Health Screening: Why it’s Important and How to Get the Most Out of it
Key Takeaways:
Health screening helps you detect risk factors and health issues early; they can benefit everyone aged 18 and above.
General screening tests screen for obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and high blood cholesterol.
Ideally, you should schedule an appointment with your primary healthcare provider to discuss your test results — even if the readings come back “normal” — to discuss what you should or could do to improve your health profile.
Stick to your personalized treatment plan for the best health outcomes. You should also prioritize healthy lifestyle changes (e.g., eating a nutritious diet).
Many of the leading killers of Singaporeans are chronic diseases (e.g., cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and hypertensive diseases) that can be prevented with healthy habits, such as a balanced diet, smoking cessation, and regular physical activity.
Another critical aspect of prevention that you shouldn't overlook? Health screening.
These routine screening exams may help detect risk factors and health issues early — even when there are no symptoms — so you can try to nip them in the bud. Research consistently shows early chronic disease detection results in better treatment, fewer complications, and increased chances of better outcomes.
But at what age should you start going for health screening? While this can vary depending on your individual risk factors, you'd generally benefit from regular health screening (every one to three years) once you're 18.
Now, let’s learn what you should do after completing a screening to get the most out of it and improve your health profile.
You have your report — now what?
Most basic, general health screening packages include the following tests if you’re aged:
≥ 18: Body Mass Index or BMI (obesity) and blood pressure measurement (hypertension)
≥ 40: Fasting blood glucose or HbA1c (diabetes mellitus), plus fasting and non-fasting lipids (high blood cholesterol)
Usually, if your test results don't meet the diagnostic criteria for the tested chronic condition(s), you'd be dismissed with, "Oh, you're in a clean bill of health. Let's schedule another check-up in X months/years."
But just because your test results are normal doesn’t mean you're as healthy as possible.
Think about it: wouldn't you be worried if your blood glucose levels lean toward the higher end of "normal blood sugar levels”?
Making sense of your results
This, in turn, highlights why you should take a closer look at your test results — even if you’re told that everything appears “normal” at first glance. To help you get a sense of what your results mean, here are the diagnostic criteria for the following chronic conditions:
Obesity: In Singapore, a BMI value ≥ 23 indicates that you’re overweight, while a BMI value ≥ 27.5 indicates that you’re obese.
Type 2 diabetes:
Fasting blood sugar test: A fasting blood sugar level < 5.6 mmol/L (100 mg/dL) is normal, 5.6 to 6.9 mmol/L (100 to 125 mg/dL) indicates you have prediabetes, and ≥ 7.0 mmol/L (125 mg/dL) indicates you have diabetes.
HbA1c test: A normal HbA1c test is below 5.7%, 5.7% to 6.4% indicates prediabetes and 6.5% or more indicates diabetes.
Hypertension: A healthy blood pressure reading should be below 120/80 mmHg. A blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg or higher indicates high blood pressure.
High blood cholesterol: You’re generally considered to have optimal lipid levels when:
Total cholesterol < 200 mg/dL (5.2 mmol/L)
LDL cholesterol < 130 mg/dL (3.4 mmol/L)
Triglycerides < 150 mg/dL (8.3 mmol/L)
HDL cholesterol > 60 mg/dL (1.3 mmol/L)
Schedule an appointment with your primary healthcare provider
OK, so you have some context for what your readings mean. What now? Ideally, you should visit your primary healthcare provider to discuss your test results at length so you can:
Highlight any clarifications or concerns you have: Ask questions. Point out any readings you might have reason to be concerned about and get your doctor's opinion on whether your worries are warranted. They'll have the medical expertise and knowledge necessary to judge.
Ask about the need for further testing: Bring up your individual risk factors (e.g., self or family history of hereditary or chronic diseases) so your doctor can decide whether you'd benefit from further health screening tests.
Seek advice on how you could improve your health: Understand what you can do to improve your quality of health. It’ll also be good to find out whether they have a good network of registered dietitians and health coaches who can help you make positive changes to your diet and lifestyle.
Of course, having your health screening test and follow-up doctor's visit at two different places can be a hassle. Plus, not to mention, wouldn't it have been easier if you'd screened for everything relevant to you (based on your unique risk profile) in one shot?
We hear you. NOVI Assessment is a fully customized health screening package that:
Screens only for what's relevant for you and
Provides an in-depth review of your results, paired with practical, clear, holistic post-screening advice from specialist doctors.
In one place. (The follow-up review can be done at the clinic or over video to cater to busy lifestyles.)
Stick to your health plan
Receiving and understanding your screening results isn't the end of your health journey; it's the beginning. So, make sure you execute the personalized health plan developed for you by doing the following.
Stick to your medication regimen (where applicable)
If you are prescribed medication for your health condition(s), please take it as prescribed — the right dose, in the right way and frequency. This is key for controlling your condition and improving your long-term health outcomes.
Consider this: medication could reduce stroke risk by approximately 30% and myocardial infarction by about 15% for someone with hypertension.
Take steps to live a healthier lifestyle
Prioritize good-quality sleep, nutritious eating, regular movement, and appropriate stress management techniques.
But, as you probably know, making changes in your life and creating new, healthy habits isn't easy. Consider working with a health coach to navigate a new and healthier way of living.
Research shows health coaching helps improve adherence to healthier lifestyle changes in healthy individuals and those with chronic conditions. However, before you hire the first health coach you come across, it's essential to examine whether their area of clinical expertise aligns with your top health goals.
Just so you know, our health coaches in:
NOVI Magnum (diabetes treatment program) specialize in working with patients with diabetes, and
NOVI Optimum Plus (medical weight loss program) specialize in working with individuals who struggle to lose weight
Health is a process, not an outcome
It’s (i.e., health) also more than the absence of disease.
You need to do two broad things to live a long, healthy life. The first is having awareness of your medical data, which comes from regular health screening.
The second is taking steps to nudge those data points in a positive direction, lowering your likelihood of developing a chronic condition (or conditions) while achieving optimal health and wellness.
