Why don’t we check ourselves prophylactically? The doctor answers

Poles perform preventive examinations too rarely. Only half of us do basic blood, urine or sugar tests within a year. Why is this happening? Dr. Piotr Gryglas, a specialist in internal medicine, explains.

1. Last year’s National Health Test of Poles showed that we test ourselves far too rarely
2. This is partly due to our mentality, lack of time and poor awareness – says Dr. Piotr Gryglas in an interview with Medonet.
3. It is easier for us to inspect the car than our own body – says the doctor
4. According to the specialist, the pandemic made matters even worse. Patients are afraid to use the clinic
5. You can find more such stories on the TvoiLokony home page

Preventive examinations – why are we so rarely tested?

According to data collected in 2020 during the National Health Test organized by Medonet, Poles too rarely undergo preventive examinations. Within a year, only 39 percent. respondents examined the concentration of cholesterol, 42 percent. did a general urine test, 50 percent checked blood sugar, 56 percent. performed a blood count, and 74 percent. took a blood pressure measurement.

We show similar negligence in cancer prevention. The test showed that as many as 61 percent had never done a colonoscopy. men aged 55-64, and 19% have never had cytology in their lives. adult women.

Find out more: National Health Test of Poles 2020. How do Poles care about their health?

Why is this happening? We asked dr. Piotr Gryglas, an internal medicine specialist, cardiologist and hypertensiologist.

– It is partly due to our mentality and partly due to the lack of knowledge about the necessity of research. Little is said about the dangers, the public is not adequately informed. Patients are not aware that they can and should be tested. We are also busy and we do not think about health, because doing anything in this direction takes time. If there were no queues, it would certainly be easier, the percentage of people examining themselves would be greater – the doctor assesses.

It’s easier for us to do an overhaul of the car than our own body

— As in the case of a car, we should check our body once a year and report any ailments. It is easier for us to do something with the car, despite the fact that we pay a lot of money for it, than with ourselves. It is a lack of imagination. After all, there are private companies that offer our body control packages. They do a scan of specific points, blood tests, X-rays, ultrasound, and it’s not even that expensive. But here there is an additional problem, because then you have to find a doctor who will diagnose us with these tests – adds Dr. Gryglas.

1. Test yourself in the new year! There are test packages for men and women at Medonet Market

The cardiologist estimates that almost a third of patients do not do tests out of fear.

– There is also a group of patients who assume that it is better not to know. That when we examine ourselves, something bad will be found. So maybe it’s better to wait it out and it will go away by itself. According to my experience, it is about 30 percent. patients.

And he adds: – We discover many patients with diabetes or hypertension randomly. Not because they had blood or cholesterol tests prophylactically, but they had to do tests for the workplace, for example. And early diagnosis of the disease is crucial, and our life expectancy depends on it – says the cardiologist.

The coronavirus pandemic and preventive examinations

Unfortunately, the pandemic that has been going on for almost a year does not improve the situation. The rampant COVID-19 discouraged Poles from visiting a doctor even more.

– The pandemic messed up a lot, scared the patients. They are afraid to use clinics for fear of contracting the coronavirus. Teleporces remain, and often patients are not able to properly describe their symptoms and they arrive at the hospital too late as a result of teleporting, says Dr. Gryglas.

The editorial board recommends:

1. Sequence of vaccinations against COVID-19. Check which group you belong to [EXPLAINED]
2. How to sign up for the COVID-19 vaccination?
3. Where can I get vaccinated against COVID-19? List of vaccination points