Dr. Abdullah Özdemir

The purpose of regular health check-ups is to detect problems that do not yet show symptoms at an early stage and to monitor the course of existing diseases. Its content is not the same for everyone. It is determined according to age, gender, family history and existing diseases.

Baseline evaluation in most adults. It includes blood pressure measurement, blood sugar and blood lipids, complete blood count, kidney and liver function tests and urine examination. It is added when thyroid functions and vitamin D levels are deemed necessary.

The results are not interpreted alone, but together with the person's history and examination findings. A borderline value does not always mean disease. Sometimes only repeat measurement and monitoring is required.

Seeing a value outside the reference range in blood tests is a common situation and does not make a diagnosis on its own. Values may be affected by fasting time, fluid intake, recent infection, exercise and medications used.

Therefore, a deviant result is often repeated under favorable conditions. For changes that are considered significant, additional examinations are planned to investigate the cause.

Common topics include anemia, high blood lipids, increased liver enzymes and fluctuations in thyroid function tests. The follow-up and treatment approach of each is different. The decision is made by evaluating the history, examination and necessary imaging together.

High blood pressure and diabetes can progress without symptoms for a long time. That's why regular measurement is important. Blood pressure measurement requires a setup in which the arm is at heart level and the cuff is of appropriate width for the arm, after five minutes of rest.

Home measurements do not replace a physician's evaluation, but they complete the picture. Recording the measurements with date and time is helpful in showing whether the treatment is sufficient or not.

In addition to the fasting value, a test showing the average in recent months is also used to monitor blood sugar. Diet, physical activity and weight control are integral parts of treatment. Drug treatment is planned alongside them, not instead of them.