Everyone wants to grow old in good health. We go to the gym more often, watch what we eat and try to get enough sleep. But how can you really know what’s going on inside your body? Your body is a complex system that sometimes sends out subtle signals long before you actually experience any symptoms. So, do you always listen to your body, or do you wait until you have to sound the alarm? At Medical Check-Up we believe that It is better to prevent health problems than to cure them. A preventive medical screening gives you an insight into your current state of health. But as a beginner, the world of medical tests can often seem overwhelming. What types of screening are available? And how do you choose the one that’s right for you? We’re happy to help you with this.
So what exactly is a preventive medical screening?
A medical screening is a preventive screening carried out before you experience any obvious health symptoms yourself. The aim The reason for this is simple: to detect any risk factors or early-stage conditions – such as high blood pressure, early-stage diabetes or early cardiovascular problems – at an early stage. The sooner you catch them, the more effectively you can intervene with targeted advice or early treatment. So what is an example of a screening? A very familiar example is a preventive blood test during which your cholesterol and blood sugar levels are measured. Or a regular blood pressure check. But when you choose the entire preventive medical screening programme With a Medical Check-Up, you’re opting for a comprehensive and streamlined process. The examination consists of five steps.The online check-up: Before you actually book an appointment, please complete our online questionnaire to receive personalised screening advice. This way, in less than 2 minutes, you’ll know which types of screening are best suited to you and, therefore, which appointments you should book. The clinical trial: You will visit our practice in Antwerp in person for a preliminary consultation. During this consultation, you will discuss your medical history, any possible family history of the condition and your current lifestyle with the doctor. The doctor will also carry out a number of basic tests and measurements to form the basis of the screening. The screenings: Depending on the results of your online check-up and the preliminary basic examination, our specialist doctors will carry out various screening tests. All of this takes place in a comfortable and, above all, non-clinical setting. The laboratory analyses: Following the physical examinations, your samples will be sent to the laboratory for thorough analysis. This enables us to establish your exact medical profile. The consultation: At the end of the process, you will receive a comprehensive and, above all, easy-to-understand medical report. During a face-to-face consultation with the doctor, your results will be explained to you and you will receive specific advice on your diet, lifestyle or any necessary follow-up tests and treatments.
What types of screening are there?
If you’re wondering what types of screening are available, it’s useful to first understand that the healthcare system distinguishes between three broad categories. So what are these three types of screening?Population-based screening programmes: These medical screening programmes are organised by the Flemish Government. Examples include preventive screening for breast, bowel and cervical cancer. Diagnostic screening tests: Tests carried out by a doctor when you are already experiencing specific symptoms, in order to effectively diagnose an illness. Personal preventive screenings: This is what we carry out at Medische Check-Up. These examinations are carried out at the patient’s own initiative in order to proactively assess their health and monitor specific risks. To give a clear overview of all the options available, we have provided a list of all types of screening which we at Medische Check-Up can offer to give your body a comprehensive health check for potential health risks. Every thorough medical screening begins with a clinical trial. This is the basic examination during which the doctor physically assesses your general state of health. This includes listening to your heart and lungs, checking your reflexes and carrying out a general medical check-up of your body. Based on these initial findings, our doctors will determine which targeted screenings offer the greatest added value.Blood and urine tests: A comprehensive laboratory analysis that assesses the key indicators for your organs, such as your liver and kidneys, as well as your cholesterol, vitamin levels and blood sugar levels. Eye and/or ear tests: A preventive check-up on your eyesight and hearing. Fat percentage scanning: A detailed analysis of your body composition to see the ratio between your muscle mass and fat mass. Electrocardiogram (ECG): A resting ECG that measures your heart’s electrical activity to detect arrhythmias or strain. Echocardiography and bike test: An echocardiogram uses sound waves to visualise the structure and function of your heart