Health Checkups, Tests, Examinations, and Scans
This is a detailed list of health checkups, tests, and examinations that can be taken proactively, even when you’re not experiencing symptoms. However, it is recommended to consult with a healthcare professional before taking any of these tests.
Annual General Checkup
- Purpose: General assessment of overall health.
- Accessibility: Requires a doctor’s recommendation; sometimes offered as part of employer wellness programs.
- Conditions Uncovered: Hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol issues.
- Specialists: Primary care physicians.
- Payment: Often covered by insurance or national health services; private options available.
- Ideal Age & Gender: Adults 18+; all genders.
- Frequency: Once a year.
Physical Fitness Test
- Purpose: Assess physical fitness levels (heart rate, muscle strength, flexibility).
- Accessibility: No doctor needed; available at gyms or wellness centers.
- Conditions Uncovered: Musculoskeletal imbalances, obesity, cardiovascular issues.
- Specialists: Fitness trainers, physiotherapists, sports physicians.
- Payment: Out of pocket; rarely covered by insurance.
- Ideal Age & Gender: All ages; athletes and sedentary individuals.
- Frequency: Annually or as needed.
Vision Test
- Purpose: Check eyesight and detect eye-related issues.
- Accessibility: Direct purchase through optometrists or eye care centers.
- Conditions Uncovered: Myopia, glaucoma, cataracts.
- Specialists: Optometrists, ophthalmologists.
- Payment: May be covered by insurance; often out of pocket.
- Ideal Age & Gender: All ages, especially 40+ for glaucoma screening.
- Frequency: Every 1-2 years.
Dental Examination
- Purpose: Assess oral health, detect cavities, gum disease, and oral cancer.
- Accessibility: Directly available at dental clinics.
- Conditions Uncovered: Tooth decay, gingivitis, oral cancer.
- Specialists: Dentists, orthodontists, periodontists.
- Payment: Insurance or out of pocket; sometimes covered by national health services.
- Ideal Age & Gender: All ages; focus on children and adults over 50.
- Frequency: Every 6 months.
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
- Purpose: Evaluate overall health and detect blood disorders.
- Accessibility: Can be purchased directly at diagnostic labs or through a doctor.
- Conditions Uncovered: Anemia, infections, leukemia.
- Specialists: General physicians, hematologists.
- Payment: Covered by insurance or paid out of pocket.
- Ideal Age & Gender: Adults 18+; all genders.
- Frequency: Annually or as recommended.
Allergy Test (Skin Prick or Blood Test)
- Purpose: Identify allergens causing reactions.
- Accessibility: Requires allergist referral or direct lab purchase.
- Conditions Uncovered: Food allergies, seasonal allergies, asthma.
- Specialists: Allergists, immunologists.
- Payment: Insurance may partially cover; out of pocket common.
- Ideal Age & Gender: Children and adults with suspected allergies.
- Frequency: As needed.
Cancer Screening (General)
- Purpose: Early detection of common cancers (e.g., breast, prostate).
- Accessibility: Doctor referral required.
- Conditions Uncovered: Breast cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer.
- Specialists: Oncologists, radiologists.
- Payment: Covered by insurance for at-risk groups; out of pocket for others.
- Ideal Age & Gender: Depends on cancer type; e.g., women 40+ (mammograms), men 50+ (prostate).
- Frequency: Annually or as per guidelines.
Urine Test
- Purpose: Evaluate kidney function, infections, and metabolic health.
- Accessibility: Direct purchase or doctor referral.
- Conditions Uncovered: UTIs, kidney stones, diabetes.
- Specialists: Urologists, nephrologists.
- Payment: Often covered by insurance; out of pocket cost minimal.
- Ideal Age & Gender: All ages; higher priority for diabetics.
- Frequency: Annually or as symptoms dictate.
Stool Test
- Purpose: Detect gastrointestinal issues, infections, and cancers.
- Accessibility: Directly purchasable from labs or via doctor.
- Conditions Uncovered: Colon cancer, infections, digestive disorders.
- Specialists: Gastroenterologists, primary care physicians.
- Payment: Often covered by insurance for screening purposes.
- Ideal Age & Gender: 50+; all genders.
- Frequency: Annually for at-risk groups.
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
- Purpose: Diagnose soft tissue abnormalities.
- Accessibility: Requires doctor referral.
- Conditions Uncovered: Tumors, neurological issues, injuries.
- Specialists: Radiologists, neurologists, orthopedists.
- Payment: Covered by insurance if deemed necessary; out of pocket expensive.
- Ideal Age & Gender: Adults with specific complaints.
- Frequency: As needed.
X-Ray
- Purpose: Diagnose bone injuries, lung infections, and joint conditions.
- Accessibility: Requires doctor referral.
- Conditions Uncovered: Fractures, pneumonia, arthritis.
- Specialists: Radiologists, orthopedists.
- Payment: Covered by insurance for medical necessity.
- Ideal Age & Gender: All ages; after injury or persistent symptoms.
