Benefits of Preventive Health - Check Up

Introduction

Health is defined as a condition of physical, mental, and social well-being that can be obtained by a balanced diet, physical exercise, appropriate sleep, and recreation. Preventing diseases has become an extreme struggle due to the prevalence of harmful routines and sedentary behaviors in modern lifestyles. As a result, doctors are increasingly suggesting regular preventive health examinations to increase the likelihood of early disease detection and avoid complications. So, the goal of a preventive health checkup is to identify and reduce such risk as soon as possible.

What Are Preventive Care and Preventive Health-Check Up?

Preventative care aids in the early detection and prevention of significant illnesses and medical issues. Preventive care includes many procedures and screenings, such as yearly physical exams, vaccines, and flu injections. This is often referred to as routine care.

A medical test or series of tests used to look for early indications of a disease or illness are referred to as a preventive health check-up. We can even prevent illness occurrence by detecting early signs and risk factors through such examinations. This is made feasible by early intervention and lifestyle change. Preventive health exams are often covered by health insurance plans nowadays. According to research, regular checkups might help identify potential health problems before they become serious and require expensive treatments, thereby helping to lessen the financial burden of healthcare. As a result, preventative health checkups are the key to living better lives.

What Are the Types of Preventive Health Check-Up?

The various type of preventive health check-ups are given below-

• Full Body Health Check-Up: This preventive health check-up includes a medical examination of the entire body. It could include various tests such as a liver function test, a kidney function test, a blood sugar test, a thyroid test, and so on.

• Diabetes Check-up: A diabetes health check-up must include medical testing to look for diabetes. These tests include the HbA1c test, the glucose tolerance test, and the fasting blood sugar level test.

• Health Check-ups for Children: A child's physical growth and overall health are assessed during a preventive health checkup. Several tests such as an eye examination and a hearing test may be performed.

• Health Check-up for Women: The health check-up for women will include a variety of tests to determine the person's overall health and to identify gynecological issues. Pap smear tests, breast and cervical cancer screenings, pelvic exams, etc. are a few examples of medical examinations.

Who Should Choose Preventative Health Care and Regular Checkups?

Most people of any age should have a full-body health check-up at least once a year. Aside from age-related diseases, numerous ailments affect people at a younger or adult stage, requiring regular check-ups. Let us look at several important types of people who should choose preventive health check-ups, even if everyone needs to get them to stay informed about their health. They are:

• People over the age of thirty.

• Elderly citizens.

• Diabetes people.

• People who are at high risk of developing hypertension or cardiovascular disease.

• Obese people.

• People have a medical history in their families.

• Heart examination.

What Is the List of Preventive Healthcare Packages?

Preventive healthcare packages are available for various ages, genders, and diseases. Users may easily choose one to meet their needs in terms of medical care.

• Family Package: Full-body check-ups, nutritional, ophthalmology, and dental consultations can benefit the entire family. Also, some hospitals provide both men's and women's specific packages.

• Cardiac Package: The purpose of this package is to assess the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular disorders and to give corrective advice. The cardiac package aids in prompt action to prevent future cardiovascular diseases.

• Diabetes Package: Diabetes individuals can get the benefits of diabetic plans to check on their vital organs and prevent problems regularly.

• Cancer Package: This healthcare package checks the patient for several cancers and aids in determining future risks. The examinations must include a pap smear, blood testing, and other relevant diagnostics.

• Pediatric Package: The pediatric package covers a variety of medical risks that affect children under the age of 13. It includes a variety of pediatric, ophthalmic, dental, and general check-ups.

• Fertility Package: These packages offer numerous tests and examinations as part of fertility-related health check-ups for couples who are having trouble getting pregnant.

• Dental Package: Under this package, the dental health of a person is examined, including the likelihood of developing cavities, plaque, tooth decay, etc.

• Healthcare Package for Women: Such a preventive health check-up helps detect life-threatening conditions or other medical risks faced by women.

