From eye exams to cancer tests & the dentist… the nine vital health check-ups that could save your life at every age
FROM eye exams to cancer tests, there are numerous health checks available across the country.
Most are free, quick, painless and, crucially, could save your life.
Around 20,000 bowel cancer cases have been prevented by England’s screening programme in the last decade.
And research suggests that attending an NHS health MOT could lower your risk of heart attack, dementia and death by up to 23 per cent.
Even if you are seemingly healthy, it is vital to get tested.
These are nine of the most important health checks on offer, and exactly when you should get them.
AGE 2+ – DENTAL CHECK-UP
Free for some: Available at NHS and private dentists
AS soon as a child gets their first teeth, they should start having them checked by a dentist. Most people then need to go every six months.
GP Dr Helen Wall tells Sun on Sunday Health: “Unmanaged decay can be excruciatingly painful and lead to tooth loss and sepsis.
“Dentists will also check for signs of mouth, head and neck cancer.”
Most dental practices are not accepting new NHS patients so you may need to pay for private care.
AGE 3+ – EYE TEST
Free for some: Available at opticians, supermarkets and high street shops
CHILDREN should have their eyes tested every year from the age of three, while adults should do so every two years.
Appointments take 20 minutes and assess your vision and overall eye health.
“If you notice any changes in your vision, get checked as soon as possible,” Dr Wall says.
AGE 18+ – HEARING TEST
Free for some: Available in schools, GP surgeries, pharmacies, hearing clinics and opticians
NEWBORNS are often screened for hearing problems, and children are typically tested at school. For most adults, a baseline hearing test is recommended aged 18 to 21.
After this, you should get tested every three to five years, especially if there’s exposure to loud noise or changes in hearing, Dr Wall says.
Those 60-plus should book a test once or twice a year.
AGE 25-64 – CERVICAL SCREENING
Free for all: Available at GP surgeries and sexual health clinics
CERVICAL screening is offered to women aged 25 to 49 every three years, and those 50 to 64 every five.
A nurse will insert a speculum in the woman’s vagina to see their cervix and remove a sample of cells using a soft brush.
Smear tests identify any abnormal changes and human papillomavirus (HPV), which could lead to cancer.
“Don’t miss out. Cervical screening saves 5,000 lives a year in England,” Dr Wall says.
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AGE 40-74 – NHS HEALTH CHECK
Free for all: Available at GP surgeries and pharmacies
IF you are aged 40 to 74 and have no pre-existing health conditions, you should be invited for a free 30-minute NHS Health Check every five years.
It usually measures your height, weight, waist, blood pressure and cholesterol.
AGE 50-71 – BREAST SCREENING
Free for all: Available at screening clinics, hospitals and mobile units
WOMEN in England are invited for their first mammogram between the ages of 50 and 53, then every three years until they turn 71.
During the 30-minute appointment, two X-rays on each breast will check for breast cancer.
“Finding cancer early means treatment is more likely to be successful,” Dr Wall says.
“But if you are experiencing symptoms, such as lumps, see your GP urgently.”
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AGE 50+ – PROSTATE TEST
Free for all: Available at GP surgeries and hospitals
MEN over 50 can request a blood test to check for conditions like prostate cancer and an enlarged prostate.
These are not offered routinely, but are available whether you have symptoms or not.
Black men, obese men and those with a family history of prostate cancer are at increased risk.
“The earlier it is detected, the better the outcome,” Dr Wall says.
AGE 50-74 – BOWEL SCREENING
Free for all: Available at home
THANKS to Dame Deborah James and The Sun’s No Time 2 Lose campaign, the NHS has lowered the bowel cancer screening age.
It means everyone aged 50 to 74 will now receive at-home Faecal Immunochemistry Tests in the post, which look for invisible traces of blood in poo samples and detect bowel cancer.
AGE 64+ – HEART CHECK
Free for all: Available at GP surgeries, health centres, hospitals
ABDOMINAL aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening is offered to men the year they turn 65.
An ultrasound scan checks if there is swelling in the main vessel that goes from your heart down through your abdomen, which if left to grow, could burst and lead to life-threatening stomach bleeds.
Check your eligibility
SOME of these tests are free for everyone.
Others are only offered free of charge to certain groups, such as under-18s, those in full-time education, over-60s, people diagnosed with specific conditions like diabetes or glaucoma, or those receiving certain benefits.
Check your eligibility with your GP surgery or healthcare provider.