The Benefits and Harms of Preventive Health Screenings (Regular Body Checkups)

 Doctors and other health experts often suggest people go for preventive health checkups and full-body screenings to ensure good health as they help avoid critical diseases and identify health concerns, if any, at the earliest for a better prognosis. While regular testing and checkups are immensely beneficial, they may also pose a few harms. Continue reading to find out the benefits and potential harms of preventive health screenings. And if you are looking for world-class healthcare facilities in DR Harish Jagtani Congo, contact Harish Jagtani Hospitals as we are manned by experienced doctors, nurses, specialists, surgeons, night doctors, diagnostic staff, technicians and other healthcare experts.

Benefits of Regular Health Checkups 

• Regular screenings help identify symptoms at an early stage: A simple blood and urine test can determine the levels of several components in the body, which further indicate the health and functioning of different body organs. For example, if your blood uric acid level is elevated, it might be a sign of improper functioning of kidneys and may lead to conditions like gout and kidney stone in future.
• Early diagnosis increases the success rate of treatment: Many health problems are preventable whereas many are curable when their early signs and symptoms are detected. Additionally, early detection improves the chances of successful treatment and increases the survival rates in cases of critical conditions such as cancer. 
• Health checkups help improve your overall health: The levels of vitamins and other important minerals can also be determined via regular checkups. So, if your doctor finds the deficiency of any such nutrient in your body, they will prescribe a diet or medication accordingly. This further helps improve your overall health.
• Preventive health screenings reduce the risk of falling sick: Regular diagnostic tests and checkups help you keep your health in check. For example, regular cholesterol tests can help you evaluate and maintain the levels of HDL and LDL cholesterol in your body. This further prevents diseases caused by high levels of bad cholesterol.
• Regular health checkups reduce healthcare costs: Preventive health screenings can help you save money in the long run by helping you prevent a number of diseases and reducing the chances of undergoing major surgeries. 

Potential Harms of Preventive Health Screenings

• False-positive (FP) results: False-positive results are the cases of diagnostic tests when a person who does not have a condition tests positive for it. Though the chances of FP results are quite low, they may lead to stress and anxiety in the patient, incorrect treatment, additional testing requirements, and other such problems. To avoid this, make sure you get your diagnostic tests done only in the state-of-the-art facilities of Harish Jagtani Hospitals in Congo which prioritises accuracy and precision. 
• Overdiagnosis: An article published on NCBI’s website (National Centre for Biotechnology Information) suggested that in rare cases, overdiagnosis may occur, which refers to the detection of a disease or condition which is not harmful or deadly. This further leads to the requirement of additional testing and treatment which may be harmful to the person. 

Conclusion

Regular preventive health screenings, like eye checkups, dental exams, cholesterol tests, urine tests, etc., are necessary to ensure good health. However, make sure you get yourself tested only at certified diagnostic labs, such as those at Harish Jagtani Hospitals . We are manned by expert technicians and medical staff who provide accurate results and eliminate the chances of FP results. To avoid overdiagnosis and its consequences, consult the doctors at Harish Jagtani Hospitals to discuss your test results and receive the best medical care.