As we age, our physical condition begins to decline, and various illnesses may come to us unexpectedly. “Annual health check-ups” not only help us stay aware of diseases and protect ourselves from illnesses but also enable early detection for timely treatment. This increases the chances of complete recovery and prevents loss.
However, before undergoing a health check-up, we should prepare ourselves! This ensures that the results accurately reflect our health status at that time.
Important matters… before a health check-up that you should know and follow
Preparation before a health check-up is crucial and should not be overlooked. To obtain accurate and precise test results, we should know what to do and what not to do before the check-up.
- Get enough sleep
Before the check-up, you should sleep sufficiently for at least 6-8 hours because insufficient rest affects blood pressure and heart rate.
- Fasting from food and drinks
- You should fast from food and drinks for at least 8-10 hours but can sip a small amount of plain water.
- After blood is drawn, you can drink water and eat normally.
- Avoid all types of alcoholic beverages for at least 24 hours before the health check-up as they may affect some test readings.
- Avoid sweet foods and drinks for at least 24 hours because they may cause higher than normal sugar levels in the urine, which may not reflect your usual condition.
- Wear comfortable clothing for the physical examination
You should choose comfortable clothes that facilitate the physical examination, such as not needing to roll up sleeves for blood drawing or easy clothing changes for X-rays.
- Women during menstruation
Women should avoid health check-ups during the period before menstruation and within 7 days after menstruation because there may be blood contamination in the urine, affecting test interpretation. - In case of chronic diseases
If the person undergoing the health check-up has any chronic diseases or health history, they should bring relevant documents for analysis and also bring any regularly taken medications for the doctor to review.
“Preparation before a health check-up” is an important matter that those undergoing the check-up must strictly follow, including providing honest information about their behavior and health, such as lifestyle habits or health history. These will help ensure accurate test result analysis and may influence the consideration of additional tests.
Before a health check-up… prepare yourself… for accurate results
Dr. Yutsasit Thanapongpipat
Family Medicine Specialist
Health Promotion Center, Phyathai Nawamin Hospital
