A general health check-up usually includes questions about your medical history, a clinical examination, blood pressure, height and weight measurements, and a number of appropriate tests or imaging investigations.
However, there is no single list of tests that suits everyone. Which items you need depends on your age, sex, symptoms, family history, underlying conditions and personal health risks.
Frequently asked questions
What does a general health check-up include?
A visit usually covers a physical assessment, blood pressure, the heart and lungs, blood and urine tests and some specialist checks. The exact list depends on the health check-up package and your state of health.
Do you need a general health check-up every year?
Not everyone needs every test every year. People with underlying conditions, risk factors or an abnormality being monitored may need check-ups more often, as advised by their doctor.
Do you need to fast for a general check-up?
You may need to fast if the package includes a fasting blood glucose test or certain lipid profile tests. Confirm this with the medical facility before the day of your appointment.
Do healthy people need blood tests?
Blood tests can help assess risks that are not yet causing symptoms. However, which tests are done and how often should be based on your age, medical history and your doctor's assessment.
Which health check-up package should you choose?
Do not simply choose the package with the most items. The right package is the one that matches your age, sex, personal risk and the goal of the check-up.
“Many warning signs, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol, often have no symptoms.”
— NHS
What is a general health check-up for?
A health check-up is not only about finding disease. The visit also helps you:
- Assess your current state of health
- Identify certain risk factors
- Track how your readings change over time
- Detect abnormalities that need further investigation
- Adjust your diet, exercise and daily routine
- Monitor underlying conditions or how well treatment is working
An abnormal result does not necessarily mean disease. Conversely, a result within the reference range does not completely guarantee that nothing is wrong.
Your doctor needs to consider the results alongside your symptoms, medical history and clinical examination.
What does a general health check-up visit usually involve?
1. Taking your health history
Your doctor may ask about:
- Current symptoms
- Illnesses you have had or are being treated for
- Medicines and supplements you are taking
- Previous surgery
- Allergies
- Eating, exercise and sleep habits
- Smoking and alcohol use
- Family history of illness
Do not skip this step. Your health history can determine what you actually need to be checked for.
For example, someone whose parents have diabetes or developed heart disease early may need a different assessment from someone without these risk factors.
2. Physical measurements and vital signs
Basic checks usually include:
- Height and weight
- Body mass index – BMI
- Waist circumference
- Blood pressure
- Heart rate
- Breathing rate
- Body temperature when needed
According to the NHS, a cardiovascular health assessment may include height, weight, waist circumference, blood pressure, cholesterol and sometimes blood glucose.
These measurements are simple, but they are valuable when tracked regularly and considered alongside other risk factors.
3. Clinical examination
Depending on your needs, your doctor may examine:
- The heart and lungs
- The abdomen
- The thyroid
- The skin and mucous membranes
- The eyes, ears, nose and throat
- The musculoskeletal system
- Any signs of swelling or abnormal circulation
If you have symptoms, describe clearly when they started, how severe they are, how often they occur and what makes them better or worse.
Tests commonly included in a general health check-up package
Full blood count
This test measures the main components of the blood, such as red cells, white cells and platelets.
The results can help your doctor assess anaemia, infection or certain abnormalities of the blood cells. However, they need to be interpreted in the right clinical context.
Blood glucose and HbA1c
Blood glucose shows the amount of glucose in the blood at the moment the sample is taken.
HbA1c reflects your average blood glucose over the past few months. Your doctor may order one or both tests, depending on the purpose of the check.
Lipid profile
A lipid profile may include:
- Total cholesterol
- LDL-C
- HDL-C
- Triglycerides
The results are used together with blood pressure, age, smoking status, underlying conditions and family history to assess cardiovascular risk.
Do not look at a single figure and conclude for yourself that you “have high blood lipids” or that you are not at risk.
Liver function
Commonly used markers include AST, ALT, GGT and bilirubin.
Abnormal results may be linked to many causes, such as medicines, alcohol, fatty liver, hepatitis or other conditions. Your doctor may need to ask more about your medical history or order further investigations.
