What are Preventative Screenings?
Many people have heard of preventive health screenings, but may not fully understand what they are. These are tests and screenings that look for diseases before symptoms are present. Preventive screenings are not only cost effective for all those involved, but they also help increase the life expectancy of patients who participate in them. This is because many health conditions have little to no warning signs. Preventive health screenings provide insight about early disease risk so patients can take proactive steps to prevent chronic illnesses and diseases. An example of this would be strokes. They are often referred to as a “silent killer,” however, carotid artery screenings can help identify a person’s risk of suffering a stroke and help them prevent one.
Keep in mind that preventative screenings are different than annual check-ups, though your annual doctor’s appointments can help determine which preventive screenings you need. These screenings are done during a separate appointment and possibly by a doctor other than your primary care provider depending on which screening you need.
What Screenings Do You Need?
Which preventative screenings you need are determined by a wide range of things such as your age, gender, ethnicity and the results of your health risk assessment. If your organization has a wellness program, make sure to look into their offerings. Many wellness programs have on-site events for biometric screenings, or offer to cover them at a different provider. Biometric screenings are short health examinations that can help determine the risk level of a person for certain diseases and medical conditions, and help determine which preventive screenings may be needed. Some of the most common preventive screenings include:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Type 2 diabetes
- Heart disease
- Obesity
- Breast cancer and cervical cancer in women
- Prostate cancer in men
- Colorectal cancer
- Osteoporosis
- Testosterone deficiency
- Carotid artery disease
- Atrial fibrillation
- Lung cancer
It is important to talk to your doctor during your annual check-up about which preventive screenings are right for you. In addition, Health Designs offers biometric and preventative screenings that help guide individual health and well-being. From BMI to bone density, our wide variety of screenings are available onsite at work, offsite at your home, at your doctor’s office, or by utilizing a lab voucher program. The information provided by each screening gives participants a launchpad for meaningful behavior change. To learn more about our services, click here!
