essay about medical check up

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Routine medical checkups have important health benefits, benefits of routine check-ups include chronic illness detection, cancer screenings.

Some leaders in healthcare have called for an end to annual health check visits, saying they’re a waste of time for patients and overworked primary care physicians and don’t reduce the risk of death.

A new Northwestern Medicine study published in JAMA has found that while there is no clear proof that regular check-ups help adults live longer or prevent cardiovascular events like heart attacks or strokes, they still have many health benefits – especially for at-risk populations – and should continue.

Routine check-up visits (they don’t have to necessarily be done annually) can lead to better detection and treatment of chronic illnesses such as depression and hypertension, an increase in vaccinations and screenings for diseases like cancer, and improve how a patient actually feels after visiting with a doctor (patient-reported outcomes), the study found.

“While it is disappointing that I can’t tell my patients a visit with me or my colleagues will help them live longer, it is good to know there are proven, measurable benefits,” said senior study author Jeffrey Linder, ’97 MD, MPH , chief of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics in the Department of Medicine and a Northwestern Medicine physician.

The study is a review of 32 studies conducted between 1963 and 2021.

“I was surprised at how many benefits we found when we dug into the data, given the negative messaging around these exams,” said first study author David Liss, PhD, research associate professor of Medicine in the Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics. “Especially when it relates to patient-reported outcomes. If you walk away feeling healthy, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

“I think a lot of the critics meant to say ‘Don’t do these annual exams for low-risk patients,’ but the message came out to not do these exams at all, which is problematic.”

‘Sick visits’ don’t allow for all the necessary screenings

For at-risk populations, these exams are still vital, Liss said. They include patients who are ethnic or racial minorities; overdue for preventive services and have uncontrolled risk factors, such as diet, exercise and smoking; low self-rated health; don’t have a single source of trusted care; or live in geographic areas with low access to primary care providers.

“A lot of people only see a doctor when there is a problem,” Liss said. “But that often doesn’t leave time to talk about vaccinations or cancer screenings. It’s easy to see the value in routine check-ups because there are multiple recommended services that could be discussed in these visits.”

Cost should not be a factor because every patient with Medicare coverage and many insured patients 65 years and older can get an annual wellness visit for $0 copay, Liss said.

The study examined a variety of factors, including mortality (risk of premature death) and cardiovascular outcomes (heart attacks or heart disease), which did not benefit from general health checks.

However, several remaining factors saw added benefits from routine check-ups, including chronic disease detection (e.g. increases in statin or depression prescriptions); risk factor control (improved blood pressure, cholesterol readings); clinical preventive services (more screenings and vaccinations); and patient-reported outcomes.

‘The patient is the only person who knows how they feel’

Physicians are increasingly discussing “patient-reported outcomes” or “self-reported outcomes” as a measure of someone’s health, almost equivalent to lab results or scan readings.

“It speaks to peoples’ states of mind,” Liss said. “There’s a general sense of health when they walk away from these visits, maybe thinking, ‘Hey, I’m not as unhealthy as I thought I was.’ The patient is the only person who knows how they actually feel. The feelings people carry with them are important to their health and wellbeing over time.”

Seeing a consistent and trusted source of primary care is important to foster relationships and makes it easier to reach out to doctors when there is a problem, Liss said, adding that just talking to someone about your concerns can make you feel better.

Other Northwestern co-authors include Toshiko Uchida, MD , associate professor of Medicine in the Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics; Cheryl Wilkes, MD , assistant professor of Medicine in the Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics; and Ankitha Radakrishnan.

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What is a good health check? An interview study of health check providers’ views and practices

Yrrah h. stol.

Department of Medical Ethics and Philosophy, ErasmusMC, Na building, room Na 21.197 Postbus, 2040 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Eva C. A. Asscher

Maartje h. n. schermer, associated data.

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from YS. The data are not publicly available due to hem containing information that could compromise respondent’s privacy and consent.

Health checks identify (risk factors for) disease in people without symptoms. They may be offered by the government through population screenings and by other providers to individual users as ‘personal health checks’. Health check providers’ perspective of ‘good’ health checks may further the debate on the ethical evaluation and possible regulation of these personal health checks.

In 2015, we interviewed twenty Dutch health check providers on criteria for ‘good’ health checks, and the role these criteria play in their practices.

Providers unanimously formulate a number of minimal criteria: Checks must focus on (risk factors for) treatable/preventable disease; Tests must be reliable and clinically valid; Participation must be informed and voluntary; Checks should provide more benefits than harms; Governmental screenings should be cost-effective. Aspirational criteria mentioned were: Follow-up care should be provided; Providers should be skilled and experienced professionals that put the benefit of (potential) users first; Providers should take time and attention. Some criteria were contested: People should be free to test on any (risk factor for) disease; Health checks should only be performed in people at high risk for disease that are likely to implement health advice; Follow up care of privately funded tests should not drain on collective resources.