muscle and heart valves. During a cycle test or exercise test, our doctors observe how your heart and blood pressure respond when you are physically active. Duplex scan of the neck arteries: A specialised ultrasound scan that measures blood flow in the arteries in your neck to detect the risk of atherosclerosis or narrowing at an early stage. Spirometry and bodybox: These tests measure your lung function. A spirometry test measures how quickly and how much air you can breathe out. The Bodybox goes one step further and measures your total lung capacity and the resistance of your airways in a special chamber. Abdominal ultrasound: An ultrasound scan of the abdominal cavity, which allows doctors to visually examine your organs – such as the liver, gallbladder, spleen, kidneys and the aorta – for any abnormalities. Dermatoscan: An advanced, preventive skin screening procedure in which moles are digitally recorded and analysed to detect skin cancer at an early stage. Bone densitometry: A bone density scan that measures the density and strength of your bones. This is essential for the early detection of osteoporosis. EEC: A study that maps brain activity using small electrodes placed on the scalp. Mammography and ultrasound: Targeted preventive breast screening for women to detect changes in tissue or lumps. Uroflow and transrectal ultrasound: Specific screening tests for the urinary tract and the prostate. Uroflowmetry measures the strength and pattern of the urine stream. A transrectal ultrasound provides a detailed image of the prostate. Rectoscopy and colonoscopy: Preventative bowel examinations. A rectoscopy examines the inside of the rectum, whilst a colonoscopy examines the entire length of the large bowel to detect polyps, for example. All these screenings are individual pieces of a jigsaw that, when put together, form a complete picture of your health. With Medische Check-Up, you don’t have to work out for yourself which combination of tests you need. Via our online check-up Our doctors will advise you personally on which medical screenings are suitable for you. Whether you then opt for a targeted check-up of your heart and blood vessels or choose complete peace of mind from the full medical screening, we’ll ensure that you undergo exactly the tests that will be of the greatest benefit to your body right now.
So what do you need to bear in mind when choosing the right screening test?
As a beginner, you don’t need to have all the available tests carried out straight away. A good medical screening is always tailored to your individual needs. To determine which tests are appropriate for you at this stage, we look at the key factors you need to take into account.Age and gender: Your biological needs change over the years. Whilst someone in their twenties would benefit from a general baseline assessment, from the age of 50 Targeted prostate screening for men or an assessment of mammograms for women is particularly relevant. Family background: Genetics often plays a major role. Does your family have a history of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, diabetes or certain types of cancer at a young age? If so, it is advisable to have these specific measurements checked early on and at regular intervals. Lifestyle and job: Do you have a stressful job or work irregular shifts, or do you smoke or drink alcohol regularly? If so, your body is bound to react to it. Even if you’re planning to take up intensive exercise again after years of inactivity, a targeted cardiovascular check-up is a wise choice. Personal signals: Sometimes you may not be ill as such, but you’ve been feeling inexplicably tired or listless for a while, or you’re experiencing vague muscle symptoms. These are certainly reasons to undergo a targeted medical screening to check for any deficiencies or imbalances. Are you unsure which factor is the deciding one for you? Our online check-up Based on a short online questionnaire, it helps you find the right medical test in a matter of minutes.
Who are these screenings intended for?
The short answer is that a medical screening is intended for everyone. Especially for anyone who wants to stay in control of their own health. It is a misconception that a medical check-up It only becomes relevant when you’re older or have specific health problems.
The ambitious thirty-something or active sports enthusiast
Are you young, fit and keen to push your limits at the gym or on a road bike? Or do you have a demanding job and want to avoid burnout?
- Which screening tests are right for you? A comprehensive blood and urine test in combination with a body fat percentage scan. These provide a perfect baseline measurement. Do you want to get back into intensive exercise after years of inactivity, or are you training for a marathon? Then an electrocardiogram and a cycling test It is essential to check how your heart responds to strenuous exercise.
People in their forties or fifties with a busy lifestyle
From the age of forty Your metabolism begins to change, and conditions such as arteriosclerosis can develop gradually, without you even realising it.
