Well Woman/Man Screening
Health checks do not take long, however, they have proved to be highly effective and in many cases early screening have literally saved lives. More and more woman and men recognise the importance of an annual health check to pick up indications of any problems at the earliest opportunity.
Whether it is a routine check or because you have some concerns, well woman and man screening is there to give you peace of mind. We will arrange an appointment to suit you, and everything is completely confidential.
We believe that men should have the opportunity to undergo a comprehensive annual health check. We want to help minimise any risks associated with male health problems, such as heart disease, testicular and prostate cancer, so that you can take positive steps towards a healthy lifestyle.
Our well woman/man screening consists of the following:
- Full Blood Count
- Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate
- Liver Function Test
- Gamma GT
- Thyroid Profile
- Renal Profile
- Fasting Lipids
- Glucose
- Bone Profile
Full Blood Count
What is FBC - Full Blood Count?
This measures a number of different elements in the blood and can help detect blood diseases and disorders including anaemia, infection, clotting problems, blood cancers and immune system disorders.
Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate
What is ESR - Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate?
This test is usually used among other blood tests to evaluate a patient whose symptoms suggest conditions that will affect the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. These symptoms include neck and shoulder pain, anaemia, weight loss that is not explained by an improved diet or increased exercise, headaches, and stiffness of the joints.
When you are ill, the cells in your blood becomes ''sticky''. We measure this ''stickiness'' which then determines the figures for the ESR test.
Liver Function Test
What is LFT - Liver Function Test?
This measures various chemicals involved in liver and gall bladder disease, as well as bone metabolism. It may give clues to indicate gall stones, whether you drink too much alcohol, or whether you have a number of different bone diseases. It may also reveal jaundice (this is a condition where people develop a yellow appearance due to excessive amounts of a chemical called ''Bilirubin'').
This test may become abnormal if you take certain types of medication.
Gamma Glutamyl Transpeptidase
What is GGT - Gamma Glutamyl Transpeptidase?
This is often elevated in those who use alcohol or other liver toxic substances to excess. It is an enzyme produced in many tissues as well as the liver. Like alkaline phosphatise AP, it may be elevated in the serum of patients with bile duct diseases. Elevations in serum GGT, especially along with elevations in alkaline phosphatase, suggest bile duct disease.
Measurement of GGT is an extremely sensitive test, however, and it may be elevated in virtually any liver disease and even sometimes in normal individuals. GGT is also induced by many drugs, including alcohol, therefore often when the AP is normal a raised GGT can often (but not always) indicate alcohol use. Raised GGT can often be seen in cases of fatty liver and also where the patient consumes large amounts of aspartame (artificial sweetener) in diet drinks for example.
Thyroid Function Test
What is TFT - Thyroid Function Test?
This measures the activity of the thyroid gland and the response to thyroid hormone replacement in people who are deficient in the hormone. The thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland located in the neck adjacent to the wind pipe. It may become ''over'' or ''under'' active. If you have an underactive gland, you will need to take thyroid hormone replacement - but the dose required will be different for different people. This test tells us whether the dose needs to be changed but we cannot tell until you have been taking a particular dose of Thyroxine (thyroid hormone) for at least 6 weeks.
Renal Profile
What is Renal Profile test?
Renal or kidney function tests look at the way the kidneys are working to clean the blood. Kidneys clean the blood of waste products of the metabolic system which would otherwise poison the body. The test looks at whether the kidneys are failing by measuring the waste products left behind in the blood. Renal failure/damage is associated with increasing amounts of urea and creatinine in the blood, with or without falling protein and albumin levels.
If this gives your GP cause for concern a creatinine clearance test may be requested requiring a collection of all urine passed over a 24 hour period.
Tests Include:
- Electrolytes (Sodium. Potassium, Chloride)
- Urea (a waste product of protein metabolism)
- Creatinine (a waste product of muscle metabolism)
- Protein
- Albumin
Urea and Electrolytes
What is U&E - Urea and Electrolytes?
This measures the functioning of your kidneys and the level of various salts in the body. The salts can become low if you take a diuretic (''water tablet'') and we usually perform this test on an annual basis on patients who are taking this medication. This test may be also highlight dehydration after diarrhoeal illness or vomiting. It may also give us clues as to how well your kidneys are working.
Fasting Lipids
What is Lipids Profile - Fasting Lipids?
This is a check of the blood fats. There are 2 main types of fat that we measure and they are called ''Cholesterol" and "Triglycerides''. With time, these fats may become deposited on the walls of the blood vessels so that they become narrower. It's a bit like the build up of limescale on your kettle! Unfortunately, this process can lead to many diseases including heart attacks, angina and strokes. If the levels of lipids are high, this process may occur at an early age. The test is performed on an empty stomach. The Doctor or nurse will be able to advise you whether you need to follow a diet or start tablets to lower the blood lipids if they are high.
Glucose
What is Glucose?
