Staying healthy is essential to enjoying university life. The SNU Health Service Center has protected the wellbeing of faculty and students since its establishment in 1957. The Center expanded its health checkup program in 2013, opening its services to all university students, including those taking a leave of absence. Since then, the Center has provided students with a free medical examination on a yearly basis.
A Poster Detailing Information on the Health Service Center’s 2021 Health Checkups
Taking a Closer Look at My Health, from Body Composition analysis to Blood Test
To receive a health checkup, students must register and complete an online survey. Having selected a time slot for their appointment, the student will be redirected from the Health Service Center’s homepage to a survey that asks questions pertaining to the student’s health, including an assessment of their dietary habits, lifestyle, as well as mental health.
The checkup itself begins with a blood pressure test and eye examination. Students are given ten minutes to rest before the blood pressure test, as the results may be affected by physical activity. After this comes the chest x-ray, for which students must remove any metal or plastic from their clothes. Following this is the body composition analysis, conducted using the Inbody 770, which provides a detailed overview of body mass, body water, and other figures. Thereafter, students are instructed by staff on steps to complete the urine sample, which provides vital information regarding kidney health. Finally, a blood test is carried out to assess cholesterol levels.
As a whole, the health checkup takes an hour and a half to complete. Final results can be checked through the Health Service Center’s website, where students can find a detailed report that includes helpful explanations of the indicated results.
The Importance of Receiving Regular Checkups
Despite access to free health checkups, many still regard the Health Service Center as a facility for emergencies. Common reasons for visiting the center include accidents, which range from bee stings to exposure to dangerous chemicals. Many undergraduates do not see the need to receive regular health checkups. Professor Hyung Jun Park (Health Service Center, Family Medicine) advised against complacency, directing attention towards studies that revealed the prevalence of health issues among young adults. Park pointed to the pandemic as the cause for unhealthy lifestyle habits, including eating late at night and a decrease in regular exercise. Moreover, Park stressed the existence of conditions such as hypertension and hyperlipidemia, which do not exhibit obvious symptoms. Lastly, Park reminds us that it is much better and far easier to prevent disease than it is to treat it.
The Health Service Center has nine departments. In addition to health checkups, the Center also provides various other affordable services, including vaccinations and smoking cessation treatments. Given its proximity, SNU faculty and students have easy access to the Center and all that it offers.
Source: https://www.snu.ac.kr/snunow/snu_story?md=v&bbsidx=133039&fbclid=IwAR3BhbEnuIa-1D7bGnC1ylsNwZZwloYQDVv805cRFK3dnWK1lpr4A9Gp_GI
Written by Min Seo Ki, SNU English Editor, mskey717@gmail.com
Reviewed by Professor Travis Smith, Department of Asian Languages and Civilizations, tlsmith@snu.ac.kr