Providers do not always fulfil their own criteria. Their reasons reveal conflicts between criteria, conflicts between criteria and other ethical values, and point to components in the (Dutch) organisation of health care that hinder an ethical provision of health checks. Moreover, providers consider informed consent a criterion that is hard to establish in practice.

Conclusions

According to providers, personal health checks should meet the same criteria as population screenings, with the exception of cost-effectiveness. Providers do not always fulfil their own criteria. Results indicate that in thinking about the ethics of health checks potential conflicts between criteria and underlying values should be explicated, guidance in weighing of criteria should be provided and the larger context should be taken into account: other actors than providers need to take up responsibility, and ideally benefits and harms of health checks should be weighed against other measures targeting (risk factors for) disease.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12910-017-0213-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Population screening and personal health checks: Benefits and harms

Health checks identify (risk factors for) disease. 1 Unlike diagnostic tests, they are offered to or requested by people without specific symptoms. [ 1 ] Health checks can also be referred to as preventive or presymptomatic tests, medical screening or preventive medical examinations. For ease of reading, ‘health check’, ‘check’ and ‘test’ are used interchangeably throughout this paper.

Health checks may be offered by different providers. If provided by the government we refer to them as population screening programs. In the Netherlands, there are population screening programs for breast cancer, bowel cancer and cervical cancer. In the United Kingdom, there is also screening for risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Typically, people in the target group receive an invitation to participate. Most population screening programs are provided free of charge.

Health checks may also be provided by other parties, and this is increasingly the case. In the Netherlands, physiotherapists, pharmacies, General Practitioners (GPs), gyms, Non Governmental Organisations such as the Heart Foundation, specialized medical centres and companies offer checks on a wide variety of (risk factors for) disease, including cancer and CVD. Examples include the total body scan, tests for prostate specific antigen (PSA) and genetic tests. Because these tests are not offered to (sub)populations but to individuals – through advertisements for example – we will refer to them as ‘personal health checks’ throughout this paper. Note that the distinction between population screenings and personal health checks depends on whether the offer is directed at a population or at an individual. The same test can be used in population screening programs and as personal health check.

Population screening programs and personal health checks can provide insight into one’s health status. When risk factors or latent disease are uncovered, preventive action may improve health. However, not all conditions are treatable. In addition, false positive or negative results may lead to unnecessary treatment or unjustified reassurance with potentially negative consequences for health. If the course of disease is hard to predict even accurate diagnosis may lead to overtreatment. Some tests carry risks in themselves, such as invasive tests or tests using radiation. [ 2 ] Moreover, health check offers may indirectly result in decreased health solidarity and unfairly distributed health outcomes. [ 3 ] The weighing of benefits and harms for individuals and society requires ethical evaluation. [ 1 – 3 ]

Ethicists usually do not distinguish between population screening and personal health checks when it comes to benefits and harms and the weighing thereof. [ 2 , 4 – 6 ] This is different however in policy and regulation.

Evaluation of population screening and personal health checks in policy, law and regulation

Traditionally, policymakers and public health professionals use ethical criteria for responsible screening, derived from the Wilson and Jungner criteria, to evaluate whether or not population-screening programs should be offered. [ 7 – 10 ] Criteria for responsible population screening state that the screening should have clinical utility 1 , the benefits for the participants must outweigh the drawbacks, the test method must be both analytically valid 2 and clinically valid, 3 participation must be voluntary and based on reliable information, the offer and performance of screening should be in accordance with patient- and consumer rights, and the screening must be responsible in terms of the use it makes of public and collective health service resources. [summary derived from 5] There is discussion about whether or not specific population screening programs meet these criteria, but the criteria themselves are relatively uncontested. [ 9 ] In the Netherlands and Belgium there is also legal evaluation of population screening. [ 11 , 12 ] In the Netherlands this concerns a mandatory permit for screening that uses ionizing radiation, aims to detect cancer or diseases for which there is no treatment or prevention. Grounds to refuse a permit are (i) the screening test is scientifically unsound; (ii) the screening does not conform the legal rules for medical treatment; (iii) the expected benefit of the screening does not outweigh the risks for the participants. To determine the risk–benefit ratio for participants, the Wilson and Jungner criteria are used. [ 9 ]

