Comparing Different Types of Health Checkups: Which is Right for You?

There are several whole body checkup packages to choose from, and this can sometimes be overwhelming and confusing. To make the best choice, you should know about all health checkup packages and compare them. For women, it is best to opt for an annual screening package that includes tests for cervical screening, breast cancer screening, sexually transmitted diseases, diabetes, thyroid, and cardiac arrest. Men should consider getting a personalized health screening that includes tests for prostate cancer, among several others. There are also some age-related considerations when choosing a health checkup package. If you are in your 50s or have a family history of colorectal cancer, you should include colorectal cancer screening in your evaluation. Older women should start annual mammography screening for breast cancer. Women between the ages of 45 and 54 should have mammograms annually, and women over the age of 55 should have annual or biennial mammograms.

Personalized health screenings or health checkups for adults can help detect early signs of a range of diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. Based on your medical history, family medical history, lifestyle, diet, weight, exercise, smoking habits, alcohol and drug use, the doctor can advise which health checkups you need and how frequently. If you have high-risk factors or have a family history of certain diseases, you may be more likely to develop certain diseases. Through regular full body health checkups doctors can spot early warning signs. Your doctor may recommend more frequent checkups at a younger age if you’re at higher risk for certain health conditions. Some of the common health checkups and personalized health screening for adults include:

1. Heart Related Health Checkups

People over the age of 45 should ideally undergo heart related checkups. A heart check-up is a 20-minute exam performed by the GP to assess the risk of heart attack or stroke. Health checkups for heart disease also include:

• Blood Pressure – If you have normal blood pressure, are under the age of 40, and have no family history of high blood pressure, you should have your blood pressure checked every two years. If you are over 40, have high blood pressure, or have a past or family history of high blood pressure, stroke, or heart attack, you should get tested annually.
• Blood tests – Some specific blood tests show the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. If your blood test results indicate high levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, this could be an indication of various health problems, including heart disease. If you are over the age of 45, you should have these blood tests every 5 years. If you are at high risk for heart disease and have a family history, you should be screened annually after age 40.
• Electrocardiogram (ECG) – This is a noninvasive, painless medical test that detects heart abnormalities by measuring the electrical activity that occurs when the heart contracts.
• Obesity Test – Obesity is a significant risk factor for many health conditions, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes. As a part of this test, the doctor will check your body mass index (BMI) and waist measurements every two years. If you’re at high risk, your weight should be checked more often.

2. Health Checkups For Diabetes

Diabetes is a serious condition in which the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood is higher than normal. This can affect many parts of the body and can lead to serious complications if left untreated. Diabetes testing includes a doctor-ordered laboratory test. The most common test is a fasting blood glucose test (no food or liquids other than water for 8 hours). Other tests include a no-prep, anytime-of-day test, a glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) test, and an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). You can talk to your doctor about assessing your diabetes risk and how often you should be tested. A doctor may recommend getting tested for type 2 diabetes if they assess any of the following risk factors for type 2 diabetes:

• If you are pre-diabetic
• If any of your parents or someone in the family has diabetes
• If you are more than 55 years old. Risk of diabetes increases with age
• If you are overweight, obese, or hypertensive
• If you’ve had gestational diabetes during pregnancy
• If you have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• If you’ve had heart attack, angina pectoris, stroke or constricted blood vessels in the past
• If you are taking certain antipsychotics or corticosteroids

Some other lifestyle risk factors include:

• If you are obese
• If you have a sedentary lifestyle – little physical activity, such as watching TV for more than 2 hours a day
• If you consume an unhealthy diet – if you are regularly eating high-fat, high-sugar, high-salt or low-fiber foods
• If you smoke

It is important for women to have regular full body health checkups to stay healthy and detect health problems early. There are some specific tests that should be part of your regular whole body checkup routine. These include:

a) Breast Cancer Examinations

Breast cancer affects millions of women each year. It can occur at any age, but is most common in women over the age of 60. Breast cancer screening (also called mammography) is one of the best ways to detect breast cancer early. When breast cancer is detected early, it is more likely to be treated successfully, increasing the chances of survival. At any age, it’s important to see a doctor right away if you notice breast symptoms or changes in the way your breasts look or feel.

B) Cervical Screening Test

Regular cervical cancer screening can prevent cervical cancer through early detection and early treatment. Cervical cancer screening is recommended for women who are sexually active or for women who are between the age of 25 and 74 years. A cervical screening test (an alternative to the Pap test) checks for the presence of the human papillomavirus (the virus that causes cervical cancer). Regular cervical screening is important even if you have been vaccinated against HPV.

Men are also encouraged to make regular health checkups and personalized health screenings a part of their routine. This can help you stay healthy and can help catch potential problems early. One of the tests that men should undertake regularly is the prostate cancer health check. You should talk to your doctor about this test. Whether or not you need the test and how frequently depends on certain health factors and the risk of developing the cancer.

First Response Healthcare (FRH) is a JCI accredited home healthcare company offering home health checkups and wellness plans in Dubai. Our full body home health checkup package for adults includes advanced profiling combined with health risk screening for lifestyle diseases such as heart disease, hypertension and diabetes, and health assessment of all major body organ systems. Along with this, we also offer customized home health checkups for men and women separately at affordable prices. Once you book a home health checkup with us, we can come to your home, hotel or office location anywhere in Dubai. Our service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and we can come for a sample collection at any time for a home health checkup. Our service is prompt and professional and we can offer an annual wellness plan that allows you to manage and assess your health throughout the year by a dedicated doctor. Our at home doctor service can also create a personalized lifestyle plan to ensure better health.