Six reasons why preventive health checkups should not be ignored

Did you know that healthcare spending in India accounts for 4.1% of the national GDP? In addition, private spending on health (which means costs that the government will not bear) increases to 70.8% of health spending for the entire country, according to The Guardian. So the alternative for ordinary people is quite simple: invest in a small amount of preventative health checkups (which could be fully covered by your insurance) than shell out large amounts during health crises.

A preventive health checkup can help you in many ways. Not only do you save yourself the hassle of having to suffer from the symptoms of the disease, but you also save money that you would otherwise be spending on hospital expenses. Read on to learn why a preventive health checkup is worth the effort.

Why preventive health checkups?

Most health experts agree that the best way to take care of your health is annual medical checkups. Here are some reasons to support why this is important:

Even your car is also serviced twice a year. No one asks why you spend time, effort and money making sure your car is being serviced with all the necessary checks, on a regular basis. Our body also needs to be regularly repaired and checked for better functioning. Do you value your health as much as that of your vehicle?

You lead a sedentary lifestyle. The reality is that nowadays people are so hooked on digital devices and computers that even when they are not at work, they are surfing the web and basically spending their free time and working hours sitting in front of some kind of screen. Then there are those who drink, smoke, and tremble at the thought of daily exercise.

Even healthy people can get sick. While we are young we feel invincible. But as we get older, it all starts with random aches and pains and progresses to increased cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart attacks, to list the few serious disorders. If we start worrying about our health early, most diseases can be prevented before they occur.

Early diagnosis could lead to a cure. There are many diseases and conditions that have a better prognosis when diagnosed early. This is particularly true for chronic and terminal illnesses, such as diabetes, cancer, and heart attack. Regular preventive health checkups help you find the best treatment alternatives as soon as possible, but also give you a better chance of recovering quickly.

Family history tells more about your future health. A family history means that you are more likely to end up suffering from a disease like your immediate family. For example, if her father has a history of heart problems or her grandmother has high blood sugar, it is likely that sooner or later she will experience the same conditions.

You get tax benefits. You also get tax benefits for such health checks in accordance with Section 80-D of the Income Tax Law. In addition to all other benefits, you can get tax deductions of up to Rs 5000 for medical checkups for yourself and your immediate family.

It goes without saying that life today is chaotic and stressful, increasing the likelihood of lifestyle disruptions.

Despite the necessary care we take for our best health, uncertainties increase with our age, lifestyle, and not to mention the habit of taking our health for granted. Regular preventative health checkups can set a tone for our health and help us monitor how the weather is ticking. For those who have significant diseases in their family, health checkups become crucial to control or slow the progression of the disease and prepare a holistic approach to ensure a healthy future ahead.