Agreed. And you don't even need an expensive hospital. You can just go to a diagnostic lab once a year in Thailand and, for a couple of thousand baht, get comprehensive blood work and a urinalysis to check red and white blood cells, liver function, kidney function, lipid levels, triglycerides, blood sugar, HbA1c, and a number of other basic markers. It is also worth checking blood pressure regularly, as hypertension can remain completely symptom-free for years while increasing the risk of stroke, heart attack, heart failure, and kidney disease. A urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio can also help detect early kidney damage that may not show up on a routine urinalysis. These labs often offer chest X-rays as well, although a routine chest X-ray isn't considered an effective general screening test for lung cancer, but it will show signs of any growths on the lungs and signs of tuberculosis. It is also worth considering PSA testing for prostate cancer based on your age and individual risk factors. There are also some important infections that can remain silent for years, particularly hepatitis B and C, which can eventually cause cirrhosis and liver cancer. Getting screened at least once, and periodically if you have risk factors, is worth considering. I get all of this done once a year, and it costs me under 5,000 baht in total. Men over 40 should consider having blood work, blood pressure checks, and a urinalysis once a year, along with regular diabetes screening and an annual eye exam to check for glaucoma and other age-related eye problems. Colorectal cancer screening should also begin around age 45 for average-risk adults, with the frequency depending on whether you choose a colonoscopy, stool testing, or another screening method. If you have a family history or other risk factors, screening may need to start earlier or be done more frequently. There are a number of diseases that don't show symptoms until they are advanced, but if detected early can often be treated or managed before they become serious. Some of the important "silent travelers" that these screening can help detect early include high blood pressure, diabetes and pre-diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, glaucoma, hepatitis B and C, and, in higher-risk individuals, lung cancer and abdominal aortic aneurysms. The basic idea is simple: don't wait until you feel sick. A relatively inexpensive annual checkup can identify a surprising number of problems while they are still manageable.
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