Heart disease, stroke, cancer.
Many of these illnesses quietly progress inside the body without us noticing. Often, they cause no noticeable symptoms until one day they suddenly appear as serious conditions.
The theme of the May 2026 public health lecture, “Kurachu Medical Gathering,” was “Preventive Medicine and Comprehensive Health Checkups.”
The speaker was Dr. Wada Toshikazu, director of the Preventive Medicine Plaza at Kurashiki Central Hospital. He holds numerous qualifications, including certification as a specialist and supervising physician in comprehensive health checkups, as well as specialist certifications in general internal medicine and nephrology.
We report on the ideas behind preventive medicine, the significance of comprehensive health checkups, easily overlooked signs from the body, and how to choose optional tests—all topics to reconsider starting today for your future health.
We also cover a talk on frailty prevention by public health nurse Otaka Erika.
The information presented was current when this article was published in June 2026. Please note that it may differ from current information.
Overview of the public lecture “Kurachu Medical Gathering”
The lecture was held on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at the Kokuga Hall in the Preventive Medicine Plaza at Kurashiki Central Hospital.
The Preventive Medicine Plaza at Kurashiki Central Hospital is a facility that broadly supports the health of local residents through comprehensive health checkups, exercise and health classes, and more.
The public health lecture “Kurachu Medical Gathering” is held every month, with doctors from Kurashiki Central Hospital explaining illnesses and health in an easy-to-understand way.
It was raining on the day of the lecture, but many people attended. They listened intently to learn about prevention for their future selves.
The situation in Japan: The gap between healthy life expectancy and the need for long-term care
Japan is one of the world’s longest-living nations, but “living a long life” and “staying healthy” are not necessarily the same thing.
The gap between average life expectancy and healthy life expectancy is about 9–10 years. This is the period during which people need long-term care or support with daily living. The gap tends to be even longer for women.
The most common causes of needing long-term care are as follows:
- Men
Cerebrovascular disease - Women
Dementia and fractures
“Many of these conditions may be preventable with early action,” says Dr. Wada.
The role of health checkups and the three stages of “preventive medicine”
Preventive medicine has three main stages.
- Primary prevention
Adopting healthy lifestyle habits to prevent illness - Secondary prevention
Detecting illness early through health checkups and treating it early - Tertiary prevention
Preventing recurrence and supporting a return to society
Health checkups play an important role, positioned right between primary and secondary prevention.
“Health checkups are not about finding frightening illnesses. They are an opportunity to understand your current condition,” says Dr. Wada.
Even if you are told that no abnormalities were found, that does not mean you are “perfectly healthy.” Rather, it means that “no major problems are apparent at this time.” And if your numbers are only slightly concerning, reviewing your lifestyle may help improve them.
Features of comprehensive health checkups
The Japanese term for a comprehensive health checkup, “ningen dock,” comes from a “dock” where ships’ engines are repaired. The term arose from the idea of detecting and preventing abnormalities in the body early.
Unlike company health checkups (general health checkups), these include tests such as abdominal ultrasound and fundus examinations as standard.
“By the time changes show up in blood tests, a condition may already have progressed. Tests such as ultrasound may be able to detect abnormalities before they progress,” says Dr. Wada.
In addition to the basic package, there is a wide range of optional tests for examining specific areas in greater detail, making it possible to check the condition of the whole body.
Easily overlooked signs and what to do
Comprehensive health checkups can reveal changes in the body that are difficult to notice in everyday life. Here are some examples of easily overlooked signs introduced in the lecture.
Fatty liver
A major cause of fatty liver, which can be detected by abdominal ultrasound, is thought to be excessive intake of carbohydrates, especially fructose.
High-fructose corn syrup, found in soft drinks, sports drinks, and sweet bread rolls, is easy to consume in large amounts without realizing it. Those who drink a lot of sports drinks in summer should be especially careful.
Blood sugar spikes
A “blood sugar spike”—a sharp rise and fall in blood sugar after a meal—is a risk that is difficult to detect through routine health checkups. There are almost no noticeable symptoms; if any occur, they may include intense sleepiness or fatigue after eating.
If left unaddressed, it is thought to increase the risk of diabetes, arteriosclerosis, and cardiovascular disease, and a link with dementia has also been suggested.
An effective measure is “carb-last”: start your meal with vegetables and protein, and eat carbohydrates last.
Iron deficiency
Not having anemia does not necessarily mean everything is fine. If your MCV (mean corpuscular volume), which indicates the size of your red blood cells, is below 90 fL, you may have an iron deficiency that has not yet progressed to anemia.
If you have persistent symptoms such as headaches, stiff shoulders, or frequent leg cramps, it may be worth getting checked.
Osteoporosis and vitamin D deficiency
Osteoporosis and vitamin D deficiency often have almost no noticeable symptoms, and many people only discover them after a fracture. Vitamin D deficiency is very common. Women in particular are prone to a rapid decline in bone density around menopause, so a test once in your 40s or 50s is recommended.
Vitamin D is associated not only with bone health but also with immune function, and links with infectious diseases and cancer have also been reported.
What to do after receiving your health checkup results
“Some people don’t even open their health checkup results when they arrive,” says Dr. Wada. There is no point in getting a checkup if you do not make use of the results.
The first important step is to always read the comments section. It explains the reasons for your assessment and any precautions, and may contain information that is easy to overlook.
If you receive a D rating (requiring further examination), do not ignore it—be sure to visit a medical institution. Even with a B rating, it is a good idea to watch for future changes in your blood pressure, blood sugar, lipids, and other measures.
