As we get older, the risk of certain diseases and conditions increases. This is why it is recommended that everyone over 35 goes for an annual health screening. Even though it is optional at this age, everyone over the age of 40 should not skip their annual health checks because this is the age where many illnesses and conditions can be detected and treatment started. If you have never gone for a full private health check, you might be wondering what is looked at and what types of tests are done. This article will discuss the most common checks and tests that you can expect during a health check.
Blood Tests
After an initial assessment, one of the first tests you can expect is a blood test. The doctor will take a blood sample, which will be analysed in a laboratory. Depending on the scope of the assessment, the blood test might include checks for up to 40 parameters, which will be an indicator of your overall health. At the very least, you can expect cholesterol and glucose tests. The cholesterol check will give an indication of your overall cardiovascular health and the glucose test will indicate whether you are at risk of diabetes.
Your Cardiovascular System
Very few health checks are complete without a full cardiovascular check. A common test here is an Electrocardiogram (or ECG) which checks your heart’s health. A CT angiogram will often accompany the ECG as it gives the doctor a better view of the heart and is a very important tool in the detection of heart issues that may not have fully developed and are asymptomatic. You can also expect CTs of the aorta, heart, chest and abdomen.
The Chest
There are various tests done in the chest area including a chest CT which is used to find evidence of nodules. These nodules can be indicators of lung cancer. A digital mammogram is a must-have test for women as it is the most accurate way of detecting breast lumps and early signs of breast cancer.
The Abdominal and Pelvic Body Cavities
Most of your organs reside in the abdominal and pelvic cavities and so you can expect lots of tests that focus on these areas. Some of these include general CT scans of the abdomen to detect issues such as pancreas and liver cancers, a pelvic CT to check the bladder and kidneys, a virtual colonoscopy to check the digestive system and prostate MRIs to check for prostate cancer.
Going in for a Check-up
All of these checks are very involved and should be done thoroughly to catch any issues, illnesses or conditions. This is why it is so important to put a lot of thought into choosing the best private health check provider. Echelon Health has put together a detailed guide on how to choose the best private health check that includes everything you might want to know. Echelon Health provides preventive health services to help you detect health issues that are unseen so you can get treatment and care early on.
Going in for a private health assessment is crucial, especially if you are over 40. It is also a good idea to know what to expect when you go in for one.
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