An expert has cautioned Nigerians against neglecting preventive healthcare, warning that feeling well does not necessarily mean that a person is free from serious underlying health conditions.

An Abuja-based health and wellness expert, Victoria Onyekachukwu said many people tend to assume they are healthy because they can go about their daily activities, meet their responsibilities, spend time with loved ones and function without discomfort. She, however, noted that some serious health conditions could develop quietly for years without noticeable symptoms.

According to her, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, kidney disease and certain heart conditions could progress without obvious warning signs, with some individuals only discovering the problem when they require emergency medical attention.

She said by the time such conditions were detected, they could have become more complex, costly and difficult to treat, stressing the importance of preventive healthcare as an investment in long-term wellbeing.

Onyekachukwu explained that good health should not be defined simply by the absence of symptoms, noting that blood pressure could rise to dangerous levels without causing headaches or discomfort.

She added that blood sugar could remain elevated for years without obvious warning signs, while cholesterol could gradually build up in the arteries even when an individual continued to feel perfectly normal.

The expert said routine health screenings could help uncover such hidden risks before they progressed into serious illness. She listed blood pressure checks, blood sugar testing, cholesterol profiling, kidney and liver function tests, and comprehensive physical examinations among assessments that could provide valuable information about an individual’s overall health.

Onyekachukwu said this preventive approach was reflected in the General Wellness Package available at OneHealth by AXA’s Victoria Island Medical Centre.

She explained that the package was designed for individuals seeking to stay ahead of potential health concerns, combining preventive screenings, comprehensive assessments and personalised recommendations to help them make informed decisions about their health before problems arise.

The expert noted that people routinely serviced their cars before they broke down, maintained their homes before repairs became costly and conducted business reviews to identify potential risks before they became crises.
She, however, observed that many people adopted a different approach to their health by waiting until something hurt before seeking medical attention.

According to her, regular wellness checks could provide opportunities to detect changes early, monitor important health indicators and address concerns before they escalated into more serious health challenges.

Onyekachukwu said people often postponed medical check-ups because they felt healthy, were too busy or wanted to avoid expenses. She warned that delaying preventive care did not necessarily prevent a health problem but could instead postpone its discovery and reduce opportunities for early intervention.

She said conditions identified early were often easier and less expensive to manage, while undetected conditions could result in prolonged hospital stays, costly treatments, reduced productivity and significant emotional stress for individuals and their families.

She added that OneHealth by AXA’s Victoria Island Medical Centre also offers a Geriatric Care Package for older adults, noting that its preventive care approach was focused on helping people identify risks early, make informed health decisions and maintain their wellbeing over time.

Onyekachukwu therefore encouraged individuals to adopt a proactive approach to their health through regular wellness assessments and preventive screenings.