Going for regular preventive screening for common diseases is one of the greatest investments you can make in your health.
By keeping up with your annual Health Checks, you can ensure that the life you lead is the life you love.
Here are some of the vital physical health screening tests that you should be going for on a regular basis:
Blood pressure checks
"High blood pressure is known to be a major risk factor for heart disease and strokes and often shows no symptoms," says clinical cardiologist, Dr David Jankelow.
"A simple blood pressure test helps determine if you have high or even low blood pressure and allows you to act to better manage your blood pressure levels. By following clinical recommendations and living a healthier lifestyle, it is entirely possible to reduce risk and even prevent serious health problems further down the line," he adds.
Cholesterol tests
"Your cholesterol level is a good indication of your overall heart health," says Dr Jankelow "High levels of bad cholesterol (or LDL cholesterol) can increase your risk of heart disease. This measurement level should always be below 100," he adds.
A simple blood test known as a lipid panel or lipid profile, measures your cholesterol levels and helps determine if you need to make some necessary lifestyle changes to better protect or improve your heart health.
Diabetes screening
In a world where fast food is cheap, easily accessible and sometimes a convenient option for a busy schedule, diabetes is a fast-growing health concern. Early detection is key to managing such a disease and reduces your risk of serious health complications.
A quick blood test can determine if you are at risk and regular check-ups with your healthcare practitioner can help you manage the disease to prevent further complications.
Weight or body mass index (BMI) assessments
This is a screening tool that measures the ratio of your height to your weight to estimate the amount of body fat you may have. The higher your BMI, the higher your risk for certain diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, gallstones, breathing problems, as well as certain cancers.
Cancer screening
Regular cancer screening tests, like mammograms, pap smears and colonoscopies help detect cancer early on, when treatment for such diseases is known to be much more effective and a lot less costly. Going for these checks can be life-saving and are vital in maintaining your overall health.
Members of Remedi enjoy access to essential screening and prevention benefits, which include:
- Mammograms (screening for breast cancer)
- Pap smears (screening for cervical cancer)
- PSA testing (prostate screening)
- Bowel cancer screening - including one faecal occult blood test or immunochemical test every two years for members between the ages of 45 and 75 years.
- Oral and dental examination (prophylaxis polishing and fluoride treatment)
Go for a yearly health check
Your annual health check will include the following tests, which take around 30 minutes to complete:
- HIV testing
- Body mass index (BMI - the ratio of your weight to height) to check if your weight is higher than what it should be
- Blood glucose testing (for diabetes)
- Blood pressure testing (for hypertension)
- Cholesterol testing (for hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol))
Access your screening and prevention benefit by completing your health check by visiting your nearest Clicks or Dis-Chem today where you will learn more about your blood pressure, blood glucose levels, cholesterol and BMI by when having your screening tests done.
These screening tests are covered from your Remedi Screening and Prevention Benefit. This means it won't affect your day-to-day benefits.
Read page 19 of the Remedi brochure at www.yourremedi.co.za to find out more about your screening and prevention benefits, Once logged in on the Remedi website, navigate to: Find a document > Benefit Brochures.