Better get a checkup
In an episode of The Simpsons, Homer is put through medical tests by the X-Files Mulder and Scully and ends up running on a treadmill in his underwear.
Mulder asks Scully to explain the point of the last test. She says, ‘‘no point, I just figured he could stand to lose some weight’’.
That image of Homer is all that comes to mind when I walk into the doctor’s clinic and picture what a medical check might be like.
I wear runners just in case but luckily there’s no exercise equipment in sight.
Prior to this week I’d gone through my entire adult life without a single health check-up.
This one takes place in a standard doctor’s room.
The focus is on a questionnaire called the ‘well man check’.
I don’t know what I was expecting but I’m slightly relieved to hear Dr Abhi Charukonda start by saying I’m a few years shy of needing the finger up the bum prostate check. He’s relieved as well, I suspect. The questionnaire revolves around general health issues.
Tick the box for how often you exercise, how much you drink, if you have difficulties going to the toilet, the history of heart disease in your family, or bowel cancer or melanoma.
It’s a general starting point to gauge your medical history and flag any potential health concerns.
Charukonda says it’s essentially a chance to spot the warning signs.
It’s a bit like getting your car serviced. The engine might be running fine but you don’t want to risk leaving it too long if you need a slight tune-up.
The check-up can also be a guide for follow-up tests and appointments to manage issues before they become too serious.
And part of it is just a straightforward reminder to eat less takeaway food and not get boozed quite so frequently.
There’s also a particular focus on mental health: how often you feel anxious or stressed and whether you’ve ever suffered from depression. Just talking through things you’re worried about can be quite cathartic.
There’s a blood pressure test and a BMI indicator of your height versus weight. A bit more talk of general health issues then it’s wrapped up, relatively painlessly.
‘‘It’s more like a chat between mates more than anything else,’’ Charukonda says.
And it’s a chat that’s well worth having.