Kidney function
The measures commonly used are creatinine, eGFR and blood urea.
Assessing kidney function is particularly worth noting in people with high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease or those taking certain medicines long term.
Urine tests
A urine test can provide information about glucose, protein, blood cells or signs of infection.
However, the results can be affected by how the sample is collected, menstruation, strenuous exercise or other temporary factors.
Do you need an ultrasound, X-ray and ECG?
These investigations can be useful in the right circumstances, but not everyone needs all of them.
Abdominal ultrasound
Ultrasound can help examine the liver, gallbladder, kidneys and other organs in the abdomen. Your doctor will weigh this up based on your symptoms, medical history and the purpose of the check.
Chest X-ray
A chest X-ray should not be treated as a default item for every healthy person. It should be done on the basis of symptoms, risk factors or a specific clinical requirement.
Electrocardiogram (ECG)
An ECG records the electrical activity of the heart. This test may be considered when there are symptoms such as chest pain, palpitations or breathlessness, or when there is cardiovascular risk.
A normal ECG does not rule out all heart disease.
Do men and women need the same list of checks?
Not entirely the same.
Women may wish to consider
- A gynaecological examination
- Cervical screening with HPV testing or a cervical smear (Pap test)
- A breast examination
- Mammography according to age and risk
- A reproductive health assessment if needed
Men may wish to consider
- An assessment of cardiovascular and metabolic risk
- A urological examination if symptoms are present
- A discussion about prostate health according to age and risk
- Reproductive health counselling if needed
Screening tests should not be chosen on the basis of sex alone. Age, family history and personal risk remain the deciding factors.
Is a package with more tests always better?
No.
Having too many unnecessary tests can lead to:
- Abnormal results with no clinical significance
- Unnecessary worry
- Having to undergo further investigations
- Higher costs
- Exposure to X-rays or unnecessary procedures
What matters is not the number of tests but their appropriateness.
A package with 50 items is not necessarily better than a shorter one designed to match your age, sex and risk factors.
How to choose the right health check-up package
Before booking, answer five questions:
- Am I having a routine check-up or do I have symptoms?
- Do I have any underlying conditions or am I taking any medicines?
- Is there a family history of heart disease, cancer or diabetes?
- Were any readings abnormal at my last check-up?
- Does the package include a doctor to discuss the results afterwards?
If you have specific symptoms, you may need to see the right specialist rather than simply buying a general package.
For example, chest pain, breathlessness, sudden weakness or severe abdominal pain need prompt medical assessment and should not wait for a routine health check-up.
What should you prepare before the day of your check-up?
- Confirm whether you need to fast
- Bring previous examination and test results
- Prepare a list of the medicines you are taking
- Note down symptoms or questions you want to discuss
- Avoid alcohol the day before your check-up
- Limit strenuous exercise
- Get enough sleep if you can
- Tell staff if you are pregnant or think you may be
- Ask in advance about insurance and any additional costs
Women who are menstruating should tell the medical facility, as some urine tests or gynaecological examinations may need to be rescheduled.
How should you read your health check-up results?
Do not simply mark the readings that are high or low and draw your own conclusions.
Reference ranges can differ between laboratories. A reading can also change because of when the sample was taken, your diet, exercise, medicines or a temporary health condition.
Once you have your results, ask your doctor:
- Which readings need attention?
- Is this abnormality a cause for concern?
- Does the test need to be repeated?
- When should I come back for a follow-up?
- What should I change in my daily life?
Keeping your results from several check-ups helps your doctor see how things are changing over time, rather than relying on a single point in time.
Book a health check-up on Halza
Through Halza, you can:
- Browse health check-up packages at partner hospitals and clinics
- Compare the services included before you choose
- Book an appointment that suits your own schedule
- Get help confirming your appointment
- Store your results in your health record
- Follow your health information across several check-ups
Book a health check-up on Halza to choose the package that suits your age, your needs and your risk factors.
The information in this article is for reference only and does not replace the advice, diagnosis or instructions of a doctor. The items checked and how often they are checked should be personalised to your state of health.
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