Get your health check-up

Too many people, especially men, don't go to the doctor soon enough or early enough. Whether it is because of embarrassment, denial or not wishing to make a fuss, people with serious symptoms sometimes delay their first visit to the doctor until it is too late.

The benefits of both prevention and early intervention are increasingly understood by health practitioners and the government - which is why there are a number of nationwide screening services now provided by the NHS.

But too many of us are unaware of these programmes or fail to take them up.

There are also some basic, routine health checks that we can all take and which can give us a good indication of the overall health of our body, and act as early warning signs for many serious conditions.

If you have any symptoms or feelings of being unwell, then you should visit your GP immediately to take advantage of these tests.

Health checks

When you register with a new GP you will be given a number of tests, which include:

• Blood pressure
• Urine test (to test kidney function and also for diabetes)
• Height and weight measurement

You can also be tested for your cholesterol level, anaemia, lung flow test, and be given an ECG to check your heart condition, depending on your history and any symptoms you may have.

Some of these tests can also be obtained privately or from high streets pharmacists and other outlets.

UK NHS screening services

Cervical Cancer

Available to women in the UK from age 25, and then every three years until the age of 49, then every 5 years until the age of 64.

Chlamydia

Sexually active men and women aged 25 or under may be offered a screening for this STI by their GP or other health practitioner.

Breast cancer

All women aged between 50 and 53 will be called for a mammogram to screen for breast cancer.

Bowel cancer

Now being rolled out across England for men and women over 60.

This article was published on Tue 29 December 2009