Česky
What are preventive examinations?
Preventive check-ups are an integral part of a GP's practice. There are many definitions, it can be said that it is a whole set of examinations of patients who do not have any problems. The purpose of these examinations of healthy patients is to prevent diseases or to diagnose them in their early stages, which can be understood as a period when complications have not yet occurred. Thanks to a correct diagnosis, we are then able to start their adequate and as gentle as possible treatment. We can also detect, for example, cancers early, thereby increasing the likelihood of a complete cure.
But let me not forget other fields. Preventive check-ups are not only carried out by adult general practitioners. Other doctors for whom prevention is the order of the day are paediatricians, gynaecologists and dentists.
What are the benefits of going for preventive check-ups?
With the question "Why should I go to the doctor if I'm fine?" I sometimes encounter in my practice. It's understandable to some extent, but the very word prevention tells us that it is about preventing something. In fact, a preventive checkup is one of the examinations during which we take care of healthy patients and actively look for risks that can lead to serious illness.
How often does it have to be done?
Preventive check-ups are not legally mandated, so no one can be forced to have one, but we recommend that patients come in for a preventive check-up every two years.
Can all known diseases be prevented?
During our studies we often heard that nothing in medicine is 100%. In the prevention of disease, this is certainly true. We can prevent many diseases, but we have to face the fact that we simply cannot do it 100%, because genetics also has a significant influence on many diseases. But that doesn't mean we should give up. Ideally, the doctor and the patient become partners who share a common goal, and that is the health of the patient. The role of the doctor is to inform the patient about the risk factors and consequences of disease, to educate them and to assist them in coping with life changes. The role of the patient is to try to prevent disease by following recommendations.
Do preventive check-ups change according to age?
Basically, the preventive exams are the same, however, we treat each patient individually. Each time, part of the prevention should include updating the medical history - i.e. information about long-term illnesses, operations, vaccinations, medications taken, etc. The nurse will always measure the patient, weigh them, test their eyesight and also take their blood pressure. Then there is a clinical examination, so to speak, from head to toe, not forgetting the examination of the heart and lungs and abdomen. I think it is advisable that part of prevention should also include an ECG examination of the heart. As patients get older, we add tests for hidden bleeding in the stool, mammography and so on. Laboratory examinations are also inherent in preventive examinations. We can examine a lot of things in the blood, but only after information from the patient and a thorough clinical examination can we tailor the samples to the patient.
