Throughout our lives, we undergo changes in our bodies, or we experience issues that could possibly lead to more serious medical complications in the future, down the road. Most of the time, during the prime of our life, there’s little need for anything other than an annual medical checkup or the like.

But as we age, there eventually comes a point in our lives where we need to start contemplating deeper, more involved medical checkups. Therefore, it’s important to know what your comprehensive health screening should cover.

For starters, most screening packages come in a number of different versions, though all will have certain common elements among them. Probably, the best one could also be referred to as a cardiac risk health screening exam.

Within that, you’d commonly see tests like a body mass index (BMI), a blood pressure test using a blood pressure cuff, maybe a simple screening test for diabetes and what’s called a blood lipid panel. That checks the blood for good and bad cholesterols (HDL and LDL) and triglycerides, for the most part.

A genuine, true comprehensive health screening, though, will screen a person thoroughly using a number of different exams or tests. Blood is collected, as in a urine sample and stool sample. They are checked for the presence or absence of certain things which could indicate a possible medical condition.

When these three fall within normal ranges for certain chemicals and the like, there’s generally no problem.

Of course, an overall physical assessment is done. Males will have a couple of items looked at that females wouldn’t necessarily get checked, and vice-versa. PAP smears and breast ultrasound are two female-specific test that males will never undergo, and that fact pleases men as much as it irks females!

Many times, in comprehensive health screening should adhere to WHO guidelines as to the number of tests required. There should be at least a chest x-ray to visualize the lungs for any calcification or walling off of vital lung tissue. Vision and hearing tests are normal, as are a dental exam and the taking of a thorough medical history.

Thankfully, the emphasis in medicine is turning more towards this kind of preventive, regular screening and relying less on treating problems when they finally crop up. With early testing and the cultivation of good health habits like quitting smoking or never taking it up to begin with.

Also with sound dietary intake, we may find that the comprehensive health screening exam is just about all we’ll ever need over the course of most of our life.

For the full list of comprehensive health screening items from MJ, just drop us a line.

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