What is a medical screening?
A public health screening (PHS) is a free review of a patient’s general health. It is recommended to have one every five years if a person is between the ages of 40 and 74 and does not have a pre-existing condition. A health screening is a preventive measure to help find health problems before they start. They can also predict if a person is at risk for developing certain health problems such as:
- Hypertension
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Kidney disease
- Stroke
- Tumor pathology
The different types of exams and screenings depend on a patient’s age, health, family history, and lifestyle choices, such as diet, activity levels, and whether or not they smoke.
A public health assessment is a free review of a patient’s general health.
What is the right health assessment for me?
When you have a medical checkup with a private physician, the following will be considered:
- Age: either in the following groups 18-39, 40-64 or 65+ years old
- Gender
- If there are any issues the patient wants to address
- Family history: cancer, bowel disease, strokes, heart attacks, diabetes
- Fitness levels
What are the benefits of a medical checkup?
The benefits of a regular checkup include:
- Reducing the risk of getting sick
- Early detection of life-threatening diseases
- Increasing the chances of treating and curing health conditions
- Decreasing the risk of complications by monitoring for those that do exist
- Increase lifespan
- Reducing overall health care costs over time
What happens during a medical checkup?
A medical checkup lasts 20 to 30 minutes. A health professional will ask simple questions about the patient’s lifestyle and family history. They will measure the patient’s height and weight, take blood pressure and do a blood test. From this assessment, they will be able to give you an idea of the chances of developing heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and diabetes. The nurse will then advise the patient on how to reduce their risk by prescribing diet, exercise, medications and smoking cessation.