I’m approaching a ‘milestone’ birthday. What health checks should I have at my age?

January 7, 2022
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Haven’t had a health check in a while, or ever?

You’re not alone. Most people wait until they’re sick to see a GP, so there’s not usually much time in a consultation to also talk about preventative health.

So, should you book a check with your GP just to talk about what you can do to stay well? And if so, what should you be discussing?

It depends on your life stage.

In case you need them, here are some of the services we can offer:

  • Family planning
  • Management plans and care arrangements for chronic conditions
  • Reviews of medications
  • Plans for mental health care
  • Health checks for newborns
  • Health checks for 45-year-olds
  • Assessments for the elderly
  • Reviews of Asthma and Diabetes
  • Shared care for pregnant women
  • Cervical screening
  • Vaccinations and immunizations
  • Implantation of contraceptives
  • Full-body skin examinations

    Doctors won’t check you for everything

    It may surprise you there is no evidence that a “general health check-up” will give you better health outcomes. 

    Some preventive checks in low-risk and otherwise well patients have shown no benefit, including some blood tests and imaging investigations, such as whole-body CTs or MRIs for cancer screening.

    As well as being a waste of your time and money, there is another concern with generic health screening: it may lead to overdiagnosis, which results in additional tests, appointments, anxiety, drugs and even operations. Ironically, this can leave you less healthy.

    Book an appointment