Health check-ups are crucial mostly because they help detect potential health issues at an early stage, allowing for timely intervention and treatment. Regular check-ups become all the more important during the monsoon as it helps monitor and prevent common illnesses associated with the season, such as waterborne diseases, vector-borne diseases, and respiratory infections. We spoke to two leading experts to understand why it's important to conduct health check ups in the monsoon season.
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Monsoon Maladies
Dr Paritosh Baghel, Senior Consultant-Internal Medicine, SL Raheja Hospital, Mahim, said, “Monsoon brings not only pleasant weather, greenery, and relief from soaring temperatures but also many diseases such as cold, flu, viral illness and various vector and water-borne diseases such as Diarrhoea, Typhoid, Malaria, Dengue.” “These diseases are common during monsoons due to the wet climate, breeding of mosquitoes, and increased risk of water contamination. To prevent these from disrupting your life, one should remain alert, especially if you suffer from comorbidities like diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic illnesses,” he added.
Why Health Check-Ups Are Important During Monsoons
According to Dr Rajesh Bendre, Chief of Lab, Neuberg Diagnostics, health check-ups during monsoons are crucial for overall well-being. Some of the common reasons include:
Increased risk of infections
Monsoons create a favourable environment for bacteria, viruses, and fungi to thrive. Regular health check-ups help detect any signs of infections early on, allowing for timely treatment.
Waterborne diseases
Contaminated water during monsoons poses a significant risk of waterborne diseases like cholera, typhoid, and hepatitis A. Health check-ups can help identify any symptoms or exposure to such diseases and enable appropriate preventive measures.
Vector-borne illnesses
Mosquito-borne diseases like dengue, malaria, and chikungunya are common during the monsoon season. Health check-ups aid in monitoring for symptoms, detecting infections, and taking necessary precautions to prevent complications.
Respiratory problems
Humidity and dampness in the air can aggravate respiratory conditions like asthma and allergies. Regular health check-ups enable effective management of these conditions and prevent exacerbations.
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Important Tests To Take
A person who gets a fever should be evaluated to find the cause immediately, said Dr Baghel. Some of the important tests include:
- Blood tests
- A fever profile test that determines the common causes of fever in the monsoon season, such as malaria, dengue, chikungunya, and leptospirosis
However, the doctor clarifies that no test is 100% accurate. One can still get a negative test despite having the disease; hence a clinical diagnosis made by a doctor is essential for early diagnosis and treatment to prevent complications. “A routine fever profile test serves no purpose if not done with a clinical perspective. One may land up treating the abnormal lab values rather than the person,” he said.
Prevention Is Key
While health check-up is of utmost importance, other preventive measures can also help keep illnesses at bay. These include:
- Eating healthy food
- Avoiding outside food
- Preventing mosquito bites
- Not waddling in dirty water
- Checking your diabetes and blood pressure levels, if you have any of the conditions
Bottomline
Regular check-ups promote preventive care, monitor overall health, and provide an opportunity for healthcare professionals to educate and counsel individuals on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. During the monsoon season, vigilance is everything. It is when people are most prone to illnesses and infections and therefore, must pay attention to their hygiene and get regular health tests.
