that may suggest an intestinal or stomach ulcer, hemorrhoids, and stomach or colon cancer |
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| An electrocardiogram (EKG) used to analyze cardiovascular function and detect irregularities, such as arrhythmia and ischemic heart disease |
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| Lung x-ray used to detect thoracic disorders, such as heart size issues, tuberculosis, and other lung disorders, including lung disease caused by PM 2.5 or a Covid-19 infection |
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| Abdominal ultrasound screening used to detect irregularities affecting the internal organs, including the pancreas, spleen, kidneys, liver, the uterus and ovaries (females), and prostate (males) |
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| Thyroid function analysis, including TSH and free T4 screening |
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| Exercise stress test (EST) used to check for coronary artery obstruction when exerting force and exercise induced arrhythmia (patients must avoid heavy meals for at least 4 hours prior to screening) |
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| An echocardiogram (ECHO) used to check cardiac contractions, chamber size, and cardiac circulation. The test can also be used to screen for congenital health defects, valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathy, and pericardial disorders (fasting not required). |
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| Gastrointestinal cancer indicator (CEA) screening and liver cancer indicator (AFP) screening |
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| Pancreatic, bladder and gallbladder cancer indicator (CA19-9) screening |
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| Breast cancer indicator (CA15-3) and ovarian cancer indicator (CA125) screening for females |
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| Prostate cancer indicator (PSA) screening for males |
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| Cervical cancer screening with a pap smear or pap test used to detect cellular irregularities and the virus which causes cervical cancer. This screening is recommended for women over 21 or for any women who lost her virginity over 3 years previously. The screening should then take place every 1–2 years, although those over 30 should undergo annual screening. Where regular results are returned on 3 consecutive occasions, screening may then take place every 3 years, except for high-risk groups, such as those already infected with HPV. |
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| Digital mammogram screening for breast cancer should take place every 1–2 years because this form of cancer is the most prevalent among women in Thailand. It is therefore recommended for all women over 40. |
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Fibroscan technology is used to screen for liver disorders, including fibrosis and steatosis. It is a painless procedure and there are no side effects to its use, meaning it can be undertaken on repeat occasions (patients must fast for at least 3 hours prior to screening, while pregnant women and patients with medical equipment implanted in their bodies should not undergo this form of screening). |
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| Carotid duplex ultrasound screening is used to check the common carotid artery for circulation issues, including plaque, as this artery transports blood to the brain and can therefore be a key indicator of a person’s stroke risk. |
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| Narrow band image (NBI) screening is a technique used when performing a colonoscopy, which enables instantaneous removal of polyps with the potential to cause colon cancer, thus reducing the need for surgery, accelerating hospital recovery times, decreasing the risk of complications arising and, most importantly, assuaging patient anxiety. |
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Over 45s can also screen
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Annual health check-ups are not just a matter of detecting potentially dangerous conditions but are also a way for you to find out more about your body. This may involve medical staff identifying irregularities likely to develop in the future or areas that could place you at high risk of disease if they are not dealt with in the present. Additionally, some patients may already know that they are at risk of inheriting genetic conditions, so annual health check-ups can help them create a plan to ensure their health can be maintained moving forwards. Should a risk be identified through screening, patients can receive a medical consultation from an expert doctor, who can provide advice on the preventive measures and treatment necessary to ensure good health.
Despite the investments you make in terms of your health not providing immediate or tangible returns, the value of such an investment cannot be underestimated. Whatever you do, make sure you are not one of those who end up lamenting that if they had only known about their condition sooner, they would not need to undergo lengthy treatment when it is probably already too late!
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