Health checks are a way that you and your healthcare team can assess your risk of developing a health condition before you have any symptoms. Knowing that you have an increased chance of a condition lets you put lifestyle changes in place that may prevent it and allows you time to work with your healthcare team to arrange relevant follow up tests, to consider other options for early management, or to see a specialist.
Before you skim ahead to our list of health checks and book in to get them all there are some things for you to consider.
- Health checks are not designed for people who have symptoms: If you have any symptoms, skip the “health check” and see your doctor to discuss what they may mean for you.
- Not all health checks are for all people. Any health check will miss some people who will get the condition, and flag some who will not. Balancing between missing cases and doing further tests on those who don’t need it is a tricky task and why it’s good to discuss your personal situation with your doctor.
- A health check may not be 100% accurate: it may miss some people who will get the condition and flag some people as having the condition when they don’t. That’s why it’s important to have ongoing discussions with your doctor, especially if you feel that something isn’t right.
Here are some of the health checks available with your doctor and some things you can do yourself.
General health checks:
You can take stock of your health at any time at any age. Here are some of the things to consider:
Alcohol use
The less you drink, the better for your health. Australian guidelines recommend drinking no more than 10 standard drinks in a week, and no more than 4 standard drinks a day to reduce the harm from alcohol. Children and people under 18 years shouldn’t drink alcohol, nor should pregnant women. For women who are breastfeeding, not drinking alcohol is safest for their baby.
Smoking and vaping
Smoking and vaping are addictive, so it can be hard to stop, but you can quit with the right support. Smoking increases your risk of many diseases including heart disease, stroke, lung disease and osteoporosis. Vaping is associated with risk of respiratory problems, lung damage, chest pain, palpitations and other conditions. Quitting will improve your health and there is a lot of support available to help you.
Nutrition
Having a varied diet with plenty of vegetables, high fibre wholegrains, lean meats and protein sources, fruit, and dairy is recommended to maintain your health. Consider where you get your energy and your nutrients from to support your lifestyle. Don’t know where to start? Food Tracker is a free tool that analyses your grocery shop to help you make healthier food choices and to eat a balanced diet, in line with the dietary guidelines.
Physical activity
Regular physical activity can reduce your risk of many conditions including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and some cancers. It can also maintain muscles and bones, supports your immune system and mental health. The weekly recommendation for adults is 2.5 – 5 hours of moderate intensity physical activity - like a walk or a ride - or 1.25 – 2.5 hours of vigorous intensity physical activity - like jogging or competitive sports where you get out of breath - or a combination of those activities. It’s also recommended that you include muscle-strengthening activities at least 2 days a week like body weight exercises, weight training or even chores involving using your muscles.
You can also think about how much time you spend being sedentary – this usually means either sitting or lying down for long periods of time - as decreasing your sedentary time can also improve your health.
Waist circumference
Measuring waist circumference may help when looking at risk factors for chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. You can measure your waist at home using the instructions from the Department of Health. Talk to your healthcare professional if you have any questions or concerns.
Your healthy weight range will vary depending on many factors, including ethnicity, physical activity and age. The nutritional and physical activity guidelines have been developed to help manage these risks.
Mental health
Preventative health is not only about our physical health, but mental health as well. One of the tough parts of managing your mental health is the worse you feel, the harder it is to find motivation to seek help. Taking time to consider how you are feeling and doing things to support your mental and emotional wellbeing can set you up to notice and do something about it before you get overwhelmed. You can get more information about supporting your mental health from sites like Head To Health or Beyond Blue, and your GP can also discuss any concerns with you.
Dental health
Oral health is integral to overall health and wellbeing, and it is recommended that we brush our teeth twice a day with fluoridated toothpaste and clean in between teeth daily. Regular professional dental check-ups are important throughout life and everyone has different risk levels which will affect how often those check-ups are needed. As a general guide, most dentists recommend a check-up every 6 to 12 months. The guidelines also note that smoking, vaping, and alcohol consumption are harmful to oral health.
