3 tips when choosing a health screening package
The first time I searched “health screening” on the Google, I got pages of websites marketing health screening packages ranging from $89 to more than $1000, each with their own endless list of lab analysis, radiology tests and clinical assessments included. Extremely over whelming, especially for a person who has not done any health screening before.
Some sites would address this problem by gathering some information then recommending suitable packages. Good attempts but not too useful either as there are often no visibility what the recommendations were based on. There was also a possibility of service providers upselling packages.
After going through tons of web pages, speaking to different people and completing 2 health screenings in the past 2 years, I have summarised the following 3 tips for anyone who might need a little help getting started.
1, Choose a basic package that has a consultation and a physical examination by a doctor
This is suitable if you do not have any specific concerns because the basic package will literally cover all the basic elements, and the doctor can recommend any additional tests after speaking to you and conducting the physical examination.
During my consultation, the doctor recommended I do a pelvis ultrasound after learning about my family history of cancer, and a breast ultrasound because she noticed certain lumps during the physical examination that she wanted checked.
2, Select a package that includes a screen for hepatitis antibodies
This tip seems a little too specific. Indeed, of all the viruses in the world, hepatitis viruses are not the most detrimental to our health. Many of us would have also been vaccinated against hepatitis as a part of our national immunisation schedule.
However, protection from hepatitis vaccine does not last a lifetime. For those of us who are above 20 and did not get vaccinated in the last few years, it is a good idea to test if we still have the antibodies. My friend and I were advised to take the Hepatitis B and A vaccines respectively because the antibodies were not detected in our blood samples.
Hepatitis viruses are one of the few viruses that we can vaccinate ourselves against and lower the chances of liver infection and inflammation. It is a simple test and prevention we can do to prevent contracting serious liver diseases.
3, Go with your family / friends
For those of us who tend to worry a lot, doing a health screening can be a scary experience. What is the doctor going to do to me during the ultrasound? What if the results come back and I have cancer? All these fears and worries are very real, so real that some of us might even put off health screening because we are not ready to deal with these.
For me, the whole idea of health screening did not seem so intimidating when I went through it with friends. We kept each other accountable, made sure we submitted any required samples and went for consultations.
My latest health screening experience was particularly memorable as we had a good laugh at a friend who came out of the toilet, exasperated, because the sample he was nurturing all morning went down the drain because of the automatic toilet flush.
If you have any tips or experience about health screening, share them in the comments below. Would love to hear them!
Otherwise, I have another article on health screening that was generated by AI and published with slight edits. Would also love to hear your thoughts on it.