- Frequency: As needed.
Colonoscopy
- Purpose: Screen for colorectal cancer or polyps.
- Accessibility: Requires doctor referral.
- Conditions Uncovered: Colon cancer, Crohn’s disease, polyps.
- Specialists: Gastroenterologists.
- Payment: Often covered by insurance for at-risk groups.
- Ideal Age & Gender: Adults 50+; earlier with family history.
- Frequency: Every 10 years or more often if polyps are found.
Biopsy
- Purpose: Analyze suspicious tissue for cancer or abnormalities.
- Accessibility: Requires doctor recommendation.
- Conditions Uncovered: Cancer, autoimmune diseases.
- Specialists: Pathologists, oncologists.
- Payment: Covered by insurance if deemed necessary.
- Ideal Age & Gender: All ages if symptoms arise.
- Frequency: As needed.
Osteoporosis Screening (DEXA Scan)
- Purpose: Measure bone density.
- Accessibility: Doctor referral needed.
- Conditions Uncovered: Osteoporosis, fractures.
- Specialists: Endocrinologists, rheumatologists.
- Payment: Covered for postmenopausal women and at-risk men.
- Ideal Age & Gender: Women 50+; men 60+.
- Frequency: Every 2-5 years.
Prostate Exam (PSA Blood Test)
- Purpose: Screen for prostate cancer.
- Accessibility: Requires doctor referral.
- Conditions Uncovered: Prostate cancer, BPH.
- Specialists: Urologists.
- Payment: Covered by insurance for men 50+.
- Ideal Age & Gender: Men 50+ or earlier if family history.
- Frequency: Annually.
Mental Health Assessment
- Purpose: Evaluate mental well-being and detect disorders.
- Accessibility: Psychologists or self-assessment tools.
- Conditions Uncovered: Anxiety, depression, ADHD.
- Specialists: Psychiatrists, psychologists.
- Payment: May or may not be covered by insurance.
- Ideal Age & Gender: All ages; teens and adults.
- Frequency: Annually or as needed.
Nutrition Panel
- Purpose: Evaluate levels of essential nutrients (vitamins, minerals, etc.).
- Accessibility: Available via direct purchase at labs or with a doctor’s referral.
- Conditions Uncovered: Deficiencies (e.g., iron, vitamin D), malnutrition, and imbalances.
- Specialists: Dietitians, nutritionists, general physicians.
- Payment: Usually out of pocket unless covered as part of routine bloodwork.
- Ideal Age & Gender: All ages; highly recommended for pregnant women or people with chronic fatigue.
- Frequency: Every 1-2 years or as needed.
STD Screening (Sexually Transmitted Diseases)
- Purpose: Screen for common STDs like HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HPV.
- Accessibility: Directly purchasable at labs or clinics; doctor referral optional.
- Conditions Uncovered: STDs, infections, HPV-related cancers.
- Specialists: Gynecologists, urologists, infectious disease specialists.
- Payment: May be covered by insurance; free testing often available at public clinics.
- Ideal Age & Gender: Sexually active individuals of all ages.
- Frequency: Annually or as recommended for at-risk groups.
Thyroid Function Test (TFT)
- Purpose: Check thyroid gland performance (TSH, T3, T4 levels).
- Accessibility: Can be ordered directly or via a doctor.
- Conditions Uncovered: Hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
- Specialists: Endocrinologists.
- Payment: Usually covered by insurance or national health services.
- Ideal Age & Gender: Adults 35+ or anyone with symptoms like fatigue or weight changes.
- Frequency: Every 5 years or more often if symptomatic.
Lipid Panel (Cholesterol Test)
- Purpose: Evaluate levels of cholesterol and triglycerides.
- Accessibility: Direct purchase at labs or via doctor referral.
- Conditions Uncovered: High cholesterol, cardiovascular disease risk.
- Specialists: Cardiologists, general physicians.
- Payment: Covered by most insurance plans.
- Ideal Age & Gender: Adults 20+; earlier if family history of heart disease.
- Frequency: Every 5 years, more often for those at risk.
Diabetes Screening (Glucose & HbA1c)
- Purpose: Detect prediabetes and diabetes.
- Accessibility: Available directly or through a doctor’s referral.
- Conditions Uncovered: Diabetes (type 1 & 2), insulin resistance.
- Specialists: Endocrinologists, general physicians.
- Payment: Covered by insurance; affordable out of pocket.
- Ideal Age & Gender: Adults 35+ or earlier for those with risk factors.
- Frequency: Every 1-3 years.
Electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG)
- Purpose: Measure heart rhythm and detect abnormalities.
- Accessibility: Doctor referral required.
- Conditions Uncovered: Arrhythmias, heart attacks, and cardiovascular disease.
- Specialists: Cardiologists.
- Payment: Usually covered by insurance when necessary.
- Ideal Age & Gender: Adults 40+ or those with heart disease risk factors.
- Frequency: As recommended.
