What is a Health Screening? You Should Get a Health Check

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1 What Is A Health Screening?

1.1 Checking On Your Heart Health

1.2 Diabetes Tests

1.3 Bone Density Tests

2 What’s In A Health Check For Men?

3 What’s In A Health Check For Women?

3.1 Breast Cancer Screening

3.2 Cervical Cancer Screening

4 What Is A Health Screening: Mental Health

4.1 References

Getting a health screening at different stages of your life can help with the early detection and treatment of disease. Men and women should have a health check from a general practitioner to test their heart health, blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol levels and, if they are at risk, for different types of cancer. Let’s look at the question of what is a health screening and the type of tests you can expect to take.

What Is A Health Screening?

If you visit your general practitioner for a health screening you can expect to be asked questions about your medical history, your lifestyle, and your family history of disease. You will also be asked questions about your lifestyle: your diet, whether you smoke and how much alcohol you drink. Your doctor will likely take your blood pressure, weigh you, and may test your blood glucose and cholesterol.

If you have risk factors for a specific disease, you may undergo further tests. By having a health check on a regular basis, your doctor can pick up early warning signs of disease and start you on a treatment plan. Early treatment for most diseases can give you better health management.

Eye tests and hearing tests are also commonly included in a health screening, especially as you get older. Your eyesight deteriorates naturally as you age. If you are a woman over the age of 40, it is recommended that you undergo routine testing for glaucoma. You are at higher risk of developing glaucoma if you have high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes or a family history of glaucoma. If you already wear glasses or contact lenses, you should have your eyes tested every year.

Checking On Your Heart Health

Testing your heart health is usually done by testing for high blood pressure. Blood tests to check your cholesterol levels will also be done as you get older. A weight check and BMI calculation will also give your GP an indication if you are at risk of heart disease, stroke, or heart attack.

Diabetes Tests

If your doctor would like you to have a fasting blood sugar test, you will be asked to fast for eight hours before your appointment. This test is usually performed every one to three years and is a screening test for type 2 diabetes. You are at greater risk of type 2 diabetes if

You were pregnant and had gestational diabetes
You are over the age of 45 and have a BMI over 30
You are a man over the age of 55
You have a family history of diabetes
You are a woman with PCOS
You have an unhealthy lifestyle and do not follow a healthy diet

Bone Density Tests

Osteoporosis is a disease that weakens your bones and causes them to become brittle. Bone density tests can determine how strong your bones are. While osteoporosis tends to affect women more often than men, both genders can develop it.

Men and women will also have slightly different screening tests, to test for gender-specific conditions and illnesses.

What’s In A Health Check For Men?

Prostate cancer screening is not part of a general screening test and is usually done for men between the ages of 50 and 70 if they have any high-risk factors, such as

A family history of prostate cancer
Unusual symptoms
Patient concerns

If this is the case you may have a PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test performed.

What’s In A Health Check For Women?

Breast Cancer Screening

Women between the ages of 50 and 74 who do not have a family history of breast cancer are recommended to have a mammogram every two years. If you do have a family history of breast cancer, your GP may recommend more frequent testing.

Cervical Cancer Screening

The National Cervical Screening Program is open to women between the ages of 25 and 70. It replaces the previously perform PAP smear test because it detects human papillomavirus (HPV), which can lead to cancer.

What Is A Health Screening: Mental Health

health screening health check up chatswood Mental health disorders can be as debilitating as physical health disorders but they may not show such obvious symptoms. It’s always a good idea to discuss your mental health with your GP whenever you are booked for a health screening. While there is a strong genetic component for mental health disorders, they can occur in anyone at any time, and getting treatment sooner rather than later may prevent them from worsening.

To screen your mental health, your general practitioner will ask you about

Your general mood state and any mood swings
What your sleep patterns and quality of sleep are like
Your social habits and relationships
Whether your eating habits or weight has changed drastically
Your sexual health

Major life events and changes can affect the state of your mental health. Your doctor may ask more specific questions based on your feedback on the general questions. It’s important that you answer them accurately and honestly.

If you have any questions about what is a health screening or would like assistance in improving your physical, mental or sexual health, please contact us for a convenient appointment: (02) 9884 9300 .