[Health in the 100-Year Life Era] Safety Measures for Health at 100: 'Regular Checkups + Lifestyle Habits'

Hypertension, Diabetes, and Cancer Screening Conducted
Early Disease Detection Reduces Mortality and Severity
Improving Lifestyle Based on Screening Results Is Crucial

Health screenings supported by the government aim to detect diseases early and provide treatment, making them essential for living healthily in the era of 100-year lifespans. Early detection and treatment of diseases through health screenings can reduce mortality rates and severity, and identifying and treating pre-disease stages can also lower the incidence of those diseases. For example, removing colon polyps through a colonoscopy can prevent colon cancer, and early detection and treatment of chronic diseases such as hypertension or diabetes can prevent serious complications like stroke.

Health screenings supported by the National Health Insurance Service are divided into general health screenings and cancer screenings. Both health insurance subscribers and medical aid recipients are eligible, and screenings are generally available in odd or even years based on birth year. General health screenings are supported from age 20 and cancer screenings typically from age 40. General health screenings include physical measurements, blood, and urine tests, which help detect chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and metabolic syndrome. If abnormalities are found during the screening, it is necessary to receive medical consultation and, if needed, undergo re-examination or additional tests for treatment.

National cancer screenings target stomach cancer, colon cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, liver cancer, and lung cancer. For stomach cancer, gastroscopy is supported every two years for those aged 40 and above. For colon cancer, fecal occult blood tests are conducted annually for those aged 50 and above, and if results are positive, a follow-up colonoscopy is required. For breast cancer, mammography is available every two years for women aged 40 and above, and for cervical cancer, Pap smears can be performed every two years for women aged 20 and above. For liver cancer, individuals aged 40 and above who are at high risk (such as those with cirrhosis, positive hepatitis B or C virus antigen, or chronic liver disease related to hepatitis B or C virus) undergo liver ultrasound and blood tests for liver cancer markers twice a year. For lung cancer, low-dose chest CT scans are performed every two years for high-risk individuals aged 54 to 74 with a smoking history of 30 pack-years or more.

Government-supported screenings focus on cancers that can be detected early and treated. Cancers not included either lack proven early detection methods or have poor prognosis even if detected and treated early. This aligns with the principles of health screening, targeting important health issues that are detectable and treatable early. The criteria include ▲existence of suitable tests for early diagnosis, ▲evidence-based treatment methods following early diagnosis, ▲methods that are easily accepted by the public, ▲benefits of screening outweighing harms, and ▲cost-effectiveness. Since no test is perfect, false-positive results may lead to unnecessary invasive tests or treatments, and some tests may pose minor physical risks, such as radiation exposure from lung CT scans.

However, one should not rely solely on health screenings. If symptoms arise, medical consultation and appropriate tests should be sought regardless of screening schedules. Health screenings are not an end in themselves; it is important to improve personal lifestyle habits and manage health based on the results. Additionally, regularly undergoing health screenings is itself a method of managing health and preventing cancer.

Professor Jo In-Young, Department of Family Medicine, Samsung Medical Center. [Photo by Samsung Medical Center]