Everything you need to know about a full health MOT

Being healthy and happy is what most of us aspire towards. Along with enjoying life to the fullest and spending as much time as possible with the people we love.

And much like we wouldn’t ignore taking our car for its yearly MOT, it’s important we don’t avoid occasionally giving your body a once over to make sure all is running as it should.  

By taking part in a routine health screen, you are more likely to identify a health condition early, so you can be treated in the appropriate way.  

“A health screen puts you in control of your health journey”

Dr Harpreet Sarna, Chief Medical Officer, Vitality

“A health screening is a routine check-up of your general health,” says Vitality's Chief Medical Officer, Dr Harpreet Sarna. 

“The idea is to give an overall picture of your current health and wellbeing, as well as determining your risk of developing particular medical conditions,” he adds. 

For example, high blood pressure, or hypertension as it can be known, is referred to as a “silent killer” because it typically doesn't show any noticeable symptoms.

“Many people can have it for years without knowing, while it quietly damages the heart, blood vessels, kidneys, and other parts of the body,” adds Sarna.

But a simple check-up could help detect any changes to your health and give you access to the right information and support needed to help manage it.

Read how Vitality member James caught prostate cancer early following a health check through his Vitality insurance: James's prostate cancer story | Magazine | Vitality

4 reasons to be proactive about your health

At Vitality, we believe that prevention is better than cure, which is why we encourage our members to get a health check to increase the chances of catching a diagnosis early.

If you are a Vitality member and want to know more about the health checks that are available to you, log into the Vitality Member app.

Or if you are interested in taking out a plan with Vitality, visit vitality.co.uk for more details.

What happens at a health screen?

A health screen can come in a few different forms. It could be a face-to-face consultation with a health professional or an at-home testing kit that can check a host of readings, such as cholesterol levels, risk of a stroke and your heart, liver and kidney health, as well as dementia risks.

“These can be personalised based on your gender, age, family history, and individual risk factors,” explains Sarna.

More in-depth tests could also involve a lung function check through a spirometry test, or a stool test to look for tiny traces of blood which may be a sign of bowel cancer.

It’s worth noting that these screens should be done alongside the NHS’s recommended tests, including cervical smear tests for women every three years between the ages of 25 and 64 years old (or annually if you are identified as being at risk), as well as mammograms, which check for breast cancer.   

Meanwhile, everyone in England is invited for a bowel cancer screening – the fourth most common type of cancer – by the NHS when they are between the ages of 54 and 74.

Those living in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can also get a test, but the ages vary slightly.

Sarna advises to be well hydrated and continue to take any regular medication before your health screen, unless instructed otherwise.

Bluecrest Wellness, a third-party health check provider and Vitality partner, for example, says it will provide a detailed preparation of guidelines ahead of your appointment.  

When should I get a health screen?  

Currently, the NHS offers five-year health screens to people who do not have a pre-existing health condition aged between 40 and 74 years old to assess health risks, such as heart and kidney disease, as well as your chances of suffering a stroke.

Should you decide to undergo a health screen, it’s good to know what the process might look like.

Usually, it involves a few steps, such as answering a few medical questions, measuring your height, weight and blood pressure, and taking some blood tests.

Watch Athos's story and find out getting a health MOT saved his life.

But despite their importance, the idea of a health screen can sometimes pass under the radar if there appears to be nothing wrong with our bodies.

Not just that, people can be apprehensive about getting a health check, because they are nervous of not just needles, but also the results.

However, Sarna says it’s always better to get checked, even though it’s perfectly natural to feel nervous before one.

“A health screen puts you in control of your health journey and it’s better to address and potential concerns sooner rather than later.”

If you want to know more about essential health checks, read our guides below:

• Understanding women's health: Key health checks and tests
• Understanding men's health: Key health checks and tests

Related: 5 types of cancer screening we should all be aware of