Understanding health conditions and potential diseases that may arise is a very vital aspect. One way to maintain a healthy body is to regularly undergo health checks, known as medical check-ups (MCU). This process involves a thorough examination by a doctor or medical professional to assess the overall health condition.

Apart from providing a general overview of health, MCU also brings other benefits that are no less significant. It is important to remember that the cost of MCU may vary depending on the type of examination and healthcare facility chosen. For further information regarding MCU checks, see the complete discussion below!

Types of Medical Check Ups

Health checks are generally tailored to individual needs. Before carrying out a series of examinations, medical staff usually start by measuring height and weight. After that, various other examinations included in the medical check up (MCU) include:

1. Heart Function Examination (Echocardiography/ECG)

Echocardiography (EKG) examination is the first step in a medical check-up. The goal is to check the condition, structure and function of the heart.

2. Radiological Examination

Examination using X-rays aims to detect disease through images. Some conditions that can be detected through this examination include cancer, tumors, heart disease, stroke, lung disorders, and bone and joint disorders.

3. Laboratory Examination

There are several types of laboratory tests carried out in medical check-ups, including:

• Hematology examination to assess the quality and quantity of blood cells.
• Urine examination to check color, pH, protein/albumin, sugar, bilirubin and blood.
• Stool examination to assess the color and consistency of the stool.

4. Cholesterol Check

Cholesterol examination is an important part of a medical check-up because high cholesterol can cause serious problems such as heart disease and stroke. Cholesterol levels are considered normal if they are below 200 mg/dL.

5. Blood Sugar Level Test

This test is carried out after fasting for at least 8 hours. Normal blood sugar levels range between 70-100 mg/dL. Levels of 100-125 mg/dL indicate prediabetes, while levels above 126 mg/dL indicate diabetes.

6. Liver Health Assessment

To assess liver health, we will carry out an examination by measuring enzyme and protein levels from your blood sample. This is crucial for detecting and monitoring the development of liver disease, evaluating the effectiveness and monitoring side effects of treatment, and assessing the extent of liver damage that has occurred.

7. Kidney Health Check

The following types of tests are performed to evaluate kidney function:

• Ureum or blood urea nitrogen (BUN), is used to determine the level of urea nitrogen in the blood, which is a waste product of protein metabolism.
• Urine test aims to detect the presence of protein or blood in the urine.
• Glomerular filtration rate is used to measure the kidney's ability to filter waste substances from the body's metabolism.
• Blood creatinine is used to determine the level of creatinine in the blood, which is the remaining product of muscle breakdown which the body excretes through the kidneys.

8. Pap Smear

Pap smear is a special examination for women which aims to screen for cervical cancer. Usually, this examination is recommended starting at age 21 for women who are sexually active.

If the woman's health condition is good, this examination should be carried out every three years. After reaching the age of 30 years, screening can be done every five years until the age of 65 years. Over the age of 65 years, this examination is no longer routinely recommended.

9. Prostate Health Screening

For men who have reached the age of 50 years, a prostate health examination is recommended during a medical check-up. However, if there is a family history of prostate cancer, this examination should be done earlier, starting at age 40.

10. Lung Health Check

This health check applies to women and men, especially those who have a smoking habit. Carrying out a CT scan of the lungs is necessary to ensure the health condition of the lungs.

11. Verify Vaccination Completeness

Vaccination is important to prevent various health problems. Therefore, it is important to verify the completeness of vaccination at a hospital or health facility. If you miss a vaccination, consult a general practitioner regarding vaccination recommendations that are appropriate for your age and health condition.

MCU Goals for Health

Is MCU effective in detecting disease? MCU is a health examination method that helps identify overall health conditions and detect disease early.

Even if you feel healthy, having regular health check-ups has many benefits. It is best if this test is done once a year, either at the end or beginning of the year. So, what are the benefits of MCU? Some of the advantages of the MCU test include:

• Finding health problems or illnesses that you may be experiencing at this time allows for early treatment.
• Identify health disorders that have the potential to become medical problems in the future.
• Evaluate the performance of vital organs in the body.
• Immunization updates if necessary.
• Encourage healthy lifestyle practices and regular exercise.
• Reduce medical costs by taking early prevention before the disease develops into a serious condition.
• Improves health and life expectancy, especially if there is a history of illness from parents.
• Prevention of disease in children.

Thus, MCUs are a must to evaluate health and detect disease disorders early, so that they can be treated before they become more serious. MCUs also serve as a warning to pay more attention to overall health.

References:

https://www.halodoc.com/artikel/medical-check-up-tujuan-jenis-dan-prosedur

https://www.mitrakeluarga.com/artikel/medical-check-up-adalah