Ten essential check ups you must have to stay well
If you take the time to undergo some basic routine health check ups regularly, it’s so much easier to spot problems in the early stages and get treatment sooner rather than later. So what are the tests you should be getting to stay in good health?
1. Eye tests
An eye test checks your vision, but importantly, can detect signs of a number of other conditions, such as diabetes, often before you have any symptoms.
What happens in an eye test?
An optometrist examines your eyes for any evidence of abnormalities, injury or disease. They look into your eyes with a light to check reflection and will ask you to read letters from a chart. They will also test your eye pressure by directing a puff of air at your eye to calculate the pressure inside and check for glaucoma. After the test, the optician will tell you if you need any sight correction and if so, they will usually help you with that at the time. If there are any signs of further eye complications, your optician will refer you to your GP or to an eye specialist.
How often should you get your eyes checked?
Over the age of 60, you are entitled to a free NHS sight test every two years and if you are aged 70+, you may be entitled to a free test annually..
Hearing tests are key, as many people suffer from deficient hearing as they age and this can lead not only to difficulties following conversations, but to isolation and dementia.
What happens in a hearing test?
Following a conversation about your hearing difficulties, an audiologist will examine your ears with a light called an auriscope, which is a small torch with a magnifying glass, which allows the doctor to see into your ear drum.They will check for discharge coming from ear and will check the eardrum for:
- bulging eardrum, which means there is infected fluid in the middle ear
- dull eardrum, which means there is uninfected fluid in the middle ear (this is known as glue ear)
- retracted eardrum, which means the Eustachian tube is not working properly
- perforated eardrum, which means there is a hole in the eardrum, which my or may not be infected
- foreign bodies which might be blocking the ear, including ear wax
Your GP may then carry out simple tests using their voice to determine the extent of your hearing loss. These might include:
- Pure tone audiometry (PTA), where a machine (audiometer) produces sounds at different volumes and frequencies (pitches). You listen through headphones and respond when you hear them by pressing a button.
- Speech perception test, which tests your ability to hear words without using visual stimulus. Words are played through headphones, or spoken by the tester.
- Tympanometry, where a small plastic bung seals your ear and the machine changes the ear canal pressure. This test can confirm whether there is any fluid behind the eardrum and if the Eustachian tube is working normally
- The whispered voice test involves the tester blocking one of your ears and testing your hearing by whispering words at varying volumes. You will be asked to repeat the words as you hear them.
- The tuning fork test tests different aspects of your hearing.The tester taps the tuning fork on their elbow or knee to make it vibrate and then places it in different areas around your head. It can determine if you have conductive hearing loss, caused by sounds passing freely into the inner ear, or sensori-neural hearing loss, where the inner ear is not working properly.
- The bone conduction test involves placing a vibrating probe against the mastoid bone behind the ear and how well you hear sounds transmitted through the bone. It is a more sophisticated version of the tuning fork test and can check if hearing loss is emanating from the outer and middle ear, the inner ear, or both.
Hearing test results
Results tend to be plotted on a graph called an audiogram, which records the measurements of different volumes and frequencies (pitches) of sounds you are able to hear and helps to determine what type of hearing loss you have, if any.
The type of hearing loss you have is important because it determines what help or treatment is most suitable for you. Your audiologist will then recommend hearing aids or refer you to a specialist.
How often should you get your hearing checked?
Annually. Tests are usually free.
It is very important to have regular dental check ups. Not only can your teeth have decay, but your gums can as well. Infection in the gums can lead to infection in the blood stream and if gums erode, it is much harder to fix than your actual teeth.
What happens in a dental check?
The dentist will ask you to sit in a dental chair and will tip you back, so he can look into your mouth. You will be asked to wear a pair of protective glasses to protect your eyes from any splashes during the dental check and also a bib to protect your clothes. The dentist will look inside your mouth with a mirror and a dental probe. If any work is necessary, the dentist will explain the next steps.
What will the dentist be looking for?
a. Medical history: anti-psychotic drugs, anti-epileptics, anti-depressants, beta-blockers, and diuretics can all cause a reduced saliva production. Poor saliva production makes it much harder for denture wearers and there is a higher risk of tooth decay and gum disease in people with dry mouth due to the lack of cleansing effect from the saliva.
b. Tooth Decay: Older people are more vulnerable to tooth decay, sometimes because of a preference for sweeter foods or taking less care with their oral hygiene and inability or reticence to access dental treatment. More tips on how to prevent tooth decay here
c. Tooth Ache: Heavily filled teeth, or teeth under crowns and bridges may look sound, but the nerves in these teeth may die off and then the dead nerve tissue may become infected and toothache can follow.
d. Broken Teeth, which can leave sharp ends and result in tongue ulceration
e. Gum Related and Soft Tissue Problems: Gum disease causes bone loss, tooth loosening, or even tooth loss and requires treatment, but 90% of gum diseases can be prevented by effective oral hygien
f. Soft Tissue Problems: Lumps, white lines and patches can appear in the mouth and should be checke
g. Denture-related Problems: Denture wearers can develop Dry Mouth
People with dementia must be individually assessed.
