It's important to have your general health check-up. According to the NHS, it can help you identify undetected health problems earlier. This way, you can get any necessary treatments before they worsen or have yourself protected through regular screening and immunization. Though your regular visit to your doctor may involve a physical exam, it's often brief. Much of the time, your doctor will listen to your health concerns and offer counselling basedn your symptoms and cinical history. What to Expect in a General Health Check-Up Your doctor will ask you many questions about your medical background and concerns regarding your health. From there, they'll recommend other tests for you to take. Here are some of the exams or questions included in your general health check-up: Medical history Your doctor will gather as much information about you as needed, including any health concerns and complaints. You'll be quizzed regarding your lifestyle, diet, alcohol intake, smoking habit, sexual health, and exercise. Further, the doctor will investigate your vaccination status and personal medical history, including previous health issues and treatments undertaken. Your family medical history will also be examined to determine if you risk developing genetic or hereditary disorders like high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, dementia, and more. Vital signs Just like with any visit to the doctor, your vital signs will also be checked and analysed. These include: Blood pressure: A normal blood pressure level, regardless of age, is less than 120/80 mmHg. According to doctors, you have high blood pressure or hypertension if your level is 130/80 mmHg or higher. Heart rate: Normal heart rates are slated between 60 and 100, with many healthy individuals having heart rates at 60 or slower. Respiration rate: The normal respiration rate for an adult is between 12 to 20 breaths a minute. If it's over 20 breaths per minute, the respiratory rate is considered elevated, while a rate of 24 breaths or more per minute signifies a serious heart or lung condition. Sometimes, it's less serious, especially if caused by a panic attack or other psychological factor. Temperature: The average temperature is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, although some healthy individuals have slightly lower or higher resting temperatures. General appearance: Your doctor can tell a lot about your health by observing and talking to you. For instance, the doctor can determine whether you're healthy based on your skin's appearance. The way you stand, walk, and answer questions are also being considered. Heart exam: If you've been to your doctor several times, you know by now it's part of the protocol for them to listen to your heart using a stethoscope. It's their way of detecting a heart murmur, irregular heartbeat, and other signs of heart problems. Lung exam: The doctor will also use the stethoscope to detect abnormal sounds in your body, like wheezes and crackles, which are signs of heart or lung diseases. Head and neck exam: Your doctor will probably ask you to open your mouth and say, "Ah." It's a way of checking your throat and tonsils and the quality of your gums and teeth. The doctor will also examine your nose, eyes, ears, thyroid, lymph nodes, sinuses, and carotid arteries. All these provide vital information regarding your overall health. Abdominal exam: Your abdomen will also be checked through various techniques. For example, your doctor will tap your abdomen to detect the presence of fluid and determine liver size. Using a stethoscope, the doctor will listen to bowel sounds and palpate. Neurological exam: The doctor conducts this examination to assess your nervous system by checking your reflexes, balance, muscle strength, and mental state. Dermatological exam: This exam involves a skin and nail examination. The doctor checks for rashes or skin lesions in your face, hands, scalp, arm, legs, and pelvis. Extremities exam: The doctor examines your arms and legs for skin abnormalities and deformities like swelling, unusual shape, length, and position. Physical Exam for Men and Women A general health check-up involves a physical examination specific to men or women. Their bodies are made up of different organs and therefore require varying tests. Male Physical Exam Men's physical check-up includes: Penis exam: A penis exam helps a doctor identify sexually transmitted infections through the presence of ulcers and warts. Testicular exam: The doctor checks the testicles for abnormalities like tenderness, lumps, and changes in their size, which is common among men with testicular cancer. Prostate exam: A digital rectal examination is used to check the prostate. This involves the doctor inserting a gloved and lubricated finger into the rectum to feel if the prostate has a suspicious size. Hernia exam: The doctor will ask you to cough while their fingers are over the femoral region, internal ring, and external inguinal ring and check for an impulse or palpable bulge. Female Physical Exam There are the exams conducted on women during a general health check-up: Breast exam: The doctor examines the breast for abnormal lumps, the most common sign of breast cancer or benign breast health conditions. Further, the doctor checks the breasts for any visual abnormalities in the breasts and nipples, such as their sizes. The lymph nodes in the underarm area will be checked, too. Pelvic exam: This is one way for the doctor to check for sexually transmitted infections. This exam allows the doctor to examine the female reproductive organs like the vagina, cervix, vulvae, uterus, and ovaries. HPV and Pap tests are also conducted to screen for cervical cancer. Laboratory Tests Doctors include routine laboratory tests during a general check-up. These tests are complete blood count, chemistry panel, and urinalysis. A simple finger prick blood test or vitamin deficiency test UK may be conducted for additional information about your health. If you've been experiencing symptoms, your doctor will recommend additional lab tests. For instance, a cholesterol test or screening lipid panel every 4 to 6 years is highly recommended to detect heart disease. Your cholesterol levels are assessed to determine your risk of stroke and heart attack. It's also recommended to check your blood sugar, especially if you're overweight. Your doctor will analyse your blood sugar levels, for example with an HbA1c test, to determine if you have diabetes or have a high risk of having it. Further, your doctor will suggest getting screened