Is a check-up still normal if serious illnesses are found?

Author: Li Hongshao, Chief Nurse of the Hemodialysis Department at Wenzhou People's Hospital. Regular health check-ups are vital for ruling out diseases and preventing serious health issues; we must enhance health awareness.

Recently, some internet users complained about a tertiary hospital: after frequently experiencing dizziness, they underwent various tests including CT scans, MRIs, and gastrointestinal endoscopies, which cost over 3,000 yuan. In the end, the conclusion was that there was nothing wrong, and it was just due to old age.

This internet user questioned excessive examinations; however, as a nurse with over 30 years of clinical experience, I believe that the 3,000 yuan is an investment in the certainty of ruling out diseases. That statement, 'there’s nothing wrong,' is the most reassuring medical conclusion.

The essence of medicine is to eliminate diseases and risks, treat illnesses, and promote patient recovery, rather than to 'create patients.'

Some people believe that spending money on medical consultations should at least result in some problems being identified or prescriptions being given, which is a misunderstanding. Dizziness may seem ordinary, but it can hide serious conditions such as cerebral infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, or brain tumors. Doctors arrange for CT scans and MRIs to systematically rule out these life-threatening possibilities. When the test results show no abnormalities, it indicates that there are no bleeding or infarction foci in the brain tissue, nor any occupying lesions in the organs, which is a sign of health rather than just wasteful spending.

I have come across many cases of individuals who appeared healthy but were diagnosed with late-stage illnesses upon examination: some experienced sudden chest pain, only to find that their coronary arteries were over 90% narrowed, putting them at risk of sudden death; others had never undergone a health check and were already in the late stages of cancer by the time they were diagnosed. Their bodies weren't entirely free of diseases; rather, they hadn't discovered the problems due to a lack of regular check-ups. Conversely, routine examinations revealing high blood lipid levels or minor abnormalities in an electrocardiogram serve as warnings from our bodies. Through diet, exercise, and follow-ups, we can prevent serious illnesses from causing irreversible damage.

Necessary examinations do not equal excessive medical treatment; they are a responsibility towards life and should not be compromised. For instance, conducting a CT or MRI scan for dizziness to rule out a stroke or tumor is a necessary examination. An ECG or cardiac enzyme tests for chest pain to rule out a myocardial infarction is the gold standard. A gastrointestinal scope for digestive discomfort to detect early-stage cancer is also considered the 'gold standard.' The internet user who spent 3000 yuan only to find out they had 'no illness' may feel it was a waste. However, consider this: if they had not undergone the examination, the dizziness persisted, and a stroke occurred, the emergency treatment costs could reach over a hundred thousand yuan and could even lead to disability. In contrast, spending a few thousand yuan to eliminate risk is a wise investment in one’s health.

Do not misunderstand the significance of medical check-ups. Visiting a hospital for a consultation is not meant to confirm a serious illness; rather, it is about regular check-ups that are part of maintaining your health. The truly dangerous behavior is not in discovering a problem, but in neglecting these check-ups, allowing the disease to progress to an irreversible stage by the time you seek medical help. When the doctor says after your examination that there’s nothing wrong, it is the most reassuring statement and the warmest blessing you could receive.