Everything you need to know about a full health MOT

Being healthy and happy is what most of us aspire towards. Along with enjoying life to the fullest and spending as much time as possible with the people we love.

And much like we wouldn’t ignore taking our car for its yearly MOT, it’s important we don’t avoid occasionally giving your body a once over to make sure all is running as it should.  

By taking part in a routine health screen, you are more likely to identify a health condition early, so you can be treated in the appropriate way.  

“A health screening is a routine check-up of your general health,” says Dr Kiran Johal, a NHS Doctor. “The idea is to give an overall picture of your current health and wellbeing, as well as determining your risk of developing particular medical conditions,” she adds. 

For example, high blood pressure, or hypertension as it can be known, is referred to as a “silent killer” because it typically doesn't show any noticeable symptoms.

“Many people can have it for years without knowing, while it quietly damages the heart, blood vessels, kidneys, and other parts of the body,” says Vitality's Medical Director, Dr Rosie Godeseth.

But a simple check-up could help detect any changes to your health and give you access to the right information and support needed to help manage it.

Read Godeseth's list of four reasons to be proactive about your health:

At Vitality, we believe that prevention is better than cure, which is why we encourage our members to get a health check to increase the chances of catching a diagnosis early.

If you are a Vitality member and want to know more about the health checks that are available to you, log into the Vitality Member app.

Or if you are interested in taking out a plan with Vitality, visit vitality.co.uk for more details.

What happens at a health screen?

A health screen can come in a few different forms. It could be a face-to-face consultation with a health professional or an at-home testing kit that can check a host of readings. 

This could be in the form of a blood test that checks your vitals, such as cholesterol levels, risk of a stroke and your heart, liver and kidney health, as well as dementia risks.

“These can be tailored to you and personalised based on your gender, age, family history, and individual risk factors,” explains Dr Godeseth.

More in-depth tests could also involve a lung function check through a spirometry test or a stool antigen test, which detects certain types of cancers.  

It’s worth noting that these screens should be done alongside the NHS’s recommended tests, including cervical smear tests for women every three years between the ages of 25 and 64 years old (or annually if you are identified as being at risk), as well as mammograms, which check for breast cancer.   

Meanwhile, everyone in England is invited for a bowel cancer screening – the fourth most common type of cancer – by the NHS when they are between the ages of 54 and 74. Those living in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can also get a test, but the ages vary slightly.

Godeseth advises to be well hydrated and continue to take any regular medication before your health screen, unless instructed otherwise.

Bluecrest Wellness, a third-party health check provider and Vitality partner, for example, says it will provide a detailed preparation of guidelines ahead of your appointment.  

When should I get a health screen?  

Currently, the NHS offers five-year health screens to people aged between 40 and 74 years old to assess health risks, such as heart and kidney disease, as well as your chances of suffering a stroke.

Should you decide to undergo a health screen before this, it’s good to know what the process might look like, so you know what to expect.

Usually, it involves a few steps, such as answering a few medical questions, measuring your height, weight and blood pressure, and taking some blood tests.

But despite their importance, the idea of a health screen can sometimes pass under the radar if there appears to be nothing wrong with our bodies.

Not just that, people can be apprehensive about getting a health check, because they are nervous of not just needles, but also the results.

However, Godeseth says it’s always better not to put it off, even though it’s perfectly natural to feel nervous before one. “If the results are all clear, you’ll experience a huge sense of relief and if any issues are detected, it’s better to address these sooner rather than later.”