- Which screening tests are right for you? Now is the time for a duplex scan of the cervical vessels to assess the risk of atherosclerosis. Also an ultrasound abdomen From this age onwards, it is worth having a check-up to monitor the health of your organs, such as the liver and kidneys, as a preventative measure. For women from this age onwards, a targeted mammography and ultrasound Breast examinations are also an important regular check-up.
People with a specific family history or lifestyle
Is there a history of premature cardiovascular disease, bowel problems or diabetes in your family? Or are you a smoker? If so, your body needs a targeted approach.
- Which screening tests are right for you? If there is a family history of bowel cancer, then a preventive rectoscopy or colonoscopy maximum protection. Have you spent a lot of time in the sun, or do you have fair skin with lots of freckles? If so, an annual Dermatoscan A must for your moles. For smokers, a spirometry and the bodybox essential for accurately monitoring lung function and capacity.
Men and women aged 50 and over
Once we pass the age of 50, our body’s hormonal balance changes and certain health risks, such as osteoporosis or prostate problems, increase.
- Which screening tests are right for you? For women going through or past the menopause, a bone densitometry recommended for the early detection of osteoporosis. Men aged 50 and over would be well advised to undergo a uroflow and a transrectal echo to have their prostate and urinary tract checked.
The comprehensive medical check-up: For those who want complete peace of mind
If you don’t want to choose, but are looking for a comprehensive overview of your health, then there’s a medical check-up For everyone, whatever your age. With this comprehensive medical check-up, you can assess your overall health and physical condition once a year. It combines clinical examinations, blood and urine tests, heart and lung function tests, and targeted imaging into a clear and reassuring medical report.
What do the results of your medical screening mean?
It’s perfectly normal to feel a bit nervous whilst waiting for the results of a medical check-up. Sometimes people are put off by the medical terms in the report. But here at Medische Check-Up, we’ll make sure you book a follow-up appointment with the doctor so you can go through and discuss the results together.
What does it mean if my screening result is negative?
In everyday life, the word ‘negative’ sounds like bad news, but in the context of a medical screening, it’s exactly the opposite. A negative result means that the health condition or disease being screened for was not detected during the screening.
- So what does this mean for you? Your cholesterol is within the normal range, the dermatoscan shows no suspicious moles; no abnormalities have been detected in relation to diabetes and the abdominal ultrasound shows a healthy result. In short: a negative result is excellent news in this case. It gives you the confirmation – in black and white – and, above all, the reassurance you were looking for. Your body is functioning perfectly, just as it should.
What does it mean if my screening test comes back positive?
If the results of your medical screening are positive, this means that an abnormal value, risk factor or potential condition has been identified. A measurement has been recorded that falls outside the normal reference ranges.
- What does this mean for you? There’s no need to panic straight away, as a positive medical result is no cause for alarm. It doesn’t automatically mean you’re seriously ill. However, it is an important warning sign. Perhaps your blood sugar level is too high, so the ECG notice a slight irregularity in the rhythm, or has a polyp been detected during a colonoscopy.
- Why is this also a kind of gain? Because, thanks to preventive screening, you’re able to detect it at a very early stage, even before you’ve experienced any symptoms yourself. This gives you a huge head start. Together with our doctors or your own GP, you can draw up a targeted plan straight away. Often, a small change to your diet, more exercise, stress reduction or mild medication is enough to restore your levels and prevent more serious consequences. A positive result is, above all, an opportunity to proactively manage your health.
Conclusion: Your health, your preventive screenings
A medical check-up is not an obligation, but a valuable gift to yourself and your future. By choosing preventive medicine, you’re choosing a life where you’re not constantly playing catch-up, but are in control. Would you like to take the first step towards a healthier future? Then please feel free to drop by our screening centre in Antwerp for a medical screening. Here, our doctors will take the time to talk to you, explain everything in detail and offer an alternative to the clinical, stressful atmosphere of a traditional hospital. Curious to find out which screening are they really right for your body? Do it today our online check-up to receive personalised advice. Then book straight away your appointment.
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