Taking care of your health is essential at all times — it’s not just about taking action after you’ve become unwell.
One of the best things you can do for your health is be proactive. Many serious health conditions, like cancer and heart-related issues, respond much better to treatment the earlier they are diagnosed.
And, since many other health problems can also be asymptomatic, the earlier you can identify a potential condition via other means, the better.
That’s why actively having your health checked on a regular basis is so important. And the best way to do exactly that is using a personal health assessment.
In this article, join us as we take you through what personal health assessments are, talk about their various benefits and highlight why you should book one with us here at Echelon Health.
What is a personal health assessment?
In simple terms, a personal health assessment is a thorough check-up of your current health. Most people will understand that a rash or a headache can signify a health problem, but some conditions can be silent and only picked up by undergoing a personal health assessment.
These assessments will measure your current health, identify potential risk factors that indicate further problems and detect any underlying health conditions. Personal health assessments will also look at your health as a whole and focus on your entire wellbeing.
Preventative healthcare
In the UK, 68.6% of 2020’s avoidable deaths were attributed to preventable health conditions.
This statistic proves the strength of personal health assessments — not only do they help you right now, but they can also safeguard your future.
By undergoing a personal health assessment, preventable or early-stage conditions can be detected and diagnosed much earlier, meaning they can be treated sooner rather than later.
Without having a personal health assessment, you could unintentionally miss the early stages of a health condition, at a time when it is much more manageable. Having one could also provide you with realistic lifestyle changes to implement to help maintain or improve your overall health.
Benefits of a personal health assessment
There are a ton of reasons why personal health assessments are so beneficial. For starters, they provide you with a much better understanding of your current health, allowing you to gain insight into how you can live a healthier way of life.
Undergoing assessments on a regular basis will also identify any particular areas of concern, enabling your healthcare professional to make recommendations on any simple changes you could make in your day-to-day life.
Personal health assessments can also pick up on health conditions you aren’t even aware you have, or may be at risk of developing over time. This can then allow proper treatment plans to be implemented as early on as possible.
One example of this is skin cancer. While many people know that going out into the sun without UV (ultraviolet) protection isn’t good for your skin, very few people check their moles on a regular basis. With a personal health assessment, a full body mole check will be performed as standard, testing any unusual-looking moles you might have and providing treatment if required.
Although maintaining your heart health is essential for your wellbeing, many heart conditions are overlooked until it’s too late as well. However, by undergoing a personal health assessment, tests like a CT (computed tomography) coronary angiogram, a CT heart scan and an ECG (electrocardiogram) can all be performed to gather information on your heart’s structure, function and health.
Any abnormalities picked up using these tests can then be accurately diagnosed and treated before they develop into a severe problem. Early detection in this way can be life-saving and the main aim of a personal health assessment is to help with exactly that.
Having a personal health assessment not only helps with your physical health, but it can also improve your overall mental well-being, providing you with a thorough understanding of your current health and offering peace of mind that you’re suitably protected against any potential underlying issues.
How is a personal health assessment conducted?
Having a personal health assessment will often involve a number of different tests. For example, this might include:
- Medical questionnaire
- Blood tests
- ECG
- MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans
- CT scans
- Ultrasound scans
- Full body mole screening
The type of medical tests you have done will depend on the type of health assessment you choose to have performed. To find out more about the packages we offer, simply visit our dedicated page.
On the day of your assessment
All of your tests will be carried out on the same day, so you don’t need to worry about taking lots of time off work.
First, you will need to complete a medical questionnaire and have a pre-assessment consultation. This will allow your doctor to assess and review your full medical history, informing them of any potential risk factors based on your genetic history or previous health problems.
Next, you will have your blood tests completed and an ECG performed. Then you will have one or more of a CT, MRI or ultrasound scan performed, depending on which tests are included in your assessment package.
Once all of your tests have been completed, the clinical team will discuss your experience with you to make sure you were happy with how the day went.
A follow-up consultation will then be booked to provide you with your test results, recommendations and, if required, any treatments.
Results from a personal health assessment
The results from your health assessment will normally be discussed at your follow-up appointment. This is because some of the results can take longer to come through than others.
If your results indicate that you are at risk of developing or have developed a health condition, your doctor will advise you on what the next course of action will involve (i.e. treatment plans).
What should I do if my personal health assessment reveals health issues?
If any health issues are detected from your personal health assessment, a treatment plan will be put in place for you. Some health conditions may require further testing, in which case you will be advised on how to book follow-up appointments.
A treatment plan will take your current health into account, your medical history and the results of your health assessment. In some cases, lifestyle changes may also be recommended to help reduce certain risk factors that the assessment revealed.
Some of these recommended lifestyle changes can include:
- Being more physically active
- Eating a more nutritious, well-balanced diet
- Cutting down on alcohol
- Quitting smoking
- Getting enough sleep
- Managing your stress levels
Overall, the results of your personal health assessment should provide you with much-needed insight into your body and put you on a path to better health.
Get in touch with Echelon Health
Being proactive when taking care of your health is essential. By undergoing a personal health assessment, you can do exactly that, learning exactly what your current health status is and which methods could help improve it.
At Echelon Health, we offer a range of personal health assessment packages so you can choose the one most suited to your needs. However, if you aren’t sure exactly what you are looking for, we can also create a bespoke assessment package specifically built around you.
Our Platinum Assessment stands out for its ability to detect a wide range of diseases and conditions. Using cutting-edge technology, their assessment covers a holistic view of your health. In fact, this assessment allows us to detect up to 92% and 95% of preventable causes of death among men and women respectively! The full list of scans that are included in the Platinum Assessment is as follows:
- Blood Test
- 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
By choosing a reputable provider like Echelon Health you gain access to cutting-edge technology and the power of early detection. Early intervention can significantly improve outcomes for various diseases, ensuring a higher quality of life.
We want to help you prioritise your health. Book a health assessment with us today and help take control of your future.
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