As we age, keeping our health on top form becomes increasingly important.

Regular check-ups, health assessments and preventative screenings become key tools in managing our health and catching potential issues early.

For those over 50, these health assessments form an integral part of maintaining wellness and detecting diseases in their earliest, most treatable stages. 

So, what screenings and health tests are recommended for those over 50? Let’s take a look.

What are health assessments?

Health assessments (which may also be referred to as health or preventative screenings, health tests, or a health MOT) are medical tests conducted to identify and monitor current and potential future health problems.

They can be essential in preventing serious health risks developing further and can promote preventative measures. They give you an insight into how you can improve your health and lifestyle or anything that needs to happen to help you live a healthy lifestyle.

Both private and NHS health checks are available, it all depends what best suits you. Private health assessments can offer a more bespoke check and may offer a broader range of tests and assessments. Some insurers will offer discounted health assessments in their policy or you may get one included each policy year.

What's included in a health assessment?

NHS Health Assessments

These may vary depending on where you have your health assessment completed. For example, with an NHS health assessment it would usually include:

• Measuring your weight and height
• A blood pressure test
• A cholesterol test

The tests are able to identify if you're at higher risk of getting heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease or stroke. It's worth noting that to be eligible for these health assessments you'll need to have no pre-existing conditions such as: heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart failure or inherited high cholesterol.

NHS health assessments are offered to everyone between the ages of 40 and 74 years old and you will be invited to have one every five years.

Private Health Assessments

Private health checks can differ to what's included in a standard NHS test. They will typically be more in-depth and cover additional aspects of your health, so are worth considering if you want peace of mind regarding your health.

There are a range of options available, from an essential check covering the basics, up to a more detailed comprehensive check.

Whilst they'll vary by private healthcare provider, typically with private health assessments you can expect:

• Height and weight measurements, including BMI and body fat percentage
• Cholesterol test
• Full blood count
• Full biochemistry profile including liver and kidney function
• Blood glucose test for diabetes
• Blood pressure
• Resting ECG
• Cardiovascular risk score
• Thyroid function test
• Calcium

There are also specific male and female focused tests. Female specific tests can include: cervical smear, pelvic examination, breast examination and mammography. For male specific tests you could have a testicular examination and prostate cancer blood test (50+).

Why are health assessments important?

Health assessments have a number of great benefits for our health, including:

• Early disease detection and management - Many serious conditions, like cancer and heart disease, often have few or no symptoms in their initial stages. 
  
  
• Insights into health risks - This allows for proactive management of potential issues. Having a better understanding of our health can help to make positive lifestyle changes.
  
  
• Improved quality of life - Finding serious conditions in the early stages, or having full understanding of our health can help us to lead a more improved lifestyle with our health prioritised.
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What other screenings and tests are available?

Whilst a health assessment covers a more overall review of our health, there are screenings and tests available that target more specific areas of our health.

The age of 50 marks a pivotal point in preventative healthcare, as many health risks tend to increase significantly beyond this age. According to Age UK over a third of people aged 50 and over said that their health had worsened in the past 12 months.

Some recommended preventative health services and checks for over 50s include:

Blood pressure check

High blood pressure can lead to heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and other health issues. Regular screenings, often performed annually, can help manage and control blood pressure effectively.

Blood pressure checks can be done at your local GP surgery, they also form part of the NHS health check. They will also be included as part of a private health check, for example with a Bupa health assessment.

Cholesterol check

Increased cholesterol levels can contribute to heart disease. Starting from age 40 or earlier, cholesterol should be checked every five years, or more frequently if there are risk factors for heart disease.

When you are over 40, overweight, or have a family history of high cholesterol or heart problems, you can get a cholesterol test with your GP. It also forms part of a health check too.

Beyond a cholesterol check, lifestyle changes can also help to lower the risk of high cholesterol levels and the health issues it can cause.

Many private health insurers provide support to help achieve a healthier lifestyle. This includes: discounted gym memberships and fitness products, discounted health assessments, mental health support and personalised lifestyle advice. 

Diabetes screening

Diabetes can lead to several complications if left unchecked, and your risk of diabetes increases as you age. Regular blood glucose tests can help identify pre-diabetes or diabetes early.

If symptoms of diabetes occur, health insurance provides 24/7 access to a digital GP service, where symptoms can be discussed potentially quicker than with an NHS GP.

Bowel cancer screening

From age 50, both men and women should undergo regular screenings for colorectal cancer, as the majority (94%) of bowel cancer cases occur in those over 50. Currently, the NHS offers bowel screenings every 2 years to those aged between 60 and 74*, so always make sure to keep on top of these appointments, especially as rescheduling them can mean being put on a long waiting list. 

*After 74, the risk of complications during bowel screening increases, which is why the NHS has opted for this cut-off age. However, you can still request an at-home screening kit if you’d like; this is usually recommended if you have a family history of bowel cancer, or if you have any conditions that increase your bowel cancer risk; this includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. 

Breast cancer screening

Mammograms are recommended for women aged 50 and over to detect breast cancer early; these routine screenings are available every three years on the NHS to women aged 50-70. 

Osteoporosis screening

Bone density scans can be useful for women aged 65 and over, or post-menopausal women with risk factors, to detect osteoporosis.

However, there is currently no national screening programme for osteoporosis in the UK. That being said, if your GP believes that you may have osteoporosis, you should be eligible for a DEXA scan, a screening used to detect the condition.

Which health insurers offer health assessments?

Whilst it's uncommon that a private health check or MOT will be free with insurers, some insurers do offer discounts on checks as a benefit of your health insurance policy.

Let's take a look into what is available:

Bupa Health Assessments: 

Bupa offer a range of health assessments to suit individual needs. For example they have a lower priced check which covers the essentials, such as blood pressure, lung age, mobility and flexibility, along with a sleep and mental health review.

Their highest priced assessment includes all of those checks, plus a fitness test and 12-week personal programme.

They also have an assessment designed for over 65s which helps people to stay on top of their health and well-being.

It's worth noting that Bupa offer 10% off their health assessments when you have an insurance policy.

The Exeter Health MOT:

The Exeter offer one Health MOT each year for policyholders. The test checks 20 different markers to spot any problems early on and provides results through their dedicated app. This is an at-home health assessment via a self-administered finger prick blood test.

You then receive a personalised health report and can discuss your results with a GP through their digital GP service.

Vitality Health Check:

Vitality offer a health check for one adult member on their Personal Healthcare Plan each policy year. Further health checks are available for other members of the plan for £15 per assessment.

Whilst they offer virtual health checks as standard, you can choose a face-to-face with their partner Bluecrest, which will be at one of their locations.

Whilst other insurers don't offer health assessments directly, you may be able to get discount for a Nuffield health assessment, a health check with Circle Health Group or another private healthcare provider.

This prompt response can be invaluable in identifying potential health issues, allowing for immediate intervention, and improving the likelihood of favourable outcomes when dealing with time-sensitive conditions.

Health assessments can play a crucial role in our health and well-being and making sure we're on track. They're also a great way to have peace of mind over our health.

Whenever you’re ready to find your policy, our advisers will be ready to support you. You can fill out a quote form and await a call from our team or get started now and give us a call on: 01285 864670