What Should Be Considered When Going to a Check-Up Appointment? (Preparation Guide)

Making a check-up appointment is an important investment in your health. However, a check-up that is not prepared correctly can lead to misleading results and cause unnecessary concerns or overlooked findings. You can get the highest efficiency from your examination by following the steps below.

1 Week Before Appointment

• Prepare a list of medications: Note down all medications, supplements and herbal supplements (name, dose, duration of use) that you use regularly. Some drugs directly affect blood values.
• Compile your family health history: List the chronic diseases (heart, cancer, diabetes, thyroid, etc.) seen in your mother, father and first-degree relatives.
• Write your complaints: Take note of any symptoms you have noticed in recent months, even those that seem minor, to convey to your doctor.
• Bring your vaccination card: Keep vaccines such as flu, tetanus, hepatitis B with you to check their up-to-dateness.

The Night Before the Appointment

• Stay hungry from 22:00 at night: At least 8-12 hours of fasting is essential for fasting blood sugar, insulin resistance and triglyceride tests. Water consumption is free.
• Do not drink alcohol: Alcohol impairs liver enzymes, triglyceride and uric acid values. It should be discontinued at least 24 hours before.
• Do not exercise heavily: Intense physical activity raises creatine kinase (CK) and other muscle enzymes; This may misinterpret the results.
• Sleep early: Blood pressure and pulse measurements taken from a tired body may be different from normal.

Appointment Morning

• Ask your doctor about your morning medicine: Get approval from your doctor about whether medications such as blood pressure medication and thyroid medication should be taken before the morning check-up.
• Do not smoke: Smoking affects blood pressure and some respiratory tests.
• Drink plenty of water: Adequate fluid consumption facilitates blood collection and improves the quality of the urine sample.
• Wear comfortable clothing: Procedures that require blood pressure measurement, ECG and undressing for examination become easier.

Special Notes for Women

Complete blood count hemoglobin values may be affected during menstruation; If possible, it is recommended to make an appointment 3-5 days after the end of menstruation. The postmenstrual period (days 10-14) for the mammography appointment provides a more comfortable shot as the breast tissue is less tense.

During the Inspection

Communicate honestly and openly with your doctor. Do not hesitate to provide information about your smoking, alcohol consumption, sleep patterns and eating habits; All this information is necessary for accurate evaluation. Take 5 minutes at the end of the appointment to ask any questions you may have.

A prepared check-up means a healthy future. Contact our clinic for your appointment.