It is also important to get checked every year and track changes. If your results are repeatedly “just within the normal range,” consider that a sign to review your lifestyle.
How to choose optional tests
In addition to the basic tests in a comprehensive health checkup, optional tests are available.
However, people often say, “What tests should I get?” or “There are so many options that I don’t know what to choose.”
Dr. Wada suggested the following tests as a guide.
- Abdominal ultrasound
If it is not included in your company health checkup, prioritize adding it - Lung CT
Can detect early-stage lung cancer in areas that are difficult to see on a chest X-ray alone - Colonoscopy (or colon CT)
Recommended at least once starting in your 40s - Fundus examination
Glaucoma can sometimes be found even in people in their 30s - Bone density test
Recommended for women starting in their 40s or 50s; men who smoke or drink should also get tested early - Vitamin D test
Deficiency often causes no symptoms, so get checked at least once
“When in doubt, the best thing to do is consult a nurse or doctor when you go in for your checkup,” says Dr. Wada.
The Preventive Medicine Plaza at Kurashiki Central Hospital also offers phone consultations with nursing staff about optional tests. For details, see Information on Optional Tests.
They also said they are considering using AI in the future to provide personalized test recommendations.
A talk on frailty prevention
At the end of the lecture, public health nurse Otaka Erika spoke about frailty prevention. Frailty is a condition in which muscle strength and cognitive function decline with age, and social connections become fewer. It is said that people progress from good health through frailty and eventually to needing long-term care.
If you notice changes such as “losing 2 kg or more unintentionally in six months,” “having difficulty opening a bottle cap,” or “being unable to cross a crosswalk before the light turns red,” early action is needed.
The three key points for prevention are exercise, nutrition, and social participation.
For example, it is important to watch for “oral frailty,” which indicates a decline in oral function. If you find yourself choking more easily or speaking less clearly, exercises such as the Patakara exercise are recommended to strengthen the muscles around the mouth.
Also recommended are squats and heel raises. They require no equipment and can be done at home every day.
- Squats
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, slowly bend your knees, then return to standing. This strengthens the thigh and buttock muscles and helps prevent falls. Start gently with 10 repetitions a day. - Heel raises
While standing and holding onto something for support, slowly raise and lower your heels. Strengthening the calf muscles can improve circulation and help you walk more steadily. You can do them while watching TV or cooking.
“You can build muscle at any age, so the important thing is to keep at it a little every day,” she explained.
Interview with Dr. Wada: Knowing your current condition is the starting point
After the lecture, we spoke with Dr. Wada again.
What made you realize the importance of prevention?
Dr. Wada
I originally worked as a nephrologist at a university hospital.
Every time I saw a patient who needed dialysis, I found myself wondering, “Could we have done something at an earlier stage?”
There were patients who might have avoided dialysis if their blood pressure had been properly managed. Experiences like these made me realize how important prevention is.
Do you notice a difference between people who get comprehensive health checkups and those who do not?
Dr. Wada
Yes. There are many cases where, when an illness is discovered, I feel, “If they had gotten a comprehensive health checkup, could it have been detected sooner?”
Meanwhile, some people who continue to get annual health screenings catch even minor abnormalities early and stay healthy into their 80s and 90s.
I feel that being able to address issues while treatment is still less burdensome makes a big difference in the long run.
At what age should I start getting a comprehensive health screening?
Dr. Wada
I think it’s a good idea to start in your 40s. If you’re concerned about lifestyle-related diseases, it’s also worth getting checked before you turn 40.
Some people start in their 30s, and the Preventive Medicine Plaza also offers screenings for people in their 20s. I believe that learning about your body early on can help you stay healthy in the future.
Could you tell us about your plans going forward?
Dr. Wada
We’re currently working with Kurashiki Central Hospital to develop AI that predicts disease risks based on health screening data.
If AI could make it possible to say, “If you continue these lifestyle habits, you’ll face these risks in a few years, so you should get this test,” I think we could provide prevention better tailored to each individual. We want to usher in an era when prevention can be more forward-looking.
Prevention starts with “knowing your current health”
Dr. Wada’s words stayed with me: “Know the state of your body and change your daily habits. Those small steps add up to better health in the future.”
A comprehensive health screening isn’t a place to find frightening diseases; it’s a starting point for understanding your current health. I was deeply struck by the importance of not stopping at the screening itself, but carefully reading the comments on the results and tracking changes from year to year as part of managing your health.
On a personal note, a comprehensive health screening I took on a whim two years ago found a problem, and I was able to receive treatment early and make a full recovery.
Having experienced this firsthand, I understand how important these screenings are. But when you have no symptoms, you may not think to get a thorough examination. Still, I realized that getting to know your current health when nothing seems wrong is precisely what can bring you closer to good health.
I think many diseases progress without being noticed.
Use the increasingly advanced tests available today to learn about your health, and consider adding one optional test that interests you. That test could affect your healthy life expectancy 10 or 20 years from now.
Articles about Kurashiki Central Hospital
Citizen Health Lecture, Kurashiki Central Hospital Medical Gathering: “Preventive Medicine That Builds the Future” Information
| Name | Citizen Health Lecture, Kurashiki Central Hospital Medical Gathering: “Preventive Medicine That Builds the Future” |
|---|---|
| Date | May 21, 2026 1:00–2:00 p.m. |
| Location | 1-11-11 Tsurugata, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Admission (tax included) | Free |
| Website | Kurashiki Central Hospital Preventive Medicine Plaza |
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