For many people, the current global COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted just how important our health is. Almost all of us are now more conscious of our current health condition and ensuring that we wear face masks and use hand sanitizer to protect ourselves from the virus.
However, COVID-19 is not the only health issue that we need to be aware of! The majority of us don’t tend to visit medical professionals unless we feel that something is wrong when we should be having regular checks to catch potential issues early on and therefore stand a better chance of overcoming them. With that in mind, here are four health tests that you should consider getting in 2021.
1. An eye test
Eye tests are not only for people who are experiencing difficulties with their vision! When you go for a comprehensive eye exam, the optician will also check your eyes’ health. This includes screening for conditions such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, and cataracts.
More surprisingly, eye exams can also spot the signs of broader health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and even brain tumors – so these checks are more important than you might realize. In terms of vision, you’ll not only have your visual acuity tested but also your color vision, depth perception, and peripheral vision.
2. An STD test
If you are sexually active, it’s very important to get tested regularly for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). This is especially true if you have multiple partners. Many STDs don’t have any signs or symptoms, so you can be infected without knowing it and then inadvertently pass it on to someone else.
If you feel embarrassed about going to your physician, nowadays, you can get an STD test kit online that you can take at home and then mail to a lab before getting your results digitally. So there’s no excuse not to!
3. A dental check
Many people put off going to the dentist, perhaps because they’re nervous or perhaps because they don’t see the need for a checkup unless they’re feeling pain. However, regular dental checks are vital for spotting problems that you might not have noticed, such as taking X-rays or checking for signs of gum disease.
Your dentist can also advise you on how to best care for your teeth to prevent the need for further treatment in the future and give them a much more thorough clean than you can at home!
4. An overall health check
Besides looking after ourselves through a healthy diet and exercise, having regular overall health checks is one of the best actions we can take to prevent health problems. These appointments check a wide range of factors, including blood pressure, heart rate, and body mass index, and conducting screenings for conditions such as diabetes and different types of cancer.
How often you should have a general health check and what it entails will vary with your age, gender, and other factors, so speak to your physician and see what they advise.
