28/09/2021
BASIC HEALTH CHECKS
These are recommended tests that help you measure how well your body is functioning by assessing your cardiovascular, kidney and liver health before progressing into chronic or life-threatening conditions.
1-Heart rate
Your heart rate gives an indication of your general wellness. What’s normal depends on your age and fitness (Less than 10 beats per minute (bpm) is low and above 100 bpm is high).
2-Blood pressure
High blood pressure is a major risk factor for strokes, heart attack, heart failure and kidney disease. Normal blood pressure in adults is between 90/60 and 120/80 mmHg.
3-Blood sugar levels
Diabetes can lead to complications such as heart, kidney and dental disease, stroke and blindness. Normal range(4-6mmol/l).
4-Body mass index (BMI)
Body Mass Index (BMI) is an approximate measure of your best weight for health. It is calculated by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in meters squared (m2). Your BMI classification as per the World Health Organization is as follows;
• under 18.5kg/m2 – underweight and possibly malnourished
• 18.5 to 24.9kg/m2 –healthy weight range for young and middle-aged adults
• 25.0 to 29.9kg/m2 –overweight
• over 30kg/m2 – obese.
Risks of being overweight (high BMI) and physically inactive: [Cardiovascular (heart and blood circulation) disease, gallbladder disease, high blood pressure (hypertension), type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis, certain types of cancer, such as colon and breast cancer, depression and other mental health disorders].
Risks of being underweight (low BMI): [Compromised immune function, respiratory disease, digestive diseases, cancer, osteoporosis].
5-Waist circumference
When identifying health risk in adults, it is recommended that you combine your BMI classification with your waist circumference as a measurement of disease risk. Having fat around the abdomen or a ‘pot belly’, regardless of your body size, means you are more likely to develop certain obesity-related health conditions i.e. diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and cardiovascular disease.
For men: [94 cm or more – increased risk, 102 cm or more – substantially increased risk].
For women: [80 cm or more – increased risk,88 cm or more – substantially increased risk].
6-Fever
A fever temperature of 39.4 C or higher is a temporary increase in your body temperature, often due to an illness. Having a fever is a sign that something out of the ordinary is going on in your body.
Fever or elevated body temperature might be caused by; (a virus, bacterial infection, heat exhaustion, certain inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis — inflammation of the lining of your joints (synovium), a malignant tumor plus some medications and immunizations.
7-Blood tests. What tests you carry out depends on your health, risk factors and any current symptoms you may be having.
Standard recommended blood tests when evaluating obesity
1. Fasting lipid profile: Measures mixes of proteins, cholesterol, triglycerides, and phospholipids according to their densities
2. Liver function tests: measures the levels of total protein levels, albumin, globulin, the A/G ratio, bilirubin levels, alkaline phosphates, AST/SGOT, and ALT/SGPT.
3. Thyroid function tests: Measures the amount of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) to evaluate thyroid function
4. Fasting glucose tests: Testing your glucose levels before eating breakfast will help screen for diabetes or prediabetes
For a General Health check
1. Liver function: measures the levels of total protein levels, albumin, globulin, the A/G ratio, bilirubin levels, alkaline phosphates, AST/SGOT, and ALT/SGPT.
2. Bone and muscle health: Measures calcium and alkaline phosphatase in blood
3. Cholesterol: Measures Very low, Low and High density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol
4. Kidney function: measures the levels of urea nitrogen, creatinine, as well as their ratio
5. CBC: Measures red and white blood cells, hematocrit, hemoglobin and platelets
6. PAP Smear for ladies for cervical cancer screening and PSA for men for Prostate cancer screening
