We often hear such terms as a check-up, diagnosis, and examination. We naively believe that they do not concern us for various reasons: we feel good, or we are too young, or we mistakenly think that only sportsmen or those who have health problems should be examined.
However, regular medical examinations help to prevent many diseases, even when nothing bothers us. The high-quality and timely diagnosis helps to defeat even the most serious diseases.
We will learn in this article:
1. What is the difference between diagnosis and check-up?
2. How do regular examinations help to prevent serious diseases?
3. How does the lack of examinations damage human health?
4. How does diagnosis affect further treatments?
5. The danger of medical examination abuse.
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What is the difference between diagnosis and check-up?
At first sight, all these terms imply some medical tests. However, in the case of a medical examination (check-up), the patient has no specific complaints, he just checks his state of health. Every person must constantly undergo medical examinations. The choice of medical tests is determined by such factors as sex, age, and genetic predisposition.
For example, mammography becomes an integral part of medical check-ups for women over the age of 55, it should be done every two years. Men over 50 need to take a PSA test every 2 years. Nowadays, a PSA test can be easily bought at the pharmacy. It should be used in the same way as a pregnancy test.
If we are talking about diagnosis, it means that medical tests are performed to detect a certain disease. Diagnosis not only detects the disease but also gives the full picture of it, in order to prescribe a correct and personal treatment. It is important to take all required tests so that the prescribed treatment is really effective and it does not threaten the person’s life.
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How do regular examinations help to prevent serious diseases?
We will explain it with the help of specific examples.
Scientists have found that uterus cancer in most cases is caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). If during a gynecological examination, pathogenic cells are found, it means that these cells can transform into a malignant tumor over some time. Thus, regular visits to the gynecologist help to avoid such a serious disease as uterine cancer. In France, all girls over 27 are tested every two years to prevent this kind of cancer and other diseases.
The same implies prostate cancer. If the disease is detected in its initial stage, then a minimally invasive surgery is performed. This surgery does not affect the future sex life of men.
Regular check-ups help to detect any disease at the very beginning and thus to avoid long and exhausting treatment.
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How does the lack of examinations damage to human health?
The lack of examinations is rather a frequent phenomenon nowadays. The most widespread reason for it is high prices for many tests. Being not fully examined means that the diagnosis can be incomplete. It implies the use of standard treatment protocols, thus deteriorating the patient’s quality of life during the treatment. It makes no sense to explain how harmful can be a treatment if the diagnosis is incorrect. For example, in developing countries the patient believed to have cancer is immediately prescribed chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. These procedures are unlikely to be beneficial to health, especially when the diagnosis is not confirmed.
The more precise the diagnosis is, the more accurate the prescribed treatment is. The more accurate the prescribed treatment is, the more effective it is. A detailed examination does not exclude the possibility of using standard treatment protocols. However, in this case, the treatment protocol applied is based solely on your tests, and not on general characteristics, such as sex, age, weight, and so on. Let’s take breast cancer as an example. To understand whether total mastectomy is required, you need to undergo a series of diagnostic procedures. However, in many countries doctors prefer completely to remove the mammary glands in most cases, thus exposing the patient to a strong emotional experience.
This example shows how important to take all the necessary tests before starting treatment, in order to avoid a hit-and-miss fashion that may be detrimental to the patient.
In many countries, doctors have to rely only on their experience and flair due to the lack of necessary equipment and the latest medical innovations.
In all advanced European clinics, you are required to take all the necessary tests before starting treatment. These tests are usually included in the cost of treatment. No doctor will prescribe treatment with even the slightest doubt in Europe. It is better to take some more tests than to be treated incorrectly.
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How does diagnosis affect further treatments?
French clinics often receive the following e-mails: “How to behave in case of liver cancer?”, “Tell me, please, whether Frenchmen use such drugs in case of this or that disease?” People who ask such questions do not realize how irresponsible they are about their health or the health of their loved ones.
There are special teams of doctors and professors in France who just study the medical records of patients to plan diagnostic procedures, not even treatment options. In Europe, doctors pay the piper for their mistakes, and no doctor dares to prescribe any medicine or treatment if the diagnosis is not confirmed. Medicine is a science where there is no room for error. Very often, it is patients who make doctors make mistakes.
Even the smallest detail can change the treatment - allergy or the fact that the patient is already taking any medication that is incompatible with other medications.
All organisms are different, and this must be taken into account. It happens that some treatment helps some patients and kills others. The main secret of successful treatment is a detailed and timely diagnosis!
Denial of reality syndrome and the fear of disease often make patients delay their visit to the doctor even when there are obvious symptoms. In this case, the entire responsibility is borne by close people, who must immediately take their loved ones to see a doctor, even by force.
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The danger of medical examinations abuse
Many patients are so worried about their health that they are ready to take tests every week. Some doctors even dissuade their patients from frequent medical examinations, especially when they include ultrasound, CT, X-ray, and MRI, since they devastate human health. During an MRI session, a person receives an annual dose of radiation. If you abuse MRI, you can get just what you are trying to prevent. Only the doctor should prescribe the necessary tests. Self-treatment is a hidden enemy to health.
Many of us are used to solving all health problems with the help of a magic pill. For a long and healthy life, it is necessary to give up diagnosing yourself and drinking pills for no reason.
A slight ache pain can be a sign of serious pathology, regardless of age. Learn to listen to your body and to notice the warning signals.
Learn to trust your doctor. If he prescribes you a series of analyzes, there is no need to search on the Internet whether he is right or not. You shouldn’t also take additional tests that an unknown forum user has advised you to take. Additional analyses and consultations are often a waste of money and time.
Let’s entrust doctors with our health, as they are people who have real experience in such a difficult field as medicine.
