Biggest benefits of private health assessments

Posted in , , by Miss Kornelija Dedelaite

Being able to detect problems before they become serious is one of the main reasons for having a health check-up – but you can’t always use public services for prevention.

We don’t always take our health into consideration as much as we should. Even those who live an active life with healthy food choices and plenty of exercise may not have a regular health check-up. Similar to our yearly car MOTs, it is up to us to take care of our body to ensure everything is running properly.

You may appear to be fit and healthy on the surface, however it is impossible to tell what is going on under the surface without having a closer look. Many illnesses can go undetected for a long period of time, and unless you are regularly screened it is almost impossible to know for certain if something is wrong.

The frequency for these health check-ups depends on your age and due to that you may be entitled to a free check with the NHS. Alternatively, you can choose to have a private health check-up. You can have a health check-up at any time, however it is recommended to have a health screening annually, for men and women aged 50+.

If you choose to go for a private health check-up you are immediately presented with numerous advantages. You will have access to the best service available for you and your schedule. The level of medical attention you will have will also be of a higher quality as everything is going to be personalised for your needs and concerns.

But how do you know which private service to use and what to look for in your provider? Well, that would be the years of experience, the medical technology they have available and reviews that can be provided through previous clients or trusted publications.

One of the benefits of going to Echelon Health for a private health check-up is that we use the best imaging technology available in the world currently. This includes CT, MRI and ultrasound scanning machines. Our medical committee is also made up of top specialists in their respective fields, so your results are always going to be looked at by the best of the best. You will be able to discuss your results and any other concerns with your physician without feeling rushed or overwhelmed.

Apart from these benefits, below is a more in-depth look at the several benefits a private health check-up can bring you.

  1. Health screenings for areas of concern

Private health care providers take into account that each person is an individual. Their health concerns are looked at a case-by-case basis. This means that they are able to offer area specific health assessments or create bespoke options for everyone. This is great because, not only is it more cost effective – you only pay for the scans you need – but it ensures that only the necessary diagnostic scans are performed.

This is why Echelon Health are able to offer area specific packages such as Healthy Heart and Core Cancer, or an entirely personalised Bespoke Assessment which can be adapted to fit your individual needs.

  1. Identifying risks early

Both acute and chronic illnesses can benefit from early diagnosis. This is because even though there may not be any physical symptoms, most illnesses such as cancer, are best treated before they can become malignant and spread elsewhere in your body. The earlier you are able to get a diagnosis the more effective your treatment will be.

Cancer research UK (2021) has found that the survival rates for breast, ovarian, bowel, lung and prostate cancer are greatly improved with early diagnosis. A health screening is not just good for detecting life threatening disease, it is also beneficial for detecting health conditions that could affect your day-to-day life. This can include thyroid function, blood sugar, blood pressure, hormone levels and nutrient deficiencies.

  1. Better lifestyle

Being able to talk in-depth about your lifestyle and what changes you can make is very beneficial as it will lead to positive changes all around. These changes can include the introduction of being mindful through meditation, minimising stress, stopping smoking, reducing alcohol intake, diet and exercise.

Small changes add up and lead to huge long-term benefits to your overall mental and physical health. Being able to live a life with full support and in combination with regular health screenings can make it easier to reach optimal health and have peace of mind.

  1. Looking at family history and risk

Quick visits to your GP are not in-depth enough to really look at your family history. This means that the risk of developing inherited conditions may be overlooked or disregarded due to the statistical models that are used.

In a private healthcare setting you would be able to delve much deeper into your family history and determine what potential risks your genes carry. It would be a much clearer picture and not based on statistical risks, but concrete evidence from your health care report. This would help you reduce risk of developing conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, or heart disease.

  1. Empowerment and keeping up to date

The field of medicine and medical technology is a forever evolving mechanism. This is because researchers are constantly striving to improve what we currently have and create new paths that would be able to help more people. Thus, it is key that patients are treated and taken care of in line with the latest research and medicine.

The rough estimate for developing heart and kidney disease, diabetes or stroke increases the older you get. As such, the NHS recommends that those aged 40-74 get a health check every five years (NHS, 2019).

Their research has found that (NHS, 2019a):

  • for every 30 to 40 people having an NHS Health Check, 1 person is diagnosed with high blood pressure
  • for every 80 to 200 people having a Health Check, 1 person is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes
  • for every 6 to 10 people having an NHS Health Check, 1 person is identified as being at high risk of cardiovascular disease

Leading a healthy lifestyle in combination with regular health check is the key to optimal health. Preventive healthcare allows doctors and nurses to treat the cause of the issue rather than the symptoms which reduces risk and improves response to treatment.

People should be well informed about their health and through private health assessments they can do just that with great peace of mind. A good private practice should be equipped to empower their clients with knowledge and access to leading technology and expert medical advice.

As mentioned above, we have many packages that we have on offer. Our most comprehensive is the Platinum Assessment, which can detect up to 92% of preventable causes of death using a combination of the best imaging technology with the following scans and tests:

  • Blood Tests
  • ECG
  • CT Aorta
  • CT Heart
  • CT Coronary Angiogram
  • CT Chest
  • CT Pelvis
  • CT Virtual Colonoscopy
  • CT Bone Density
  • EOS
  • CT Upright Skeleton
  • MRI Brain
  • MRI Cerebral Artery Angiogram
  • MRI Carotid Artery Angiogram
  • MRI Prostate
  • Ultrasound Thyroid
  • Ultrasound Testes/ Ovaries
  • Digital Mammogram
  • Full Body Mole Screen

If you would like to find out more information about other packages that we offer or ask about the many benefits not yet mentioned don’t hesitate to contact our team and they will be happy to assist at any time.

 

 

 

Sources:

Cancer Research UK (2021). Why is early diagnosis important? Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancer-symptoms/why-is-early-diagnosis-important (accessed 19/04/2022)

NHS (2019). NHS Health Check. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-health-check/ (accessed 20/04/2022)

NHS (2019a). What is an NHS Health check? Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-health-check/what-is-an-nhs-health-check-new/ (accessed 20/04/2022)