Benefits of a private health check and what to expect

Posted in , by Miss Kornelija Dedelaite

There is no doubt that everyone wants to live a long and healthy life. Spending time with family and friends without disturbances is ideal. Unfortunately, many of us may not even recognise that something is amiss until we start experiencing symptoms.

Fortunately, with the advanced technology in X-ray, MRI, CT and Ultrasound, preventive health assessments can be very accurate and detect various diseases at their earliest stages when they can be prevented from progressing or managed with treatment.

Finding the best health check can be a daunting task. Everyone is different, and many variables should be considered when it comes to health. Here is a short guide about what you should consider if you happen to be looking for a full-body health assessment.

Preventive health assessments come in various packages. Some are simple and include standard physicals that usually consist of blood and blood pressure tests, followed by a lifestyle questionnaire, and then exercise and breathing tests to check your heart and lung health (NHS, 2019).

Unfortunately, though these tests are good for a general look and may indicate some minor health problems, they are not comprehensive enough and are not able to show you what is happening inside your body on a deeper level. They cannot detect serious diseases like cancer or coronary heart disease which may be present and can usually go undetected.

What should you expect from a private health check?

  • A reliable and trusted company
  • One that uses the most advanced technology to achieve the most accurate results
  • A provider that can offer many options that are tailored to your personal needs, rather than a one-size-fits-all
  • Medical staff with years of experience who have shown to be leaders and pioneers of knowledge
  • A company that offers great customer service and ensures comfort every step of the way
  • A provider that knows and utilises the right imaging technology for the relevant disease. For example, the gold standard for imaging the brain is MRI, whereas imaging the lungs or the heart is best performed by a CT scanner and it’s important that your provider of choice can utilise all available imaging technologies for optimal results.

Why is early detection important?

According to Cancer Research UK, more than 9 in 10 bowel cancer patients will survive the disease for more than 5 years if diagnosed at the earliest stage.

Among women, breast cancer is the most common type of cancer. However, more than 90% of women diagnosed with breast cancer survive their disease for at least 5 years if caught at the earliest stage compared to around 15% for women diagnosed with the most advanced stage of the disease.

Additionally, 90% of women diagnosed with the earliest stage ovarian cancer survive the disease for at least 5 years, compared to around 5% for women diagnosed with the most advanced stage of ovarian cancer.

Finally, more than 80% of lung cancer patients will survive for at least a year if diagnosed at the earliest stage, compared to around 15% for people diagnosed with the most advanced stage of the disease (Cancer Research UK, 2021).

With these statistics, we can see that the earlier you can detect a disease, the more likely the patient is to have a better quality of life because they will be able to manage the disease. Of course, these statistics focus only on cancer. Early detection can help prevent heart diseases, brain disease and muscle and joint problems.

Benefits of a private health assessment

Regular health screening should be a priority for everyone as they give you peace of mind and ensure your health is the best it can be. The main benefits of health assessments are as follows:

  1. They help you identify if you are at risk of or have developed a disease that you did not even know about.
  2. As mentioned, early detection can help you manage the disease better or allow for a full cure of your ailments if caught early enough.
  3. Preventive screenings can help you extend your survival rate and reduce the risk of potential complications.
  4. Age is one of the biggest risk factors for various illnesses and diseases. With the option of early detection, you can protect your body and give it the best defence against these diseases with plenty of time.
  5. If you have a family history of breast cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease or other illnesses, health assessments aid in the process of prevention and can help you with time-sensitive treatments.

How much does a health assessment cost?

The costs of a health assessment hugely depend on the package or series of tests and scans that you choose.

At Echelon Health, we have pre-selected health assessment packages that focus on key aspects based on your concerns. However, we also offer a bespoke range of options that we can advise you on based on your requirements. This way, you will be able to select what you need as everything will be tailored personally for you.

How often should you have a health assessment?

If you have been taking care of your health and continue to live a healthy lifestyle, it is recommended that you attend regular health assessments every five years from the age of 40 in the UK according to the NHS. However, if you have a family history of certain diseases or have noticed some symptoms and are concerned, you can always come in earlier and more frequently.

It always differs from person to person, so it is important to listen to your body and act accordingly.

How long does a health assessment take?

Depending on what type of assessment you choose to go for, it can take as little as 30 minutes. A targeted health assessment like those offered by Echelon Health may take anywhere between one to six hours depending on the various tests that need to be performed.

The more comprehensive the assessment, the more likely it is to increase in length. Luckily, the experience is never tedious or uncomfortable as at Echelon Health we ensure the comfort of our clients every step of the way.

What is included in a health assessment?

It is important to understand the process of a health assessment, so here are some of the tests that could be done during a regular screening:

  • Full blood picture
  • Blood pressure test
  • Cholesterol tests
  • Diabetes
  • Mammograms/pap smears
  • Stress Echo
  • Colorectal cancer
  • Prostate cancer
  • STDs

Health Assessments with Echelon Health

The Platinum Assessment at Echelon Health is fully comprehensive and will offer you peace of mind. Here are a few diseases that we can scan for with the Platinum Assessment:

Cancers

  • Brain
  • Breast (Women)
  • Colon and Rectum
  • Kidney
  • Lung
  • Ovaries
  • Pancreas
  • Prostate (Men)
  • Testes
  • Thyroid
  • Uterus (Women)
  • And more

Diseases of the Circulatory System

  • Coronary Heart Disease
  • Cerebrovascular Disease (Stroke Risk)
  • Cerebral Haemorrhage
  • Aortic aneurysm and dissection

Diseases of the Digestive System

  • Liver Disease
  • Gallbladder, Biliary Tract and Pancreatic disease
  • Diverticular disease

We also perform a range of blood tests that measure over 40 parameters across all organs. Preventive Health Assessments are extremely important as you continue with your life, even if you appear to be symptom-free. By the time symptoms have shown it is likely that the disease or illness has progressed. The advanced technology that we use at Echelon Health can detect up to 94% of diseases that lead to premature death among males and females.

Click here to view the body map and explore the various ailments we can scan for or contact us to book your health assessment today!

 

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 21/10/2021).

NHS (2019). What is an NHS Health Check? Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-health-check/what-is-an-nhs-health-check-new/ (Accessed 22/10/2021).