for hepatitis C. [TEST] Things to Do Before Your General Health Check-Up You can prepare for your general health check-up depending on the kind of tests your doctor recommends. To start, you need a good night's sleep. Take your time with your visit to your doctor, or you'll suffer from lack of sleep, which can affect your test results, such as your blood pressure and blood glucose levels. Fasting is necessary for some tests. Ask your doctor regarding the number of hours you need to fast. You'll only need to drink plain water after dinner the night before your test. Your doctor will also advise you to skip your routine medications in preparation for your urine and blood tests. Meanwhile, drink at least seven glasses of water beforehand if an ultrasound is included in your check-up. Always wear comfortable clothes to your health check-up. If unsure, talk to your doctor days before your schedule to prepare for it. Things to Avoid Before Your Health Check-Up Your doctor will provide you with specific instructions before your health check-up. You're not allowed to eat salty foods 24 hours before your exam because they can increase your blood pressure and triglycerides. Exercising and strenuous activities are prohibited before an exam as they can boost heart rate and decrease potassium levels. You also need to avoid urinating an hour before a pelvic ultrasound. Meanwhile, be watchful of what you drink. Alcohol and caffeinated drinks are prohibited before your tests as they can affect your results. For women, don't use deodorants, creams, or perfumes around your chest and under your arms before a mammogram because they can interfere with test quality. Further, pap smears and stool and urine tests must be done at least five days after your period's last day. Another way to prepare for a pap smear is to avoid sex and use tampons and vaginal creams 24 hours before your exam. Vitall's Total Health Checks for Male and Female There's no better way to start a healthy lifestyle than focusing on your home health UK routine. Take control of your health and prevent illnesses by having a balanced diet, regular exercise, and taking an at-home finger prick blood test to check your overall health. Vitall's total health checks for males and females are perfect test kits to check your whole body today. Male Total Health Check This all-in-one health test is designed to test your body as a system by targeting your lifestyle risks. Vitall's Male Total Health Check includes an easy-to-use and accurate finger prick blood test to collect your blood sample at home. You can also ask for a home nurse visit or go to a clinic. Your sample will be used to analyse your liver and kidney functions and levels of good and bad cholesterol and triglycerides, which are necessary for assessing your risks of heart and cardiovascular diseases. A vitamin deficiency test UK is also included to check your body's levels of essential vitamins and minerals. They're used to examine your energy levels and ensure that your body is working properly. The total health check also includes a thorough evaluation of your stress hormone cortisol and level of inflammation. A testosterone test is also included in the health check to check your testosterone levels. Female Total Health Check The female body works differently because of its unique organs. This Female Total Health Check ensures testing the whole body and provides you with detailed results, especially on health risks. It includes a finger prick blood test kit for collecting your blood sample at home. You can also request a home nurse visit or drop by the clinic. This easy and accurate test will be analysed in an accredited laboratory. This total health check provides insights into many conditions, such as liver and kidney function. Your heart health will be examined through good and bad cholesterol levels and triglycerides. Vitall will also check your vitamin and mineral levels if you have a deficiency. Further, they'll check your inflammation and cortisol levels for signs of stress. A female hormones (menopause) test is conducted, too. [TEST] Benefits of General Health Check-Up Some people believe a general health check-up is unnecessary, especially if you're already healthy. However, "prevention is better than cure" applies to everyone who wants to stay in excellent health. One effective way to ensure your body is functioning well is by regularly performing a general health check-up. Here are some of its numerous benefits: Reduce the risk of getting sick A check-up allows your doctor to examine your body and provide insights into your current health status. For instance, you can reduce your risk of having vitamin deficiency through a vitamin deficiency test UK. In contrast, a blood sugar test can identify if you're at risk of having diabetes. You can immediately make the necessary changes to your lifestyle and diet to avoid getting sick. Early detection of diseases Your doctor will examine you inside and out through different tests, which are guaranteed to detect signs of life-threatening health conditions. For instance, your cholesterol and blood pressure levels can help detect cardiovascular diseases. Better chances of getting treatments or cure A regular check-up can detect underlying health problems, especially those that don't show symptoms. If detected earlier, you can get the treatment or cure you need to improve. Limit the risk of complications Many people with existing health conditions visit their doctor regularly to ensure their medications are helping them get well. Besides, such situations can lead to other complications if not properly monitored. Reduce healthcare cost Suppose you have yet to visit your doctor for a regular general check-up. In that case, you'll pay more for healthcare once you visit for the first time and end up undergoing several tests and treatments because of serious conditions that weren't detected earlier. A general check-up saves you money in the long run. Increase your lifespan The fact that health problems can be detected and treated long before they become fatal means you can increase your lifespan. For instance, if your doctor has detected cancer in your body during one of your check-ups, you can immediately undergo chemotherapy or other treatments to prevent cancer cells from affecting other organs. Make general health check-ups a part of your life. Your overall health will be tested through a finger prick blood test or other medical examinations to ensure your body is in its best condition. It's your best weapon against diseases.