Recommended Regular Health Checkups and Preventive Care for Parents and Yourself

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1. The most basic and important regular follow-up (once every six months) is with a metabolism/endocrinology department or family medicine physician.

Basic blood tests are usually covered by health insurance:

• Fasting blood glucose, HbA1c (glycated hemoglobin) • blood lipids (cholesterol, triglycerides) • blood pressure • kidney function (creatinine, eGFR) • liver function (GOT/GPT) • uric acid • urine protein (early kidney disease) • basic blood count (CBC) are also recommended.

• Blood tests for hepatitis B and hepatitis C. If you have diabetes, high blood pressure, or hyperlipidemia, you need regular medication and follow-up. Many chronic diseases have almost no symptoms early on, but over time they can damage:

• The heart • kidneys • brain • retina • blood vessels. That is why regular blood-test follow-up is very important.

2. Lung and cardiovascular examinations. Low-dose chest CT (LDCT) can check for:

• Lung cancer • lung nodules • pulmonary fibrosis • some coronary artery calcification. It is especially suitable for:

3. Liver Examination (Very Important) If You Have

• A smoking history • a family history of lung cancer • older age. If you do not qualify for health insurance coverage, you usually need to pay out of pocket.

Many lung cancers are now found too late, so low-dose lung CT is an important early screening test.

3. Liver examination (very important) if you have:

• Hepatitis B • hepatitis C • fatty liver disease. These must be followed regularly.

For patients with hepatitis B, the recommendation is:

Every 3 to 6 months:

• Abdominal ultrasound • AFP (alpha-fetoprotein) blood test, because liver cancer has almost no symptoms in its early stages.

Many cases of hepatitis C can now be cured with medication.

4. Gastrointestinal examinations (very important for middle-aged and older adults). Consult a gastroenterologist.

Colonoscopy recommendations:

• Regular examinations after age 45 to 50 • earlier if there is a family history, because many colorectal cancers slowly develop from polyps into cancer.

The greatest value of colonoscopy is:

"Polyps can be removed directly during the examination."

Stomach Pain • Gastroesophageal Reflux • Helicobacter pylori • Family History of Gastric Cancer: Regular Checkups Are Recommended

Gastroscopy is recommended if you have:

• Stomach pain • gastroesophageal reflux • Helicobacter pylori • a family history of gastric cancer.

5. Eye examinations (often overlooked). Older adults should see an ophthalmologist regularly.

The three most important items:

1. Glaucoma

Glaucoma gradually damages the optic nerve.

The scary part is:

"There are almost no symptoms in the early stages."

But if it is found early, eye drops can usually control it well.

2. Macular degeneration (OCT)

Recommended:

• Retinal examination • OCT optical coherence tomography. Severe cases may require intraocular injection treatment.

Health insurance can cover some cases.

If you pay out of pocket, one injection may cost more than NT$20,000.

3. Cataract

Cataracts can affect:

6. Dental and Oral Care, Including Teeth Cleaning

• Night vision • driving safety • fall risk. Cataract surgery is now very mature.

Many older adults have much better quality of life after surgery.

6. Dental and oral care, including teeth-cleaning recommendations:

• Every six months. Periodontal disease is associated with many chronic inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases.

Supplement: oral cancer screening if you:

• Smoke • drink alcohol • chew betel nut. The oral mucosa should be checked regularly.

7. Osteoporosis and falls (overlooked by many families), especially for women after menopause.

Recommendations:

• Bone density test • vitamin D • strength training • balance training. Many older adults decline not because of chronic disease, but because:

"After a fall and fracture, they begin to decline rapidly."

8. Vaccines (Very Worthwhile) for Older Adults

• Flu vaccine (annual) • COVID-19 vaccine • pneumococcal vaccine • shingles vaccine (Shingrix). Many severe illnesses in older adults are actually caused by infection.

9. Important concepts for daily health maintenance

10. Maintaining muscle mass becomes more important with age.

Recommendations:

• Walk every day • resistance training • get enough protein

2. Control blood sugar fluctuations. High blood sugar can damage:

• Blood vessels • kidneys • retina • nerves. Recommendations:

• Less refined sugar • fewer sugary drinks • pay attention to insulin resistance • maintain weight

3. Take care of your eyes • do not stare at screens for long periods • rest your eyes • eat more dark green vegetables

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Instant coffee may be associated with macular degeneration risk, so the following are more recommended:

• Hand-brewed coffee • espresso

10. The most important sentence about many serious diseases:

• Diabetes • kidney failure • liver cancer • colorectal cancer • glaucoma • macular degeneration are not formed in a single day.

What truly matters is:

"Regular follow-up every six months to one year, so problems can be found early."

The greatest value of health is not merely extending life, but:

"Whether you can maintain a life with quality, dignity, and freedom of movement over the long term."

The above is provided for your reference.