Are high street health tests worth it?
Earlier this week, the government announced that all over-50s would receive kits for an at-home bowel screening test in the post, as the NHS warns that the disease is becoming more common in middle-aged adults.
Some 850,000 people aged 50 and 52 will be sent the at-home tests in the next three months, in an expansion of the national bowel cancer screening programme aimed at saving thousands of lives.
So, what are the other essential tests to have – and are they all offered by your GP? Doctors are increasingly aware of the importance of preventative checks. These give us vital knowledge, so we can lower our risk of later-life health issues by adjusting our lifestyles, or get early treatment so they don’t develop and become serious.
Everyone aged between 40 and 74 is entitled to a five-yearly Over 40s Health Check at their local surgery. “NHS screening programmes are evidence-based and have been demonstrated to pick up conditions, often where there are no symptoms,” says Dr Jo Hayman, a GP and associate medical director for Circle Healthcare.
The Over 40s Check comprises a blood test, blood pressure check, weigh-in, plus a questionnaire about lifestyle and your family history. “It’s a quick and easy set of tests to indicate your risk of the major killers: heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease,” says Hayman. Depending on the results, you can then adjust your lifestyle, or perhaps start on an appropriate medication: statins for high cholesterol, for example.
Do I need other tests beyond the NHS checks?
“If you take up what’s offered by the NHS, you would have covered everything that’s really essential,” says Dr Hayman. “However, there is a limit as to what the NHS can provide, and there’s something to be said for a more in-depth screening. Anything that gives the public more info so they can make generally useful lifestyle choices has to be valuable.”
There is a raft of health test offered privately – many on your local high street. But which are worth getting? Here’s what’s on offer.
Screening centres
Private services, such as the Randox Everywoman Health Check (£371) and Bluecrest Wellness Health MOT (from £149), are offered across the country and provide a slew of tests including blood tests, lung, kidney and liver function and heart and lung health. “These screening centres offer comprehensive blood tests, including some useful analysis that the NHS doesn’t provide as routine,” says Dr Hayman, “such as Vitamin D, Ferritin and iron levels. These extra results are useful – especially if the solution is clear and easy to action. For example, you can take Vitamin D supplements, or iron in the case of anaemia.”
The problem with such services is that in some instances, you receive your results in the form of a report, with no context. “Unless you see a doctor, you won’t know how to interpret these figures,” says Hayman. “For example, you might have an “abnormal” result, which is not actually clinically significant, but it could make you worry for nothing.” Some do offer follow-up consultations, but these come at a price.
Visiting a pharmacy
“This can be a good option as the tests and checks are done by qualified pharmacists who have good links with GP surgeries and can refer you to your doctor if necessary,” says Dr Hayman. Boots Health MOT is a free service for people aged 40 or over, who live in England and do not have a previous diagnosis of high blood pressure. You also have the option to be weighed, your height measured (to work out your Body Mass Index), and your waist circumference measured. Waist circumference is increasingly seen as a more reliable metric of health than BMI. For a pricier, but comprehensive total health check, Superdrug offers a General Health Check blood test for £159 – the tests offered look at liver health, diabetes risk and heart disease risk and give you insight into key micronutrient levels, such as vitamin D, iron and B vitamins and your thyroid hormones.
DIY supermarket tests
“The problem here is that the checks are very basic,” says Dr Hayman. “For example, a Tesco male sperm test would just come back as “negative or positive”, but it only checks for one aspect of fertility. False positives could be inaccurately reassuring. I wouldn’t recommend them.” You’ll find these take-home kits at larger supermarkets and pharmacies, from around £9 – look out for tests for bowels, kidneys, thyroid, vitamin D, flu, male fertility, menopause and iron deficiency.
Full body scans
Davina McCall discovered her rare, benign tumour after a full-body scan. “My colleagues and I been having a lot of conversations about these scans, both for their use on the NHS and privately,” says Hayman.
While there is clearly a market for such diagnostics, says Hayman, these scans are not generally a great idea. ’“The problem is, you are likely to find benign ‘artefacts’ on MRI scans – issues will show up that are, in fact, harmless, but have the potential to create huge patient anxiety.
“If you have the money to go and do this every month, you’ll be exposing yourself to radiation that could be harmful. If you’re really that anxious about your health, it would probably be a good idea to use the money for therapy instead.”
A top-to-toe scan, such as Vista health (£1,295-£1,850), looks at brain, liver, kidneys and pancreas and spine, looking for tumours and other abnormalities. The Platinum package also includes a detailed view at your heart. You can then choose to add on a follow-up consultation to discuss your results (at extra cost).
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