{"id":29645,"date":"2024-04-15T13:38:52","date_gmt":"2024-04-15T11:38:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/workcarewellness.co.za\/healthwise\/health-checks\/"},"modified":"2024-04-15T13:38:52","modified_gmt":"2024-04-15T11:38:52","slug":"health-checks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/workcarewellness.co.za\/healthwise\/health-checks\/","title":{"rendered":"Health Checks"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/span><\/div>

According to Einstein, you\u2019re classified as an intellectual if you can solve a problem. But if you can prevent one, you\u2019re a genius. So, by scheduling your necessary health checks regularly, you can prevent some health problems before they arise, and call yourself a genius too.<\/p>\n

1.) Blood pressure and cholesterol tests<\/strong><\/p>\n

High blood pressure and high cholesterol are major risk factors for heart disease and stroke, often presenting\u00a0 without symptoms. But a simple blood pressure test (measured through a soft cuff placed on the arm) and blood tests (lipid panel tests for cholesterol) can identify any threats, and guide your doctor in helping you to manage the condition. Men and women over the age of 40 need to be tested at least once a year.<\/p>\n

2.) Blood sugar test\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Considering the rising prevalence of diabetes \u2013 and the fact that it\u2019s one of the major causes of death in South Africa \u2013 diabetes screening is crucial. Early detection through blood tests and regular check-ups can help to manage the disease and reduce the risk for complications. Men and women over the age of 45 need to be tested once every three years, through a blood or finger-prick test, to determine the levels of glucose in the body. If you\u2019re overweight, have a family history of diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure or heart disease, you should start screening from the age of 35.<\/p>\n

3.) BMI assessment<\/strong><\/p>\n

Body mass index (BMI) assessments serve as a tool for evaluating disease risk and overall health. BMI screening measures the ratio of your weight to height in determining body fat. A healthy BMI is between 18,5 and 24,9. BMI takes into account natural variations in body shape, giving a healthy weight range for a particular height. As well as measuring your BMI, healthcare professionals may take other factors into account when assessing if you’re a healthy weight.
\nMuscle is much denser than fat, so very muscular people, such as heavyweight boxers, weight trainers and athletes, may be a healthy weight even though their BMI is classed as obese. Your ethnic group can also affect your risk of some health conditions. For example, adults of South Asian origin may have a higher risk of some health problems, such as diabetes, with a BMI of 23, which is usually considered healthy.<\/p>\n

4.) Mammograms, pap smears and prostate exams<\/strong><\/p>\n

Many forms of cancer, if detected early, are treatable. In early stages, treatment is also significantly less costly and more effective. Regular cancer screenings can also detect pre-cancerous conditions, so they can be addressed in a timely manner.<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Women over the age of 40 should have a mammogram once every two years.<\/li>\n
  • From the age of 21, women should have a pap smear once every three years.<\/li>\n
  • From the age of 45, men should have a prostate exam once every three to five years<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    5.) Eye and dental exams<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Eyes and teeth are areas of our health that are often neglected, but they can provide insight into more serious aspects of our health, such as diabetes or high blood pressure. Men and women should have eye tests every five to 10 years, increasing in frequency with age. Dental check-ups normally need to be done every
    \none to two years.<\/p>\n

    6.) Mental health screening<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety and stress are usually easy to diagnose and are treatable. Should you be concerned about your mental health, please reach out to your EWP and speak to one of our counsellors.<\/p>\n

    7.) Bone density test<\/strong><\/p>\n

    The risk for osteoporosis increases with age. A bone density test measures the levels of calcium and other bone minerals in the bones of the hip, arm or spine. The lower the bone mineral content, the more likely you are to develop osteoporosis. Men should start having bone density tests at the age of 70, and women at 65. The regularity of these tests will depend on the results of the first test.<\/p>\n

    8.) Skin cancer check-ups<\/strong><\/p>\n

    While we should all be checking our skin regularly for any irregularities, skin check-ups involve examining and visually recording all the moles on the body, so that, over time, any changes can be noted. If growths require attention, they are tested to determine if surgery or treatment is needed. Men and women should go for check-ups regularly, but they\u2019re recommended annually after the age of 40.<\/p>\n

    Bottom line<\/strong>
    \nRegular health checks are crucial for staying ahead of any possible medical conditions, and ensuring a good quality of life for years to come. These appointments give you the opportunity to discuss any concerns or symptoms that may have arisen since your last visit, and your healthcare provider will offer guidance on
    \nlifestyle changes or recommend further tests, if needed.<\/p>\n

    Toll-free: 0800 204 555
    \nRequest a call back: *134*905#<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":29646,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[50,37],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29645","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-coping-with-life","category-feature-articles"],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-07-25 16:38:51","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/workcarewellness.co.za\/healthwise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29645","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/workcarewellness.co.za\/healthwise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/workcarewellness.co.za\/healthwise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/workcarewellness.co.za\/healthwise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/workcarewellness.co.za\/healthwise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29645"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/workcarewellness.co.za\/healthwise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29645\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29647,"href":"https:\/\/workcarewellness.co.za\/healthwise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29645\/revisions\/29647"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/workcarewellness.co.za\/healthwise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29646"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/workcarewellness.co.za\/healthwise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29645"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/workcarewellness.co.za\/healthwise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29645"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/workcarewellness.co.za\/healthwise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29645"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}