It is easy to think of a health check as something you only need when you feel unwell. In reality, many important health conditions can develop quietly, without obvious symptoms.
High blood pressure and high cholesterol, for example, often cause no symptoms. Regular health checks can help identify potential problems earlier, giving you an opportunity to make changes and seek appropriate treatment where needed.
At Glasgow Medical Rooms, we believe preventative healthcare is about more than simply checking whether something is wrong. It is about understanding your current health, identifying potential risks and helping you make informed decisions about your wellbeing.
Here are 9 health checks every adult should know about.
- Blood pressure
Blood pressure is one of the simplest — and most important — health measurements.
High blood pressure can increase your risk of serious conditions including heart disease and stroke, but you may have no symptoms at all. The only reliable way to know your blood pressure is to have it checked.
Your blood pressure can be influenced by factors including age, weight, physical activity, diet, alcohol, smoking, stress and family history.
How often should you check it?
Adults should have their blood pressure checked regularly, particularly as they get older or if they have other cardiovascular risk factors.
- Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a type of fat found in your blood. Your body needs cholesterol, but having too much of certain types can contribute to cardiovascular disease.
High cholesterol usually has no symptoms, so a blood test is needed to identify it.
A cholesterol test can look at total cholesterol as well as HDL and non-HDL cholesterol. Your doctor will consider your results alongside factors such as your age, blood pressure, health conditions and other risk factors when assessing your cardiovascular risk.
- Blood glucose and diabetes risk
Type 2 diabetes can develop gradually, and some people may not realise they have it.
A blood glucose or HbA1c test can help identify raised blood glucose and may be recommended depending on your age, weight, family history and other risk factors.
Diabetes is particularly important to identify because it can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and other health complications.
- Weight, BMI and waist circumference
Weight is only one part of the picture.
BMI can provide a useful indication of whether your weight may be associated with increased health risk, while waist circumference can provide additional information about abdominal fat.
Carrying excess weight around the middle is associated with increased risk of conditions including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
For this reason, a comprehensive health assessment may consider your height, weight, BMI and waist circumference together, rather than focusing on the number on the scales alone.
- Heart health and cardiovascular risk
Your heart health is influenced by a combination of factors rather than one individual test.
Your doctor may consider:
- Blood pressure
- Cholesterol
- Blood glucose
- Weight and waist circumference
- Smoking
- Physical activity
- Diet
- Family history
- Age
- Existing medical conditions
The NHS Health Check, for example, is designed to assess cardiovascular risk and identify people who may be at increased risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes or kidney disease. In the UK, eligible adults aged 40–74 without certain existing conditions are generally offered an NHS Health Check every five years.
A private health assessment can provide a broader opportunity to discuss your individual health and risk factors at any age.
- Mental health and stress
Your health isn’t just physical.
Work pressures, relationships, financial concerns, caring responsibilities and major life changes can all affect your mental wellbeing.
During a health assessment, it can be helpful to consider:
- Current stress levels
- Mood and emotional wellbeing
- Anxiety and excessive worry
- Sleep
- Energy levels
- Ability to cope with everyday demands
- Work-related stress
- Sources of support
You don’t need to wait until you are struggling significantly before discussing your mental wellbeing with a healthcare professional.
Sometimes the most valuable part of a health assessment is simply having the opportunity to talk openly about how you are feeling.
- Sleep and fatigue
Sleep is often overlooked when we think about our health.
Poor sleep can affect energy, concentration, mood and day-to-day functioning. Persistent tiredness can also sometimes be a sign that something else needs investigating.
A health assessment is an opportunity to discuss:
- How many hours you sleep
- Sleep quality
- Difficulty getting to sleep
- Frequent waking
- Snoring
- Daytime sleepiness
- Persistent fatigue
- Shift work or irregular working patterns
If you’re regularly exhausted despite getting what should be enough sleep, it’s worth discussing with your doctor.
- Cancer screening
Screening aims to identify people who have a higher chance of developing certain conditions, allowing further investigation or treatment where appropriate.
The screening you’re offered depends on factors such as your age and sex, and different programmes have different eligibility criteria.
Depending on your circumstances, this may include:
- Bowel cancer screening
- Breast screening
- Cervical screening
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening
- Other appropriate screening or investigations
A health assessment is a useful opportunity to check whether you’re aware of the screening programmes relevant to you and whether you are up to date.
It’s important to remember that screening is different from investigating symptoms. If you have symptoms or a specific concern, you should speak to a healthcare professional rather than waiting for a screening invitation.
- Lifestyle and preventative health
Perhaps the most valuable health check is an honest conversation about the factors that influence your health every day.
This can include:
Nutrition — Is your diet supporting your health?
Physical activity — Are you moving enough and maintaining strength and fitness?
Smoking and vaping — Are you using nicotine products?
Alcohol — Is your alcohol intake affecting your health or wellbeing?
Sleep — Are you getting enough good-quality sleep?
Stress — Are you coping with the demands of work and everyday life?
Family history — Are there health conditions that may increase your personal risk?
These factors can influence your cardiovascular, metabolic and mental health, so understanding them can be just as important as taking a blood test.
A health check isn’t just about finding something wrong
One of the biggest misconceptions about health assessments is that they are simply about looking for disease.
A good preventative health assessment should also help you understand what you’re doing well and where relatively small changes could make a meaningful difference to your long-term health.
At Glasgow Medical Rooms, our comprehensive health assessments bring together your medical history, lifestyle, family history, physical examination and appropriate investigations to provide a broader picture of your health.
Depending on your individual assessment, this may include measurements such as blood pressure, BMI and body composition, blood tests, cardiovascular assessment, ECG and other appropriate investigations.
Your doctor can then discuss the findings with you and, where appropriate, help you create a practical plan for improving or maintaining your health.
Don’t wait until you feel unwell
Many important health risks can develop without obvious symptoms. High blood pressure and high cholesterol are two good examples.
A health assessment gives you the opportunity to take a proactive approach — to understand your current health, identify potential risks and make informed decisions about what happens next.
If you would like to find out more about a comprehensive health assessment at Glasgow Medical Rooms, get in touch with our team.
This article is intended for general information and does not replace individual medical advice. The appropriate health checks and investigations vary from person to person. If you have symptoms or concerns about your health, please speak to a qualified healthcare professional.