Cardiac Stress Test
- Purpose: Assess heart function under physical stress.
- Accessibility: Doctor referral required.
- Conditions Uncovered: Coronary artery disease, arrhythmias.
- Specialists: Cardiologists.
- Payment: Covered by insurance for those at risk.
- Ideal Age & Gender: Adults 40+ with a family history of heart disease.
- Frequency: As needed.
Pulmonary Function Test (PFT)
- Purpose: Measure lung capacity and airflow.
- Accessibility: Requires referral from a doctor.
- Conditions Uncovered: Asthma, COPD, lung fibrosis.
- Specialists: Pulmonologists, respiratory therapists.
- Payment: Covered by insurance when deemed necessary.
- Ideal Age & Gender: Smokers, people with respiratory symptoms.
- Frequency: Every 1-2 years for at-risk groups.
Bone Density Test (DEXA)
- Purpose: Assess bone strength and detect osteoporosis.
- Accessibility: Doctor referral required.
- Conditions Uncovered: Osteoporosis, osteopenia.
- Specialists: Endocrinologists, orthopedists.
- Payment: Covered for at-risk groups; out-of-pocket costs vary.
- Ideal Age & Gender: Women 50+, men 60+.
- Frequency: Every 2-5 years.
Pap Smear Test (Cervical Cancer Screening)
- Purpose: Detect precancerous or cancerous cervical changes.
- Accessibility: Available at gynecologist offices or clinics.
- Conditions Uncovered: Cervical cancer, HPV.
- Specialists: Gynecologists.
- Payment: Covered by insurance for eligible women.
- Ideal Age & Gender: Women aged 21-65.
- Frequency: Every 3-5 years.
Mammogram
- Purpose: Detect breast cancer early.
- Accessibility: Requires doctor referral in some cases; directly available at screening centers.
- Conditions Uncovered: Breast cancer, benign lumps.
- Specialists: Radiologists, oncologists.
- Payment: Covered by insurance for eligible women.
- Ideal Age & Gender: Women 40+ or earlier for those at risk.
- Frequency: Every 1-2 years.
Cognitive Function Test
- Purpose: Assess memory, attention, and problem-solving.
- Accessibility: Directly available or via neuropsychologists.
- Conditions Uncovered: Early dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, cognitive impairment.
- Specialists: Neuropsychologists, neurologists.
- Payment: Out of pocket unless part of a medical evaluation.
- Ideal Age & Gender: Adults 60+ or with family history of dementia.
- Frequency: Every 1-2 years.
Liver Function Test (LFT)
- Purpose: Measure liver enzymes and assess liver health.
- Accessibility: Available directly or via doctor referral.
- Conditions Uncovered: Hepatitis, fatty liver, liver damage.
- Specialists: Hepatologists, gastroenterologists.
- Payment: Often covered by insurance.
- Ideal Age & Gender: Adults 18+; those on certain medications.
- Frequency: Annually or as needed.
Kidney Function Test
- Purpose: Evaluate kidney health using creatinine, GFR, etc.
- Accessibility: Directly purchasable or via doctor referral.
- Conditions Uncovered: Chronic kidney disease, kidney stones.
- Specialists: Nephrologists.
- Payment: Often covered by insurance.
- Ideal Age & Gender: Adults 30+; diabetics and hypertensive patients.
- Frequency: Annually or more frequently if at risk.
Skin Cancer Screening
- Purpose: Identify suspicious moles or skin changes.
- Accessibility: Dermatologist consultation required.
- Conditions Uncovered: Skin cancer, precancerous lesions.
- Specialists: Dermatologists.
- Payment: May be covered by insurance for at-risk patients.
- Ideal Age & Gender: All ages; especially those with high sun exposure.
- Frequency: Annually.
Dialysis is a life-sustaining therapeutic procedure for individuals with kidney failure or severe kidney disease. It removes toxins, waste, and excess fluids from the body, replacing essential kidney functions. With two main types—hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis—it helps patients maintain their health while managing kidney-related conditions. Widely available through the NHS in the UK, dialysis requires careful monitoring, preparation, and lifestyle adjustments to ensure optimal results and improve quality of life.
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Key features include:
- Symptom management: Recommends tests and treatments based on user input.
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- Lifestyle recommendations: Offers diet, medication, and lifestyle tips based on health trends.
- Test result interpretation: Simplifies complex results and explains what they mean for the user.
- Preventive care: Sends reminders for checkups and suggests actions to prevent illness.
- Health scenario simulations: Predicts potential health outcomes based on current data.
- Product and service finder: Helps users find the right healthcare product or service.
- Doctor visit preparation: Gathers vitals, history, insurance, and questions for productive visits, with easy sharing to doctors.
- User-friendly: Ask in your own words, available on tablets, desktops, and mobile devices.
The platform simplifies health management and improves well-being. Free and easy to use and no installation required, get started today.
Disclaimer: The information provided in these articles is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making any decisions about your health or starting any treatments.
Photo credits Freepik.com