What About the Tax Deductions on Preventive Health Check-Ups?

According to Section 80D of the Income Tax Act of 1961, tax deductions are permitted for preventative medical exams. Under Section 80D of the IT Act, the expense of annual preventive health exams is currently eligible for a tax credit of Rs 5,000. These deductions are available for medical checkup costs incurred for the individual, their spouse, their dependent children, and their parents.

However, the maximum tax exemption limit of Rs 25,000 available on health insurance premiums in a financial year includes tax savings of Rs 5,000 on preventive health check-ups. The maximum tax deduction amount for insurance premiums in the case of senior citizens rises to Rs 50,000 every financial year, which includes Rs 5,000 for the price of preventive health checkups.

What Are the Benefits of Preventive Health Check-Ups?

Many advantages of preventive health checkups can greatly enhance the quality of life. The following are some aspects to consider while purchasing a preventative care health check-up package:

• Health Evaluation: A full assessment of the risk of a disease or sickness is included in a preventative health check-up. These medical examinations are trustworthy, accurate, and very important to know overall health.

• Early Disease Detection: A health checkup improves the chance of receiving treatment early by assisting in the early detection of potentially life-threatening health conditions.

• Reduced Medical Costs: Total health care costs are reduced by lowering the need for expensive or emergency medical procedures.

• Promotes Health Improvement: Health check-ups can lengthen life and improve quality of life if the advised precautions and lifestyle adjustments are followed.

• Timely Check-ups: Checkups for preventive treatment reduce the risk of complications and provide periodic monitoring of current health issues. Furthermore, it motivates people to actively participate in their health maintenance.

• Tax Benefits: Under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act of 1961, individuals are eligible to receive tax benefits for preventative health checks up to a maximum of 5,000 each financial year.

What Are the Preventive Medical Tests for Different Age Groups?

Preventative health exams are a series of medical examinations performed to determine the preventive measures required. According to one's age, the following medical tests should be performed as part of preventive health examinations:

1. Infants and Children (0 to 10 Years)

The primary tests that should be included in this stage are:

• Palpation.

• Newborn jaundice.

• Auscultation.

• Ophthalmic Test.

2. Adolescence (12 to 19 Years)

Teens should focus on leading healthy lifestyles to avoid contracting diseases. However, as diseases at this stage depend on a variety of conditions, the tests that should be performed at this stage include:

• Anemia.

• Diabetes.

• Obesity.

• High Cholesterol

• Hepatitis B.

• Tuberculosis.

3. Between 20 to 40 Years

The following tests should be performed as part of a person's preventive health checkup between the ages of 20 and 40:

• Blood pressure.

• Liquid profile.

• Dental exam.

• Hepatitis C.

• Testicular exam (only for men).

• Pelvic exam and pap smear (only for women).

• Eye examination.

• Skin self-exam for skin cancer.

5. Above 40 Years

Tests that should be performed if a person is over the age of 40:

• Diabetes.

• Cancer screening.

• Cholesterol screening.

• Osteoporosis screening.

• Heart disease screening.

• Infectious disease screening.

• Bone mineral density test (only for women).

6. Above 60

Individuals may be 60 and above but can still live their life to the fullest and healthiest. At this point, the following tests are advised:

• Immunizations.

• Hearing test.

• Aneurysm.

• Colorectal cancer screening.

• Prostate cancer screening.

These are the basic tests that should be performed as part of preventative health examinations. Also, a person's health checkup can vary based on age, gender, and family history of illness.

Conclusion

A preventative health exam is an early detection tool that allows you to keep track of the changes that the body goes through as the age. Although a person may often exhibit disease signs and symptoms, most often they go undetected in the absence of routine checkups. Early diagnosis is one of the most important benefits of a preventative health checkup in terms of a person's health, and tax breaks can be added to the list of additional benefits. So, choosing preventive health exams will help one's health insurance portfolio.