What Are Common Screenings Done During a Health Check-Up?
Health check-ups are important throughout every stage of life to prevent disease and ensure your overall wellness. During a check-up, your doctor may perform screenings for various diseases and conditions. These screenings are intended to identify health conditions in their early stages before you experience symptoms so that they can be treated as effectively as possible.
Common screens that are done during health check-ups include:
Diabetes
Diabetes is a condition that occurs when blood sugar levels are too high. The hormone, insulin, facilitates the delivery of sugar into the cells for use as energy. With diabetes, the body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or doesn’t use insulin adequately.
Screenings for diabetes are generally performed for all adults aged 45 and up. Diabetes screenings may include a random blood glucose test, urine glucose test, and other related assessments.
High Blood Pressure
The heart pumps blood to the arteries with every beat. High blood pressure occurs when the force of the blood pressing into the walls of the arteries is higher than the normal range.
High blood pressure screenings are typically performed at health check-ups for all adults ages 40 and over, as well as individuals who have a heightened risk of high blood pressure.
High Cholesterol
High cholesterol occurs when there’s an excess of the substance in the patient’s blood; it is found in every cell of the body and produced by the liver. High cholesterol is a risk factor for coronary artery disease.
Screenings for high cholesterol are performed starting in childhood. For adults 20 and over, cholesterol levels should be checked every five years, or more frequently for those with a heightened risk of cardiovascular disease. A lipoprotein panel, also known as a blood test, can be used to check cholesterol levels during a health check-up.
To schedule a health check-up and stay up-to-date on medical screenings, contact Florida Wellness Medical Group today.