General health check: Medical assessment


It's important to take good care of your health. If you are experiencing symptoms of illness or have many family members suffering from a specific disease, it makes sense to consider a general health check-up.
A medical examination should always be based on and adapted to the patient's needs to get the full picture of their health. However, there are some points to be aware of when getting a health check-up. Learn more about them here.
What is a general health examination?
A general health examination is a comprehensive medical professional evaluation that aims to assess a person's overall health status. The purpose of the examination is to identify early signs of disease, assess risk factors for future health problems and provide guidance for healthy lifestyle and prevention. The examination may vary depending on the age, gender, lifestyle and personal health risks of the individual patient.
A health check can include:
- Blood pressure
- Pulse
- Weight and height
- Body Mass Index (BMI)
- Blood sugar
- ECG
- Lung test.
Benefits of general health checks
General health checks can give you a comprehensive overview of your health and help identify potential health problems before they become serious.
- Early detection: Through a general health check-up, early stages of diseases can be detected before symptoms appear, which can lead to earlier and more successful treatment.
- Prevention: Regular check-ups with your doctor can help identify risk factors for disease that can be managed through lifestyle changes before they develop into more serious conditions.
- Health monitoring: For those with chronic conditions or after surgery, regular check can be essential to monitor their condition and adapt treatment.
Potential disadvantages of general health checks
A general health check-up doesn't always make sense for everyone, and there are certain consequences that are worth considering before undertaking one.
- Overdiagnosis: A health check-up can lead to overdiagnosis, where harmless conditions are detected and treated unnecessarily, which can lead to unnecessary anxiety and treatment.
- Unnecessary tests: Examinations can lead to unnecessary additional tests that can be costly, time-consuming and sometimes invasive, as well as causing psychological stress.
- False positive/negative results: Health screenings can produce false positive or negative results, which can result in additional unnecessary procedures or a false sense of security, as well as cause psychological stress.
Who will benefit from general health checks?
Risk groups: People with a family history of certain diseases, those with known risk factors for chronic conditions or older adults may benefit from regular health checks.
People without clear symptoms: People experiencing general non-specific malaise without clear symptoms may want a health check-up to get a broader insight into their health status.
Are you healthy? Then consider whether a general health check is right for you
You may know the urge to get your health checked "just in case". But if you're not experiencing symptoms or have a genetic predisposition to diseases, it's not recommended.
For most healthy adults with no symptoms or special risk factors, many experts recommend not having frequent general health check-ups. Large studies have been done to support this recommendation, as these types of general health checks do not prevent disease or death.
At Doctors in Denmark, we follow these scientific recommendations and therefore do not recommend general health checks on healthy people without symptoms and without a greatly increased risk of hereditary diseases. Instead, our focus is on targeted examinations based on individual health needs and risk factors.
What does science say?
According to scientific guidelines, the decision to undergo general health screenings should be made on an individual basis, in consultation with a qualified physician, possibly a private GP. Science emphasizes the need to weigh the benefits of early detection and preventive health advice against the risk of overdiagnosis, false results and related anxiety.
It's essential to remember that general health check should be tailored to individual needs and not replace the ongoing dialog with a doctor. An informed choice is the best choice, so be sure to discuss options and concerns with your GP or Doctors in Denmark before making a decision.