Health screening is a series of medical tests conducted on a person to examine their health condition. Generally, there are a wide range of medical tests ranging from simple tests like urine and blood, to more advanced ones, such as ultrasound and X-rays.
The list of medical tests are endless but fret not as there are various health screening packages provided by different clinics. Additionally, individuals who prefer to have a fast and easy health screening process, can opt for the executive health screening packages.
In general, health screening is an activity that is usually carried out periodically ranging from as frequent as annually, or once every 2 to 3 years. Frequency of health checks can be dependent on the age of individuals where people of a certain age group are generally recommended to undergo frequent heath checks.
As there are instances where a disease goes unnoticed in the absence of signs, health screening Singapore brings about benefits which include early detection of diseases as well as identification of risk factors of a particular disease. This can lower the severity of the illness an individual is diagnosed with as they can get prompt treatment for their disease. Though health screening is an activity that is encouraged to be done, it is also encouraged for individuals to discuss with their doctors since some tests may not be the most ideal test for them to undergo.
In this article, we’ll be sharing the top 5 most common screening provided:
- Screening for Obesity
- Screening for Diabetes
- Screening for High Blood Pressure
- Screening for High Blood Cholesterol
- Screening for Osteoporosis
1) Screening for Obesity
Obesity refers to when an individual’s calculated body mass index does not fall within the ideal range. It is categorised when an individual’s weight does not belong to the ideal category, but instead, exceeds the calculated Body Mass Index (BMI) for the individual. Height and weight are the indicators used to derive BMI reading. It is always encouraged to keep yourself in constant check!
2) Screening for Diabetes
Diabetes is a health condition where an individual’s pancreas is identified to not function in a normal way such that it is unable to make adequate insulin. This results in uncommon glucose levels which can potentially lead to an eventual loss of organs functions like kidney failure and vision loss. Fasting blood test can be done to test for glucose levels.
3) Screening for High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure occurs due to high levels of diastolic pressure of 90 millimetres of mercury (mmHg) and above or high systolic pressure of 140 mmHg and above. As one of the “3 highs”, screening for high blood pressure can help to mitigate the severity of the illness. As this illness can occur regardless of symptoms, early detection can enable individuals to take the necessary action to curb this illness. This can result in a lowered likelihood of individuals to suffer from further complications such as kidney failure, stroke, heart attack etc. It is always good to have your blood pressure taken and tracked regularly!
4) Screening for High Blood Cholesterol
High blood cholesterol is defined such that the chances of getting heart-related disease multiplies as the blood cholesterol level rises. During this screening, individuals would be tested on the presence of the different kinds of fats contained in them. The general screening basis for this disease are as follows:
- Had history of stroke or heart attack
- Condition of diabetes
- Common occurrence of high blood cholesterol in the family
- Age 40 years and above
Do remember to keep your food diet in check and exercise regularly to minimise the risk of getting high cholesterol. Fasting blood test can be done once every 3-6 months to determine your health.
5) Screening for Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a condition where an individual’s bones are prone to becoming fragile such that it can result in a fracture even by the slightest injury. Here are some of the risk factors identified:
- Large volume of alcohol consumption
- Deficient calcium intake
- Inadequate physical activity
Where is the best place to go for health screening?
At AsiaMedic, we are a One-Stop Singapore health screening service provider that can cater to your needs from blood tests to x-rays to ultrasound scanning and MRI.
