We don't think about it every day, but every choice you make, from that extra cup of coffee to the hours you spend at your desk, leaves a footprint on your health and your body. Your lifestyle is the most important predictor when it comes to your future health. But how do you know if you are on the right track? There is indeed a relationship between your daily habits and your physical well-being. At Medical Check-Up we like to explain why numbers sometimes say more than your own feelings.
The invisible link between your lifestyle and your health
Your body is an ingenious machine. The fuel you put into it, namely your diet, and the way you maintain the bodily machine, with exercise and rest, determine your longevity and performance. The basis of your health is therefore your lifestyle. It is estimated that even 70% of chronic diseases are influenced by our daily choices and thus our lifestyle. We often only notice that something is wrong when symptoms are already developing and we experience them then. But processes such as arteriosclerosis or incipient disturbed sugar levels (diabetes) develop silently long before symptoms effectively arise. Your lifestyle thus forms the foundation of your health. Do you want a foundation that is solid or one that shows invisible cracks? The choice is yours to address your lifestyle.
How do you really know about your lifestyle?
Many people think they live ‘healthy’ lives because they exercise regularly, but in addition they ignore the impact of, for example, sedentary work or hidden inflammation through their diet. The only way to turn your subjective and ‘healthy’ feelings into objective facts is through a preventive medical screening At Medical Check-Up.
Our specialist doctors literally look under the bonnet of your physical health with a medical check-up. Thus, they translate your daily habits into medical data. But what does this mean concretely?
The medical check-up dissected: what do we measure?
A full medical check-up consists of several tests and surveys, each of which identifies a different aspect of your lifestyle:
- Thorough clinical research: Every medical screening starts with the basics, namely a personal interview with the doctor. During clinical examination your reflexes, heart and lung sounds, abdominal organs and general physical condition are manually checked. The doctor will discuss your medical history and sound out your current lifestyle. This conversation then forms the framework within which all further results are interpreted.
- Comprehensive laboratory tests: Your blood forms the database of your daily habits. Via a blood and urine test it looks at your cholesterol profile (fat intake), your sugar intake, risk of diabetes and liver and kidney functions, especially for processing waste products and alcohol. It also immediately reveals possible vitamin or mineral deficiencies due to a one-sided diet.
- Cardiovascular screening: How is the condition of your vessels? Via a duplex scan of the cervical vessels doctors see if there is incipient arteriosclerosis due to stress, smoking or high-fat diet. An ECG at rest and a cycling test show how your heart responds to physical strain and how quickly you recover from it.
- Imaging (ultrasound): With an ultrasound scan of the upper abdomen the doctor inspects your organs such as the liver, gallbladder and kidneys. This detects, for example, fatty liver, which is a typical feature of a lifestyle high in sugars or alcohol. And all this even before effective symptoms develop.
- Lung function test: With a spirometry the doctor measures the capacity and strength of your lungs. This is the ultimate measure of the impact of smoking or exposure to particulate matter in your environment. It gives insight into your stamina.
- Body composition and bone densitometry: Our doctors look beyond your weight. They measure the ratio of your muscle to fat mass and the density of your bones. It tells you a lot about the effectiveness of your strength training and the absorption of crucial nutrients such as calcium and vitamin D.
From data to an action plan
The uniqueness of a medical check-up is that your results from the screenings are not just given along, but that they are also directly linked to your lifestyle. The clinical trial and the laboratory tests together form the basis of your health. As out the bike test shows that your heart rate recovers slowly, it is a signal to adjust your fitness training. Are your liver values elevated during blood test? Then you and the doctor look at how your diet can be optimised.
5 characteristics of a healthy lifestyle
A ‘healthy’ lifestyle is more than just not being sick. Therefore, during check-ups, our doctors use five pillars to guide a vital life:Balanced nutrition: During blood test the doctor immediately sees whether your body is absorbing the right nutrients and how your fat metabolism is functioning. Tip: Focus on unprocessed foods and fibre for stable blood sugar levels.Sufficient physical activity: With an effort test the doctor measures your condition and heart function. Tip: Aim for 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week.Quality sleep: Sleep is recovery time for your vessels and brain. Tip: Create a regular rhythm, including weekends.Mental resilience: Stress increases your cortisol, which we often see reflected in blood pressure levels. Tip: Integrate short moments of rest daily.Hydration and moderation: Your kidney function and liver values tell us a lot about your fluid balance and alcohol consumption. Tip: Drink mainly water and limit sugary drinks.
Pay attention to the 4 biggest risk factors for your health
Against the healthy features, there are of course also the silent health runners-up. These factors, unfortunately, are often seen by our doctors in the results of the screenings:Smoking: The biggest enemy to your lung function and blood vessels (visible via spirometry and duplex scan). Excessive sitting: Sedentary behaviour increases the risk of metabolic diseases, even if you exercise occasionally. Processed foods and sugars: The root cause of impaired insulin sensitivity. Chronic stress: A factor that is often underestimated but has a huge impact on cardiovascular health.
Feeling vs numbers: why measuring is knowing when it comes to your lifestyle
Unfortunately, feeling well is not a medical guarantee. Many conditions such as high blood pressure or an increased risk of diabetes show no symptoms at all in the early stages. That is exactly why a preventive check-up is so crucial. Figures don't lie. A medical screening gives you the facts you need to take control of your lifestyle. It offers the peace of mind of knowing that everything is fine or it gives you the necessary warning to adjust your lifestyle now before it is too late. Ready to take stock of your current lifestyle? Plan Enter your comprehensive screening at Medical Check-Up today and get instant insight into the relationship between your lifestyle and health
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Don't wait any longer to take good care of yourself or your employees. Make an appointment today for a comprehensive medical check-up and take the first step towards a healthier life.
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