Coming home for the holidays often means making the most of every day with family, catching up with friends, running errands, and preparing before heading abroad again.
For many Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), work and providing for loved ones often come first, and health can easily be forgotten during their limited visit.
Making time for a health checkup while you are home can help you understand how your health is doing, identify concerns that may need attention, and prepare for your next period of work abroad.
Why Make Time for a Health Checkup While You’re Home?
Give Attention to Symptoms You May Have Been Putting Aside
Working hard to provide for your family is something many OFWs take pride in. But it can also make it easy to dismiss recurring fatigue, discomfort, pain, or other changes in your body because work and responsibilities need your attention.
Your time at home can give you an opportunity to finally have these concerns checked. Instead of continuing to put them aside, a consultation and appropriate tests can help determine whether they simply need monitoring or require further medical attention.
Check In on How Your Health Has Changed
Working overseas may mean adapting to a different environment, climate, diet, sleep schedule, workload, and daily routine.
Over time, these changes can influence different aspects of your health. One visit can help identify any changes that have developed since your previous checkup.
If something unusual is found, your doctor can evaluate it further rather than automatically assuming that it is related to your occupation or living environment.
Have Your Checkup Where You Feel More Comfortable
For some OFWs, getting checked in the Philippines may feel more familiar and convenient.
Being able to communicate comfortably with healthcare professionals, ask questions more freely, and have family nearby can make the experience easier. Being home may also give you an opportunity to arrange follow-up consultations or additional exams if they are needed before your next departure.
Some Health Conditions May Not Cause Obvious Symptoms
Not every health concern immediately causes noticeable symptoms.
Conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes can develop without obvious warning signs in their earlier stages. Appropriate health screenings may also help identify certain cancers and other conditions before symptoms become noticeable.
Regular health checkups provide information about important health indicators and can help determine whether anything requires closer monitoring or further evaluation.
Prepare for Your Return to Work When Required
Depending on your occupation, employer, or destination, you may also be required to obtain a medical clearance before returning to work.
This can be particularly relevant for jobs with specific fitness requirements, including certain maritime or physically demanding occupations.
Make Preventive Care a Family Activity
Your visit home can also be an opportunity to encourage the people closest to you to pay more attention to their health.
Parents, spouses, siblings, and other family members may have their own checkups that they have been postponing. Scheduling these together can make preventive care easier to include in your family’s routine.
And if you cannot return home this holiday season, helping a loved one arrange a health checkup can still be a practical way to support their well-being from abroad.
What May Be Included in a Health Checkup?
The right health checkup depends on factors such as your age, medical history, family history, symptoms, and individual health needs.
For a comprehensive executive checkup, exams may include:
- Blood tests for blood sugar, cholesterol, and selected organ functions
- Blood pressure monitoring and cardiovascular tests such as ECG and 2D Echo
- Imaging exams such as MRI and CT Scan
- Digestive health exams such as Colonoscopy
- Age- and gender-specific health screenings
Get Your Health Checkup at Shinagawa Diagnostic
At Shinagawa Diagnostic & Preventive Care, OFWs and their families can choose from Executive Health Checkup packages designed for different health needs and life stages.
Our packages combine laboratory tests, diagnostic exams, and selected health screenings in one coordinated checkup experience, making it easier to dedicate time to your health during your stay in the Philippines.
This October, OFWs and their eligible family members can enjoy exclusive discounts on Executive Checkups:
- 10% OFF VIP Shinagawa Dock
- 5% OFF Men’s Prime Executive Checkup
- 5% OFF Women’s Prime Executive Checkup
- 5% OFF Platinum Shinagawa Dock
Simply present valid proof of OFW status to avail of the offer. The discount may also be extended to eligible family members, giving you an opportunity to prioritize your health together.
How to Book Your Appointment
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