For Amdavadis, life & health check-ups begin @ 40

The awareness that routine health check-ups are a must is on the rise among people over 40 but they go for such check-ups only when advised by their doctors, say medical experts in Ahmedabad.

It should be noted that doctors recommend a routine health check-up for everybody after the age of 40 as it helps in early detection and treatment of ailments.

"People are much more aware now than they were earlier about the benefits of a routine health check-up. In fact, most people who come to us for routine check-ups are in the 40 plus age group," said Dr Darshan Patwari of Nidhi Hosptials in the city.

He said those who have crossed the age of 40 should ideally go for a health check-up once a year, irrespective of whether they are suffering from an ailment or not.

Dr Mira Gadhvi of Kakadiya Medical Hospital said that while the number of patients coming for routine check-up is on the rise, it is often the doctor's advice that propels them into action.

"Most of the patients who come to us for routine check-ups are over the age of 40. And in a majority of the cases, they were asked by their physician to go for one. In several cases, their first visit is because their doctor advised them to have a health check-up. Later they continue with the routine check-ups so that ailments can be detected and treated early," said Dr Gadhvi.

"I go for regular health check-up because doctors usually advise it. But I must admit that among women of my age it is very rare for anyone to go for a health check-up unless advised by a doctor," said Sandhya Joshi, a resident of Gurukul who has had her health check-up scheduled for this week