True or False Quiz: A Smart Medical Guide to Debunk Myths – Health Checkups

According to the recently revised Korean national gastric cancer screening guidelines, an upper endoscopy (gastroscopy) is recommended every two years starting at age 40. However, if you have a family history of gastric cancer or are in a high-risk group due to conditions such as atrophic gastritis or intestinal metaplasia (a condition in which damaged stomach cells cause the stomach lining to change and resemble that of the intestine), your doctor may advise annual screening. Since unnecessary screenings can increase costs and burden, it is most important to set a screening interval that fits your health status.

You must fast starting at midnight the night before the checkup, and should not drink water after that time. However, it’s fine to drink water before midnight. On the day of the checkup, you must avoid all food and beverages—including water, milk, and juice—and even chewing gum or smoking. It’s best to have a light, easily digestible dinner before 8 p.m. the night before. If you accidentally drink a small amount of water on the morning of your checkup, check with the medical staff first, as policies may vary depending on the test and medical institution.

Whether and how to take medication for chronic conditions before a checkup varies depending on the type of drug. If you’re taking any medication, inform the hospital when scheduling your appointment and follow your doctor’s instructions. For example, diabetes medication, including insulin, should not be taken or injected on the day of the checkup. If you’re taking antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs (e.g., aspirin or Plavix), consult your doctor at least 7 days before the checkup to decide whether to continue or temporarily stop taking them. If a biopsy is scheduled or may be performed, inform the medical staff at least 7 days in advance and discuss whether you should stop the medication.

It is best to have a breast cancer screening (mammography or breast ultrasound) 5 to 7 days after the start of your period. During this time, female hormone levels are at their lowest, which reduces breast swelling and tenderness and results in less discomfort during the exam. The breast tissue is also less dense, allowing abnormalities to be detected more accurately.

A health checkup is not a diagnostic process that identifies every disease in the body; it is a screening test designed for early detection. As the first step in disease prevention, it focuses on highly prevalent conditions or those where early detection is crucial. You can think of it as a warning system to detect diseases such as cancer, hypertension, or diabetes, which often show no symptoms until they progress. Therefore, even if your checkup results are normal, you should still consult a doctor if you experience any unusual symptoms, as they may be caused by conditions outside the checkup’s scope or by diseases that have not yet manifested.