At What Age Should I Get a Health Check?
Health checks are an essential way to understand your current health status and take control of your wellbeing. As we reach our 40s, certain early signs or risk factors for health conditions may appear, making regular checks increasingly important.
A full body health check helps you:
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Identify potential health issues early
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Monitor changes over time
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Take preventive steps to protect your health
Understanding your health through regular assessments can improve long-term outcomes and give peace of mind.
What is a health check?
A health check, also called a full body health MOT, assesses your overall health and screens for potential issues. These checks provide insights that empower you to manage your health proactively.
For adults aged 40 and over, regular health checks are particularly valuable because the risk of developing certain conditions increases with age.
Key benefits include:
Early detection and diagnosis
Regular health checks can spot potential issues before they develop into serious problems, enabling timely treatment and better outcomes.
Risk reduction
Checks can identify risk factors for conditions like heart disease, diabetes, or kidney problems, giving you the chance to take preventative steps.
Monitoring overall health
By tracking your health over time, you can see how your body is changing and adjust lifestyle or treatment plans as needed.
When should you start having regular health checks?
Most providers, including the NHS, recommend starting regular health checks at age 40. This is because the risk of chronic conditions rises after this age, and early screening can improve outcomes.
NHS health checks
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Offered to adults aged 40-74 every five years
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Free of charge
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Assess risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and kidney disease
Private health checks
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Flexible scheduling, personalised assessments, and additional tests not included in NHS checks
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Full body health checks can be tailored to your needs
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Affordable and convenient alternative for proactive health management
What checks are included in a health check?
The exact tests vary by provider and package. A private health check provider such as Bluecrest Wellness includes the following tests as part of a top-to-toe health MOT.
Heart health
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ECG test for heart rate, rhythm, and electrical activity
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Blood pressure and cholesterol measurement
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Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) test for artery health in legs
Prediabetes and diabetes risk
- HbA1c test for average blood glucose over 2-3 months
Essential proteins and iron
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Blood tests for essential proteins and iron
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Detects possible liver or kidney disease or iron deficiency
Kidney function
- Sodium, urea, creatinine and eGFR to monitor kidney efficiency
Liver function
- ALP, ALT, Gamma GT, bilirubin to check liver health and metabolism
Bone health
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Calcium, phosphate, uric acid levels
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Identifies deficiencies affecting muscles, bones, and energy
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Uric acid testing helps detect gout
Lung function
- Spirometry to assess respiratory health and detect conditions like asthma or COPD
Individual tests can be added to personalise your check and focus on your specific health concerns.
Why regular health checks matter after 40
As we age, the risk of chronic conditions increases, but regular health checks give you control. They help with:
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Early detection: Spot health issues before they become serious
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Preventive care: Identify risk factors and implement lifestyle changes
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Personalised recommendations: Receive guidance tailored to your health profile
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Peace of mind: Reduce anxiety about your health
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Informed decisions: Take proactive steps to maintain wellbeing
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Improved outcomes: Address conditions early to reduce long-term risks
Book a private health check
Bluecrest Wellness offers full body private health checks designed for busy adults over 40.
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Quick, accurate and stress-free
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Non-invasive, professional testing in over 350 UK and Ireland venues
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Tests cover heart, lung, liver, kidney, bone health, cholesterol, diabetes, protein, iron and more
Take control of your health and explore our full body private health checks online today.