This is a test of the level of a sugar called ''glucose'' in the blood. If the level of glucose in the blood is high, it can be a sign of diabetes. However, if you have just had food or a sweet drink, the level may go up. For this reason, we usually advise having this test on an empty stomach (i.e. having not had anything to eat since the evening before). The symptoms of diabetes may include thirst, passing lots of urine, weight loss and tiredness.
Diabetes that comes on in middle age can be hereditary. You will be at a higher risk of developing the disease if you are middle aged, overweight and have blood relatives with diabetes that started in middle age.
Bone Profile
What is Bone Profile?
This is a group of tests that include the measurement of Calcium and Phosphate. Alterations in these levels can be associated with both Bone and Kidney Disease.
Well Man screening includes Prostate Specific antigen (PSA) test.
Prostate Specific Antigen Test
What is PSA - Prostate Specific Antigen test?
The PSA test is a blood test that measures the level of PSA (prostate specific antigen) in your blood. PSA is made by the prostate gland, and some of it will leak into your bloodstream depending on your age and the health of your prostate. A raised PSA level may mean you have prostate cancer. However, other conditions which are not cancer (for example, enlargement of the prostate, prostatitis, and urinary infection) can also cause higher PSA levels in the blood. About 2 out of 3 men with a raised PSA level will not have prostate cancer. The higher the level of PSA, the more likely it is to be a sign of cancer. The PSA test can also miss cancer.
Sexual Health/Chlamydia Screening
Chlamydia
What is Chlamydia?
Chlamydia Screening is a test done using a simple urine sample. One of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs). It's a bacterial infection, which is found in semen and vaginal fluids. Up to one in ten sexually active young people has chlamydia.
Gonorrhoea
What is Gonorrhoea?
Gonorrhea Screening involves testing a sample of body fluid or urine to determine if gonorrhea bacteria (Neisseria gonorrheoae) are present.
Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a bacteria called neisseria gonorrheoae or gonococcus. It used to be known as 'the clap'. The bacteria are found mainly in the semen of infected men and vaginal fluids of infected women.
Gonorrhoea is most commonly spread through:
- Unprotected sex including, oral and anal sex.
- Sharing vibrators or other sex aids that have not been washed or covered with a new condom.
Gonorrhoea is the second most common STI in the UK with over 19,000 cases reported in 2006. Young men aged 20-24 and women aged 16-19 are most affected.
HIV
What is HIV?
HIV Screening involves a small sample of blood to be taken from your arm. In some countries, oral tests are also available which do not require the use of needles. The test is always strictly confidential and only goes ahead if you agree.
HIV tests looks for antibodies in a person's blood. When HIV (which is a virus) enters a person's body, special proteins are produced. These are called antibodies. Antibodies are the body's response to an infection. So if a person has antibodies to HIV in their blood, it means they have been infected with HIV.
Most people develop detectable HIV antibodies within 6 to 12 weeks of infection. In very rare cases, it can take up to 6 months. It is exceedingly unlikely that someone would take longer than 6 months to develop antibodies.
Syphilis
What is Syphilis?
Syphilis is a bacterial infection that is typically passed through sexual contact.
Syphilis tests detect antibodies to the bacterium that causes syphilis (Treponema pallidum) in blood, body fluid, or tissue. The tests are used to screen for or to confirm a syphilis infection.
Tests used to screen for syphilis include:
- Venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL) test - The VDRL test checks for an antibody that can be produced in people who have syphilis. This antibody is not produced as a reaction to the syphilis bacteria specifically, so this test is sometimes not accurate. The VDRL test may be done on a sample of blood or spinal fluid. The VDRL test is not very useful for detecting syphilis in very early or advanced stages.
- Rapid plasma reagin (RPR) test - The RPR test also detects syphilis antibodies.
- Enzyme immunoassay (EIA) test - This is a newer blood test that checks for antibodies to the bacteria that cause syphilis. A positive EIA test should be confirmed with either the VDRL or RPR tests.
A syphilis infection can spread through the bloodstream to all parts of the body. If not treated, syphilis can cause severe heart disease, brain damage, spinal cord damage, blindness, and death.
HepB
What is HepB?
Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. A small amount of your blood is taken to determine if you have the hepatitis B virus. The test detects protein on the surface of the virus which, if found, is indicative of hepatitis B.
There are many causes of hepatitis. For example, drinking too much alcohol, various drugs and chemicals, and also several different viruses can cause hepatitis. One virus that causes hepatitis is called the hepatitis B virus. The virus is mainly passed on by sexual contact, sharing needles to inject drugs, and from mother to baby.
Hepatitis B is a very infectious disease. It is actually about one hundred times more infectious than HIV.
Book an appointment
Please complete and submit the form below to request an appointment. We will check availability and usually get back to you within three working days to discuss suitable appointment times. By submitting this form you have not actually booked a health assessment.
Alternatively to speak to a member of the health assessment team for personal paid assessments or for company paid assessments call now on 01376 328157 (please quote your company name).