20 MUSCLE & FITNESS JUNE 2016PUTTING OFF REGULARhealth
checks could increase your risk of
developing irremediable conditions.
“What we’ve found is that there
are two types of people who delay
their health checks: those who get
caught up in their busy lifestyles and
don’t prioritise time for it, and those
who are afraid of what the results
might reveal,” says Dr Chris Qureshi,
a surgeon with Australian eye clinic
network PersonalEYES.
People with family histories or
previously diagnosed conditions
tend to be the most diligent about
regular check-ups.
“Prevention is the best cure for
many diseases or conditions, and
once you’ve had a check-up, in
most cases you don’t need to worry
about it for another year or more,”
Dr Qureshi says. Plus, many Aussies
are covered for these checks
through Private Health Insurance,
if not through Medicare.
Here are the top 6 health checks
that Aussie blokes delay, and the
reasons why you shouldn’t:1 |
Skin cancer check
If you have a mole, freckle, mark
or blemish that has changed colour,
shape or size, you should ask your
healthcare professional to take a look
at it – because the sooner any type of
skin cancer is detected and treated,
the better the outcome will be.2 |
Dental check and clean
Dental care can reverse
and prevent gum disease such
as gingivitis and periodontitis.3 |
Eye exams and checks
Our eyes are one of the first
areas of the body to reveal existing
health conditions. Not only does
an eye exam check for refractive
errors, it can also determine if there
is an underlying medical condition.4 |
General blood test
Early stages of many diseases
might go unnoticed due to little or
no symptoms. A general blood test
can look for nutritional deficiencies;
cancer markers; thyroid, liver and
kidney conditions and diabetes.5 |
Blood glucose levels test
Diabetes is the fastest growing
chronic condition in Australia.
A simple blood test can identify
whether this condition is present.6 |
Prostate check
Prostate cancer is one of the
biggest health concerns for men.
Men over 30 are advised to be
checked. While there isn’t a single
test to detect prostate cancer, your
GP can do an examination or a
Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test.The health checks we delay... but shouldn’t.
EDGE HEALTH
What’s covered
SKIN CANCER CHECK Some health funds cover skin cancer screenings
or Cancer Council products.
DENTAL CHECK AND CLEAN Most health funds cover dental check-ups, scale
and cleans, and up to a certain extent for fluoride
treatments and X-rays.
EYE EXAMS AND CHECKS Medicare pays benefits towards this, and extras
cover with private health insurance providers
includes glasses and contacts.
GENERAL BLOOD TEST Extras cover with private health insurance
providers will not cover this but Medicare
pays benefits towards this.
BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVELS TEST Extras cover with private health insurance
providers will not cover this but Medicare
pays benefits towards this.
PROSTATE CHECK Medicare pays benefits towards this.
Health checks covered by Private Health Insurance according to comparethemarket.com.auTYPE OF CHECK
Reality
check