Book one of the checkups below every second month and by the end of the year you’ll have had a complete health overhaul. Isn’t it time you put your health first?
A blood pressure test
Starting at the age of 18, you should have a blood pressure test annually to screen for high blood pressure, which is a risk factor for heart disease and stroke. High blood pressure develops when the walls of the larger arteries lose their natural elasticity and become rigid, and the smaller blood vessels become narrower – according to The Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa, approximately one in three people over the age of 15 suffer from high blood pressure. Get your blood pressure under control, and you’ll be managing one of the leading causes of heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure and premature death.
What your blood pressure results mean
A blood pressure readin is given in millimetres of mercury (mmHg) and has two numbers. The first, or top number, measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats (systolic pressure). The second, or bottom number, measures the pressure in your arteries between beats (diastolic pressure). A reading of 120/80 is normal.
Measuring your BMI
Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight. This is an important measure since being overweight or obese can place you at risk for many chronic diseases.
Clicks Clinic Sister Praxcia Phillips says, “BMI Screenings can help you prevent or identify chronic conditions early so you can live a healthy lifestyle.” If your BMI is on the high side, take action by making small changes to eating patterns and activity levels. One study published in the journal, Diabetes Care, found that for every kilogram of weight loss, there was a 16% reduction in risk for type 2 diabetes.
What your BMI results mean
Underweight = <18.5
Normal weight = 18.5–24.9
Overweight = 25–29.9
Obese = BMI of 30 or more
Find out your cholesterol levels
Some cholesterol is necessary to build healthy cell membranes and protect nerve cells in your brain, but whatever the body doesn’t use can be harmful. The “bad” form of cholesterol (LDL) accumulates on artery walls, sabotaging blood flow to your heart and triggering inflammation. The “good” form (HDL) removes excess cholesterol. You can raise HDL through exercise, but you should still have regular cholesterol screening tests, particularly if you smoke, have high blood pressure, are overweight, have diabetes or a family history of heart disease. You can get your cholesterol checked regularly at your nearest Clicks Clinic, through a simple finger-prick.
What your cholesterol results mean
The normal range for total cholesterol is less than 5mmol/l. According to The Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa the value for HDL (“good” cholesterol) should be greater than 1,2mmol/l, and the value for LDL, (“bad” cholesterol) should be less than 3mmol/l.
Measure your blood sugar
High blood glucose levels can damage the blood vessels of the heart, leading to atherosclerosis (fatty deposits that can block artery walls), which could result in angina, a heart attack or heart failure.
Generated by the carbohydrates you eat, blood sugar - or glucose - is a major source of fuel for your body. To use this fuel for energy, your body needs the hormone insulin to take sugar from the blood into the cells. With type 2 diabetes, the cells either can’t use insulin or the body doesn’t produce enough of it. Glucose then builds up, creating problems for vital organs and systems, including your heart, kidneys, eyes, nerves, and blood vessels. In its early stages, diabetes often goes unnoticed: You might feel thirstier and hungrier than usual, become tired and irritable more easily, lose weight rapidly or have to make more trips to the bathroom.
What your blood sugar results mean
Normal blood glucose readings are between 3.3 and 6mmol/l, while fasting. Blood glucose measured before breakfast of over 7.8mmol/l, or blood glucose of over 11.1mmol/l two hours after eating is cause for concern.
Get tested for HIV
The only way to know your HIV status for sure is to get tested. You should test for HIV routinely, as soon as you are sexually active. Tests most commonly used to diagnose HIV infection are those that detect HIV antibodies, which are small proteins made by your immune system whenever a new infection invades the body. HIV antibodies are present in blood and in lower concentrations in other body fluids, such as saliva. HIV antibodies can usually be detected four to six weeks after infection; and for this reason antibody tests will only become positive about six weeks after infection, in some cases it may take much longer. Rapid tests can be done at Clicks Clinics, and results may be ready within 15 minutes.
What your HIV results mean
Your HIV test result will be either positive or negative. If you get a positive result, a lab test will need to be done to confirm your status, and you’ll be referred to a doctor.
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