Health Check Up.. Opinions

sammysnail016

I am thinking of getting a private health check up, the one where the check everything. They are coming in at approx €450 ++ and wanted people opinion, are they worth it and can your own Doc do the same thing?

echo beach

https://www.theguardian.com/science/blog/2014/jan/03/patients-truth-health-screening-harm-good?commentpage=1

Your GP can tell what needs to be checked, which will depend on factors like your age, medical history and any risk factors you have. Checking for 'everything' isn't a very efficient way to find something significant. It is better to know what you are looking for.

huskerdu

The word "everything" means nothing.

If it is a generic list of commonly available tests, some of which are blood tests, then its probably bad value as blood tests are tested for free in public hospitals for GP, and you are going to pay a private hospital to do them.

Also, are they going to talk to you about your lifestyle and medical history and family medical history and decide what tests are appropriate, or are they going to give you the same tests as everyone else is is paying €450 for "everything"

echo beach

Although it is about screening in the NHS, the NHS Choices information on screening http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Screening/Pages/screening.aspx is easy to read and gives a well balanced view of both risks and benefits.

http://www.senseaboutscience.org/data/files/resources/7/Making-Sense-of-Screening-2nd-edition.pdf is more detailed if you really want to explore the issues.

Bottom line is that with or without screening the lifestyle advice around smoking, alcohol, diet and exercise is the same for everybody. All we need to do now is follow it.

BlazingSaddler

Hi Sammysnail016. Did you get the health check done in the end? I am looking at getting it done in the Mater https://www.materprivate.ie/dublin/centre-services/all-services/health-check/
The price is €510 which is obviously quite pricey but as a Laya customer I get 50% back so for €255 it looks like good value. I'm moving into my mid 40's with 3 youngish kids and starting to feel a little vulnerable health wise so need to get a good once over!

Foresty

BlazingSaddler wrote: »

starting to feel a little vulnerable health wise

You're only 40! Start doing beach body workouts like Max30/P90X3 and the like. 6/9 months of them with a REALLY good diet and you'll start to see muscles you haven't seen since your 20s and throw in the odd run aswell when you can you'll leave the kids in your shadow fitness wise, start now and you'll be ready for next summer.

faceman

Foresty wrote: »

You're only 40! Start doing beach body workouts like Max30/P90X3 and the like. 6/9 months of them with a REALLY good diet and you'll start to see muscles you haven't seen since your 20s and throw in the odd run aswell when you can you'll leave the kids in your shadow fitness wise, start now and you'll be ready for next summer.

A health check isn't a fitness test.

BlazingSaddler

BlazingSaddler wrote: »

Hi Sammysnail016. Did you get the health check done in the end? I am looking at getting it done in the Mater https://www.materprivate.ie/dublin/centre-services/all-services/health-check/
The price is €510 which is obviously quite pricey but as a Laya customer I get 50% back so for €255 it looks like good value. I'm moving into my mid 40's with 3 youngish kids and starting to feel a little vulnerable health wise so need to get a good once over!

Just something else of note, if you're a Laya customer you also get €50 off so it is €440 less 50% so you get it for €220. I had it done today, blood tests first then thorough head to toe physical check up including hearing and vision tests with the Dr., this also included the prostate test and testes check. This was by no means rushed and we discussed any issues I had in great detail. I was then taken for my ECG and then the chest x-ray. All results will be with me in 10 working days unless there is anything of concern where they will contact me sooner. Whole thing took about 2.5 hours.

endacl

With the month that's in it, I'd have to say that any regular check up will do a damn sight more good than taking the opportunity to grow a stupid mustache.

Foresty

BlazingSaddler wrote: »

Just something else of note, if you're a Laya customer you also get €50 off so it is €440 less 50% so you get it for €220. I had it done today, blood tests first then thorough head to toe physical check up including hearing and vision tests with the Dr., this also included the prostate test and testes check. This was by no means rushed and we discussed any issues I had in great detail. I was then taken for my ECG and then the chest x-ray. All results will be with me in 10 working days unless there is anything of concern where they will contact me sooner. Whole thing took about 2.5 hours.

