Entering the third decade of life i.e. at the age of 30 is considered to be the busiest period in terms of career, family and personal responsibilities. Between hectic life, office stress, staying awake till late night and unbalanced eating habits, most of the people keep their health at the lowest level. Medical experts and modern health science believe that after the age of 30, the metabolism of the human body gradually starts slowing down. At this stage, many serious lifestyle diseases like hypertension, dyslipidemia (high cholesterol) and prediabetes start taking root in the body without any obvious physical symptoms. These are called 'silent killers' in the medical world because by the time their symptoms appear externally, vital organs of the body have already been damaged. Regular and timely preventive screening is the safest way to catch these diseases in their early stages. However, this does not mean that every person should undergo expensive body scans or unnecessary tests without thinking as soon as he turns 30. According to medical science, each person's health risk depends on his family history (family medical history), body weight, body mass index (BMI), daily eating habits, physical activity and stress level. A sensible health checkup is one that is chosen according to your individual health profile in consultation with the doctor. Regular screening of blood pressure: Why is it important to check without waiting for headache? People often ignore high blood pressure until they feel severe headache, dizziness or nervousness. Medical experts say that this is the biggest misconception, because in most of the cases the patient does not feel any problem despite the blood pressure reaching dangerous levels. This constant extra pressure on the blood vessels in the long run weakens the heart muscle, hardens the arteries and can cause serious damage to the kidneys and fine nerves of the eyes. According to international health guidelines, every adult aged 18 years or older should have their blood pressure screened at least once or twice a year. After reaching the age of 30, if your work profile is highly stressful or there is less physical movement due to desk job, then checking with a digital BP monitor at regular intervals is a safe habit. If the initial reading is higher than the normal range (120/80 mmHg), the doctor may advise you to keep regular records for a few weeks and improve your lifestyle by reducing sodium (salt) intake, controlling weight and meditation. Lipid Profile and Cholesterol Testing: Timely detection of clogged arteries. Increasing bad cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides in the blood directly increases the risk of heart attack and stroke manifold. The most insidious thing about high cholesterol is that it causes no external pain, fever, or physical symptoms; The person looks completely healthy and fit on the outside, while on the inside, plaque is accumulating in the arteries. Its level can be accurately determined only by a simple blood test, called 'lipid profile'. According to guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), healthy adults at normal risk should have their lipid profile checked on average once every 4 to 6 years. However, if someone in your family has had a heart attack at a young age, you already have diabetes, have a smoking habit or are overweight, then doctors recommend repeating this test every one to two years. This test analyzes the exact ratio of total cholesterol, HDL (good cholesterol), LDL (bad cholesterol) and triglycerides, giving a complete picture of heart health. Blood Sugar and HbA1c Test: An opportunity to prevent prediabetes from becoming diabetes. Today, Type 2 diabetes is rapidly affecting the youth all over the world including India. After the age of 30, the chances of gaining weight and developing insulin resistance increases significantly. Just checking fasting blood sugar often does not give a complete picture of the situation, as it only reflects the glucose level of that day. To address this, the 'HbA1c' (Glycated Hemoglobin) test is considered to be the most authentic, giving an accurate account of the average blood sugar level of the last two to three months. According to United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) standards, mandatory screening for prediabetes and type-2 diabetes is recommended in adults aged 35 years and older who are overweight or obese. However, due to genetic reasons, the risk of diabetes in people of the Indian subcontinent is seen at a much younger age than in Western countries. If any of your parents has diabetes, has had the problem of PCOD in women, or had gestational diabetes during pregnancy, then after completing 30 years of age, you should consult a doctor and get your blood sugar and HbA1c test done so that the disease can be reversed with the help of diet and exercise at the prediabetes stage itself. BMI and waist circumference: It is very important to recognize the danger of visceral fat. Often people assess their fitness only by the numbers seen on the weighing machine, but in medical science, what is more important than the weight is in which part of the body that weight is deposited. Body mass index (BMI) is the ratio of your height and weight to determine whether you are underweight, normal, overweight or obese. Along with this, the most decisive test is the measurement of waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio. The fat that accumulates around the abdomen is called 'visceral fat', which accumulates around internal organs such as the liver, pancreas and intestines. This fat is metabolically very active and releases toxins and hormones in the body that directly lead to fatty liver, high blood pressure and heart diseases. If your weight is increasing rapidly after the age of 30 or is suddenly falling rapidly without any effort, then instead of ignoring it, you should immediately get a physical examination done by a doctor. Avoid unnecessary expensive tests: Decide the right health checkup package only after consulting the doctor. Often, under the influence of advertisements and package deals, people start getting expensive tests like full body CT scan, MRI or unnecessary cardiac TMT and ECG done without thinking. It is a clear principle of medical science that every healthy person at the age of 30 does not need these complex and radiation tests. Tests conducted without medical indications often lead to confusion, stress, and unnecessary medications. The basic objective of testing is not to panic in search of disease, but to make necessary improvements in one's lifestyle by identifying possible risks in time. The best way is to meet your family doctor or physician and tell them openly about your daily routine, eating habits, family illnesses and stress. After your physical examination, the doctor will recommend only those basic blood tests and screenings that you really need. A small step taken in time can guarantee you a healthy, energetic and disease-free life for decades to come.