Eye check
You should consider getting your eyes checked by an optometrist at any age. It is recommended that people over 40 years get an eye test every 2-3 years, although if you have risk factors, or are over 65 years, you may need checks more often.
One part of the eye check, an assessment for glaucoma, is important for people over 50 years (or 40 years for people of African descent) who have a family history or other risk factors. Glaucoma is a collection of conditions that affect the optic nerve – the nerve that goes between your eye and your brain – and can cause vision loss. Treating early can prevent long-term damage.
Family history discussion with GP
It may be helpful to discuss your family history with your GP. Your family history could indicate that you are at higher chance of developing some cancers, heart disease or diabetes. In some cases, your GP may refer you to a clinical genetic service if there is something specific or complex to discuss.
Immunisation check
You can check if you are up to date with all of your vaccines. There are a number of infectious conditions which can be prevented (or risk reduced) by vaccination throughout your lifetime. You can check with your doctor whether there are any that you may have missed or that you are due for. For people under 20 years catch-up vaccinations are free and catch-up HPV vaccines are available up to and including people at 25 years under the National Immunisation Program.
Health checks in your teens and 20s and on
Breast Self-Examination
Early detection of breast cancer means that treatment is more likely to be effective. Becoming familiar with the look and feel of your breasts and checking them regularly lets you notice any changes as they occur. Check how they look in a mirror with your arms by your sides and above your head, and how they feel, including all of the breast area into the armpit and up to your collarbone.
Testicular Self-Examination
Testicular cancer is the second most common cancer in men 20 – 39 years (behind non-melanoma skin cancer), and when found early is one of the most curable cancers. The most common signs are a change in shape or size, or a painless swelling or lump, so self-checking how your testis look and feel regularly is important. Doing the check in the shower is recommended and if you do it regularly, it will help notice any changes as they happen.
Skin Self-Examination / Medical Skin Check
Skin cancers are the most common cancer diagnosed in Australia. In fact, in fact 80% of all cancers diagnosed here are skin cancers. Of most concern are melanomas and most are found by the individual or someone close to them. It is recommended to do self-examinations regularly (with help for some of the hard to see spots if possible) so that you know what is normal for you and can see if something changes. There aren’t official Australian population screening guidelines as evidence isn’t clear yet that it would be useful. Often GPs will check as they have a chance. People with an increased risk of skin cancer may need an individualised plan which could include regular clinical check-ups every 6 months to a year, so check with your GP what would work best for you.
Increased risk factors include:
- Family (or personal) history of melanoma or other skin cancers
- Fair complexion, a tendency to burn rather than tan, presence of freckles, light eye colour, light or red hair colour
- High number of moles
- History of episodes of sunburn in childhood
- High UV exposure (eg. Outdoor workers)
- Past exposure to arsenic
- People who are immunosuppressed
STI review
About 1 in 6 Australians will be diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections (STI) in their lifetime, and if untreated they can cause major health problems. It is recommended that anyone who is sexually active should discuss their sexual health and screening for sexually transmitted infections (STI) with their doctor, regardless of their age, gender, sexual orientation or relationship status. Your doctor can discuss with you how often you will need to check in and what testing is best for you. This is likely to include a blood test, and possibly a swab and/or urine test.
Cervical cancer screening
Cervical cancer screening in Australia is an ongoing success story. Since the introduction of the National Cervical Screening program in 1991 the incidence and mortality (cause of death) of cervical cancer has halved. In 2017 the Pap smear test was replaced with a new Cervical Screening test. This is available to all people who have a cervix, have ever been sexually active and between the ages of 25 to 74 years of age, and usually done every 5 years. After discussion with your GP, the sample can be taken by yourself or your doctor.
Health checks in your 30s and 40s and on
Heart health check
Heart disease causes significant health impacts and is a leading cause of death. There are a number of factors that can cause or could prevent heart disease. Your doctor can do an assessment which can estimate the chance that you will develop cardiovascular disease in the next 5 years. This is recommended for all people from 45 to 79 years, for people with diabetes from 35 to 79, and for First Nations people from 30 to 79 years. It should be done every two years. This assessment isn’t necessary if you have a diagnosis of cardiovascular disease, or if you are already known to be at high risk.