Did they do an angiogram? If anything is gonna kill ya it'll be a blockage, bit pointless if they don't at least do that?

andrea1983

though then again there are risks with an angiogram

My advice would be to talk to ur gp tbf

OCEANIC FIZZY POP NINE

andrea1983 wrote: »

though then again there are risks with an angiogram

My advice would be to talk to ur gp tbf

Who knows what false positives will show up from the checks they did do with their scatter gun testing and what needless invasive tests they may lead to.

I know a guy that had an ecg and got the thumbs up, a few hours later he was on his back having a heart attack so I don't what good they are at all.

Chest X ray another waste of time, that'll generally only show health issues that are well on. Echocardiogram or an MRI is what he should've had.

Nonoperational

Foresty wrote: »

Did they do an angiogram? If anything is gonna kill ya it'll be a blockage, bit pointless if they don't at least do that?

Am, no. You 100% don't do invasive (or even CT) angiograms unless there is a strong indication for one. There are many other ways to assess probability of cardiovascular disease.

OCEANIC FIZZY POP NINE wrote: »

Who knows what false positives will show up from the checks they did do with their scatter gun testing and what needless invasive tests they may lead to.

I know a guy that had an ecg and got the thumbs up, a few hours later he was on his back having a heart attack so I don't what good they are at all.

Chest X ray another waste of time, that'll generally only show health issues that are well on. Echocardiogram or an MRI is what he should've had.

ECGs are fantastic investigations when used appropriately.
Chest xray isnt a waste of time at all and will show up a lot of potential abnormalities, although I'd suggest its indication is strongest in smokers.

Echo or MRI for what?


Some poorly thought out misleading statements on this thread guys.

OCEANIC FIZZY POP NINE

Nonoperational wrote: »

ECGs are fantastic investigations when used appropriately.
Chest xray isnt a waste of time at all and will show up a lot of potential abnormalities, although I'd suggest its indication is strongest in smokers.

Echo or MRI for what?


Some poorly thought out misleading statements on this thread guys.

What are ECGs good for? Surly it should have shown someone hours from a heart attack?

They threw ecgs and chest x ray in to this exam to pad it up, cheap quick check for obvious problems, echo or mri or stress test even would have looked abit deeper.

This crowd are out to make money.

OCEANIC FIZZY POP NINE

BlazingSaddler wrote: »

https://www.materprivate.ie/dublin/centre-services/all-services/health-check/

I only clicked this now, wouldn't a doctor have done nearly all of that as part of a visit for ya??

Additional Tests (additional charges apply)
Must be requested at time of booking
Stress ECG: Records the activity of the heart while exercising on a treadmill. Recommended for men over 40.
Calcium Scoring: Screening for early detection of Coronary Heart Disease
Vascular Screening: (AAA, Carotid and PVD Screen)

They wanted more money for proper tests! Whats this vascular screening??

Nonoperational

OCEANIC FIZZY POP NINE wrote: »

What are ECGs good for? Surly it should have shown someone hours from a heart attack?

They threw ecgs and chest x ray in to this exam to pad it up, cheap quick check for obvious problems, echo or mri or stress test even would have looked abit deeper.

This crowd are out to make money.

I agree that they are out to make money, I disagree that ECGs and chest X-rays are no use. An ECG could be normal hours before a heart attack or it could be grossly abnormal. An ECG is only one part of the picture, you need to ask about angina, shortness of breath etc. I'll ask again, MRI of what? Cardiac MRIs have very very specialised indications and are definitely not indicated unless you have done an Echo at least first. Cardiac MRI could be normal hours before a heart attack no problem too.

Actually, I think that anyone over 50 should have an ECG every 6 months or so particularly to diagnose atrial fibrillation early as it can cause devastating strokes if not caught and treated.

Stress tests are useful but again only in a specific group of patients. You need symptoms and an intermediate pre test probability of cardiac disease because they are not sensitive or specific enough to do as a first line test.

I actually agree with the fundamental point your making that this health screening is a bit of a racket, but not with the points about the tests. ECGs and chest X-rays are extremely useful tests, but the yield of doing them on apparently healthy people is extremely low. I still don't think its any harm to have bloods ECG and a CXR when you pass the 50 mark.

OCEANIC FIZZY POP NINE wrote: »

I only clicked this now, wouldn't a doctor have done nearly all of that as part of a visit for ya??


They wanted more money for proper tests! Whats this vascular screening??

Vascular screening in this case is probably US aorta, US carotids and ankle brachial index.

There "proper tests" are good to a point, but again need to be used only if indicated.