How often should you get a dental check?
Annually. It is not free, but it is essential.
Bowel cancer screening can detect potential problems even when people have no symptoms.
What happens in the test?
The testing kit, called a Faecal Occult Blood Test (FOBt), is posted to you and you collect stool samples on a special card, which you then send to a laboratory for analysis.Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK. 8 out of 10 people who get bowel cancer of the bowel are over the age of 60
How often should you get your bowel checked?
Screening is offered every 2 years to all men and women aged 60 to 74
What happens when you have posted your test?
The test looks for blood in the stool and if there is any, you will be asked to reapet the test. Your GP may then recommend a bowel examination (colonoscopy) to rule out cancer. About 2% of people will have an abnormal result, and will need follow-up tests.
5. Cervical screening
Cervical screening aims to cervical detect abnormalities. Cervical cancer is the eleventh most common cancer in women. Early detection and treatment prevents upto 75 per cent of cancers developing.
What happens in the test?
A doctor or nurse inserts an instrument (speculum) to open the vagina and uses a spatula to sweep the cervix to take a sample. It is a slightly uncomfortable procedure..
How often should you get a cervical screen?
Women 25-64 are eligible for a free cervical screening test every 3-5 years.
What happens after the test?
Results should come within six weeks and 90% of tests are normal. An abnormal result requires further investigation and treatment.
6. Prostate tests
While there is no national screening programme for prostate cancer, getting a check done through your GP if you feel you may be displaying symptoms can prove a lifesaver. These symptoms can include needing to go to the toilet more often, and difficulty passing urine, as well as blood in the urine or semen.
Be aware than many men suffer from some of these symptoms from having an enlarged prostate gland, which is actually a benign condition. Making sure that it is benign rather than cancerous can provide peace of mind, as well as help a serious condition worsening.
Cholesterol is a type of fat that is carried by the blood around the body. High levels of cholesterol can clog the arteries and increase your risk of heart attack or stroke. High cholesterol doesn’t cause any symptoms, so the only way to find out is to take the test.
What’s happens in the test?
Cholesterol is measured with a simple blood test by your GP.
How often should you get your cholesterol checked?
Annually.If you have high cholesterol you can make changes to your diet and exercise regime. Your doctor will help you. The GP may recommend statins in certain cases.
8. Blood pressure tests
High blood pressure can weaken your heart and damage your arteries, increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke and kidney disease. In the UK, about 50% of people over 65 have high blood pressure, but many don’t realise it.
What is a blood pressure test?
Your GP will place a cuff that fits around your upper arm and inflate it until it becomes tight. The test is quick, painless and short. A blood pressure reading below 130/80mmHg is normal.
What happens next?
If your results are abnormal, you will need to have your blood pressure checked regularly. If it is consistently high, you may need to make lifestyle changes, and possibly take medication
How often should you get your blood pressure checked?
Annually. It’s free at your GP
9. Breast screening
Breast screening detects breast cancer early. A screening (mammogram) can detect cancer early. A third of breast cancers are now diagnosed through screening.
What happens in a breast screening (mammogram)?
Each breast is placed alternately on the x-ray machine and is compressed with a clear plate. It only lasts a few seconds, but it can be slightly uncomfortable.
What happens after the mammogram?
The results will be sent to you within a fortnight. If the result is abnormal, you will be asked to go for further tests, such as an ultrasound or needle test
How often should you get a breast screening?
You will be invited for a mammogram between your 50th and 53rd birthdays and then every three years until you reach 70. After the age of 70, you can request a mammogram every three years. By 2016, women should be routinely screened up to the age of 74.
10. Skin checks
Keeping an eye on moles can help spot the early signs of skin cancer. Most moles are harmless, but they can develop into skin cancer (malignant melanoma). Deaths from melanoma have tripled in the last 30 years for people over 65. Skin cancer is linked to sun exposure over a lifetime, so older people are more likely to develop the disease.
What happens in a skin cancer check??
If you notice a strange mole, ask your GP to look at it. If he is concerned, he will refer you for further testing. You should look out for a change in colour, size or shape of existing moles.
How often should you get your skin checked?
You should check your moles yourself regularly. You can take a photograph and then compare it with a more recent photograph to help you see if anything has changed.
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