GETTING AN ANNUAL CHECK-UP

By Ryhaan Shah

An annual physical is vital for the elderly as it acts as a proactive defence against age-related conditions. It allows healthcare providers to catch silent issues early, manage existing chronic illnesses, prevent falls, and perform necessary medication reviews – all of which would significantly improve our quality of life.
Last week, I wrote that I have just had my annual check-up and stated how much peace of mind it gives me. I also advocated for this kind of comprehensive medical examination to be provided free of cost for every senior citizen by our Government. This makes sense all around; there is no downside to providing this particular care for the elderly.
It is not just detecting the onset of chronic conditions early when they can be successfully treated or reversed, but keeping the ageing population healthy can have spinoff benefits for the nation in that the wealth of experience we have can be tapped for national benefit. There are also the long-term cost benefits to the national budget if there are fewer medications and treatments required for the ageing population.
Many serious conditions – such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer – can develop without obvious early symptoms. Regular tests and screenings can catch these before they reach a more critical stage.
An annual visit to the doctor for a comprehensive physical would also allow for a review of medications and for making adjustments that may have become necessary. Early detection of such conditions as Alzheimer’s and dementia could also help with both treatment and long-term planning for care.
A leading cause of injury for the elderly slips and falls because of balance and mobility issues. If doctors can assess strength and balance early enough to advise the use of canes or walkers, this could help prevent falls that sometimes result in serious injuries to hips and other joints, which, in turn, lead to disabling issues and negatively affect our independence.
A yearly meeting with a doctor could just be a chance to ask questions and get answers about our health and, for the doctor, also to recommend lifestyle changes – such as nutrition, exercise, and medications – to support healthy ageing.
While my annual check-up does not yet include checking on mobility issues, hearing, or eye examinations, these could be necessary for others who may be developing cataracts that would require surgery or have hearing issues or trouble with their balance when walking that would require some attention or medical intervention.
While ageing itself is not a disease, this natural process makes us more susceptible to developing chronic illnesses because of the wear and tear on our bodies during our more youthful years when many of us may not have taken as much care of our health – poor diet and lack of exercise come to mind – as we should have. This would make us more prone, perhaps, to becoming frail, weak, and ill as we age.
While biological ageing is not reversible, lifestyle factors can dictate when we begin to feel old. These factors include diet and nutrition, our exercise regimen, sleep patterns, stress, and our mental health. If these are all poor, they can be massive contributors to premature ageing.
These, however, are mostly ignored until there is a medical crisis such as a stroke, heart attack, or cancer. While not every illness is preventable, helping ourselves to allay the risks by living healthily can bring about the major payoff of keeping us free of health issues.
Unfortunately, we do appear to have a culture of critical health care-seeking help when there is a crisis and it may be too late-rather than preventative care that would detect symptoms of an illness early enough to treat it successfully.
It is not that there are no programs or information to educate the general population about disease symptoms, but we tend to pay little attention until we actually feel ill or fall ill. And there is still a significant reliance on “natural” remedies or bush medicine for serious ailments stemming from a distrust or misinformation about medical science.
Establishing a free annual check-up programme can help reverse these trends even as it would be vital to assessing our physical and mental well-being and taking the necessary steps to counter any developing illness or disease. It is said that ageing is not a disease but a triumph. Just so.
And, overall, there is no doubt that Guyana will have a healthier and happier elderly population if every senior citizen is afforded a free and comprehensive annual medical examination.