The heart health assessment is booked with your doctor as a specific appointment and involves taking your history, your blood pressure and blood test results (a blood cholesterol test drawn before the appointment so they have the results). Once your risk has been assessed, the doctor will discuss your result and make a management plan with you based on the result.
Diabetes type 2
Assessing your risk of type 2 diabetes is recommended for all people over 40 years, and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over 18 years and should be done every 3 years. You can do this with your doctor or by yourself using the Australian Type 2 Diabetes Risk Assessment Tool, an online tool which can calculate your risk of type 2 diabetes in the next 5 years – you just need a tape measure. It separates people into Low, Intermediate and High risk, and it’s important to note that while the chances are higher in the high-risk group, it is still more likely you won’t develop type 2 diabetes than you will, but it is important to take the results to your doctor to discuss what your results mean for you and consider how to manage your risk.
Osteoporosis and bone density
As we get older, our bones can get more fragile, increasing the chance of fractures. A risk assessment is recommended for women over 45 years and for men over 50 years and every year, taking into account your personal and family history. Women over 50 years and men over 60 years with other risk factors, which could include family history, low body weight, smoking, low Vitamin D, or some medical conditions and medications, amongst others, may be referred for a test to measure their bone density, called a DXA scan. The DXA scan uses a series of low-dose X-ray scans of your hip and spine and may be repeated after 2 years or more to check your bone density again.
Health checks in your 50s and onwards
Bowel cancer screening
Around 1 in 15 Australians will develop bowel cancer in their lifetime, almost 99% of cases which are detected early can be treated successfully. The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) sent by mail is a taxpayer funded faecal immunochemical test (sample tube) to Australians and permanent migrants between 50 and 74 years, asking for two separate poo samples and has pre-paid packaging to send the completed test back to the laboratory. From July 1, 2024, people from 45 years can request a sample kit be sent to them, or could discuss screening with their GP. For all participants a new test will be mailed 2 years after your last test was completed.
Breast cancer screening
1 in 7 Australian women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. BreastScreen Australia actively invites all women (without symptoms) 50 to 74 years for a free mammogram every 2 years, and you will get the invitation and results afterwards by mail. It is also available if requested for women 40 to 49 years or over 75 years. Breast screening may be of benefit to trans or gender diverse people, discuss with your GP or local BreastScreen your needs. If you have a family or family history of breast or ovarian cancer, you may need individualised screening recommendations.
Hearing tests
As we get older the chance of hearing loss increases, and it is recommended that GPs check in with patients over 65 years about their hearing every year. If you have concerns about your hearing, you can get an assessment from an audiologist without a referral from your doctor.
Health checks for pregnancy
If you are planning a pregnancy it is recommended that you see your doctor first to do a number of health checks. Which ones and what they involve will depend on your personal circumstances and are likely to include:
- Discussion of your medical history to consider current conditions and if you are at increased risk for any specific conditions and how they may affect or be affected by your pregnancy. This may lead to some blood tests or other tests to gather any relevant information.
- It is recommended that anyone contemplating pregnancy should be offered reproductive carrier screening – a genetic test for conditions which parents may carry without knowing about it. Your doctor could discuss this and both parent’s family history.
- Review of any medications you are currently taking and if they are appropriate for use during a pregnancy or if there are better options.
- Discussion regarding immunisation, if you have all the relevant vaccinations, and if there are any recommended during pregnancy.
- Review lifestyle recommendations:
- Managing diet and exercise and the effects of maternal weight
- Supplementation: Folic acid and iodine are recommended when planning a pregnancy, before conception if possible
- Discussion of smoking, alcohol and substance use for both parents
- Consideration of travel and environmental risks
- Assess environmental risks and exposures at home, work and other places you spend time.
Summary:
Good health is made up of many parts and understanding your current health and your potential health risks allows you to take steps to maintain your wellbeing. Everyone has their own health history and future risk, and you can speak to your doctor to find out what health checks could help you.
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Reviewed by the healthylife Advisory Board June 2024.
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