January is a good time to give yourself a health MOT - a series of tests that determine how well your body is functioning and whether any changes need to be made. After Christmas most of us start thinking about detoxing and how to get the new year off to a healthy start. There are two options with health testing. You can visit your GP and request specific tests or you can opt for private testing with one of the larger medical companies such as Bupa or Nuffield Health. This type of service is also offered by individual practitioners (registered nurses) at natural health centres.
If you go to your GP you face a lengthy waiting time for an appointment and test results. There is also a general attitude of 'if it isn't broke don't fix it,' so it can feel like you are inconveniencing your GP by asking for certain tests. The allopathic focus is treating problems with medication rather than preventative health and wellbeing, and this is because the NHS is stretched financially.
Typical appointment times are 10 minutes per patient, which isn't long enough for a proper chat about any concerns. You can request specific tests if you are worried or if there is a family history of a medical condition but it's not possible to have 12 tests done in one sitting. You may need to book for different tests, which can be time-consuming and inconvenient.
Private Health Assessment
Another option is to book a private health MOT with a qualified nurse. At Vital Signs Health Checks, based at The Wellington Centre in Hastings, UK, RGN Shirley Learthart offers 12 key tests to optimise your health. The tests are done in the morning as fasting for 12 hours is required for certain tests, and a full MOT (12 tests) takes two hours. Shirley's motto is 'prevention is better than cure' and she points out that research shows that having an annual health check can significantly reduce the risks of heart attacks and strokes*.
A full health MOT costs £85 and consists of 12 tests for irregularities in the following areas:
- Cholesterol levels
- Haemoglobin (iron levels for anaemia)
- Lung function
- Electrocardiogram (ECG) to assess heart function
- Helicobacter pylori (an infection that is linked to stomach ulcers)
- Height
- Weight
- Body Mass Index
- Blood pressure and group
- Oxygen level
- Blood glucose levels (for diabetes)
- Faecal occult blood test
It is also possible to have single tests done, priced from £10 - £20 if you don't need to have the full spectrum.
Private Health Checks - Immediate Results
The advantage of private medical testing is that it is discreet and the results are available immediately. The practitioner will advise on lifestyle changes if there are any areas of concern, to help you get back on track. "This needn't be complicated," says Shirley. "It can be something as simple as eating a banana a day, which will lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of stroke." In most cases, lifestyle changes are all that are needed to rectify any problems so that you are back within a 'normal' health range as soon as possible.
Certain health tests are available for free on the NHS (UK only), which may be suitable if there is one specific area you want to be tested for but the disadvantages of this are long waiting times and more than one trip to the GP. You may also have to wait a while for the results. Private healthcare testing is more expensive but faster and a more bespoke service. You can get it done at the start of the year to make sure you have a clean bill of health, which gives you peace of mind. I think this is a small price to pay as it puts you in charge of your health and wellness, and it's empowering. It will help you to live a healthy life and avoid the need for medication in the future.
Sources
British Medical Journal *"The relation between the use of health check ups starting in middle age and demand for inpatient care by the elderly in Japan." Mar 16th 1991;302 (6777): 615-8 (accessed 28th January 2011)
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Nicci Talbot - Nicci Talbot is a journalist and author specialising in sex, health & wellbeing. She edits Rude Magazine, an online resource for better ...
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