As stated, most ethicists think that the Wilson and Jungner criteria are also applicable to personal health checks. [ 2 , 4 – 6 ] However, policymakers disagree on the question whether personal health checks – like population screening – should be regulated and if so, which criteria should be used. For the ethical evaluation of personal health checks, several policy proposals have been made. 4 On a European level quality criteria have been developed [ 13 ], in the United Kingdom, principles for direct to consumer genetic tests have been designed that may be applied to all personal health checks across all jurisdictions [ 14 ], the Health Council of the Netherlands (HCN) has written on the ethical evaluation of personal health checks [ 1 ] and the Royal Dutch Medical Association has published a guideline. [ 15 ] The latter has been withdrawn but was in operation during the time of this study. In the Netherlands – as in other European countries – there is limited regulation of personal health checks. [ 11 ] Several parties have indicated that more regulation, or more compliance with and oversight of existing laws and regulations, is necessary to protect citizens against harmful effects of personal health checks. [ 1 , 12 ]

As yet, there is no consensus on the criteria for ‘good’ personal health checks. The criteria in existing policy proposals vary, but are less stringent than criteria for responsible population screening: For example, none of the published guidelines mentions clinical utility and cost-effectiveness. [ 1 , 13 – 15 ]. Clinical validity is only considered a criterion by the HCN [ 1 ], analytic validity by the HCN [ 1 ] and HGC. [ 14 ] Just as criteria for responsible populations screening, criteria for personal health checks mention informed consent. [ 1 , 13 – 15 ] The question why criteria for personal health checks divert from criteria for responsible population screening, is answered by the Health Council of the Netherlands stating that ‘health gains are not necessarily a precondition for the individual. For the individual, the results obtained may be of use purely as information or they may be valuable in terms of reassurance. Also, cost-effectiveness is not a prime concern for the individual.’ [ 1 ]

Towards a new ethical framework for personal health checks

There is currently much public, policy and political debate in the Netherlands on the regulation of health checks. [ 16 – 19 ] This study aims to contribute to an ethical framework for responsible offers and use of personal health checks. We aim to formulate context-sensitive yet general criteria that – like the Wilson and Jungner criteria – may be applied to all sorts of tests. Criteria may also help providers in evaluating and adjusting their health check offers.

In order to develop ethical criteria for personal health checks that may be used to inform policy, the experiences and perspective of all stakeholders should be considered as they may identify different values, ethical dilemmas and practical barriers. Here we describe the results of an interview-study of providers’ views on criteria for good health checks. The perspective of health check providers is of particular importance, because they – within the limits of the law – determine which checks are offered to whom in which way. First, if their perspective differs in important aspects from criteria, a nonbinding guideline may not suffice to improve the offer of health checks. In fact, this is one of the reasons that the aforementioned guideline of the Royal Dutch Medical Association has been withdrawn: its effects were limited because commercial providers of health checks did not endorse it. [ 20 ] Second, providers are well positioned to identify practical and ethical barriers in the implementation of ethical (criteria for) personal health checks. Some of these may be removed.

In our interview-study with a wide range of providers, we investigate what they consider criteria for ‘good’ health checks, whether they differentiate between criteria for population screening and for personal health checks, and we explore what role the aforementioned criteria play in their practices.

Although providers have been involved in the development of earlier criteria and guidelines [ 1 , 13 – 15 ] and have been interviewed about the desirability of particular health checks in evaluation studies (e.g. [ 21 , 22 ]), this is – as far as we know – the first paper on the views of a wide range of providers on general criteria for good health checks (i.e.preventive or presymptomatic tests) would be.

Of course, the criteria as formulated by providers should not be taken as a final say, but used as input in the ethical and policy debates over the right criteria. We therefore also provide an ethical evaluation of providers’ criteria and practice.

Twenty semi-structured interviews were conducted in Dutch by Yrrah Stol (YS) in 2015 lasting 45–90 min. With one exception, interviews were conducted at the workplace of providers of health checks. Respondents were asked to share their opinions freely and were assured their answers would be anonymized. They all consented to publication of findings. We asked them what kind of check(s) they offer, their reasons for doing so, and the benefits and potential drawbacks of these checks. Subsequently they were asked an example of a good personal health check, and what general criteria for ‘good’ personal health checks would be. Similar questions were raised about ‘bad’ checks. Although we did define health checks (‘checks on (risk factors for) disease in people without specific medical indication’) we deliberately left open the question of what aspects of a ‘good’ or ‘bad’ check would be so that respondents were free to mention test- and disease characteristics, but also features of the provider, offer or context in which this offer is made. Providers were also asked what they would consider desirable policy concerning personal health checks. Finally, we asked them whether their current practice leaves room for improvement and how this may be achieved. (Additional file 1 ) Before the start of the interview, we told providers interviews would be used to inform an ethical framework for health checks that we are developing to guide policy.

Participants

Interviews were conducted with direct providers as well as managers of health check businesses: GPs (GP), physiotherapists (PHY), health and safety officers (HSO), pharmacists (PHA), population screening program officers (PSPO), screening by GP program officers (GPSPO), independent treatment centres providing insured (ITC-I) and uninsured (ITC-U) care, and Internet based companies (IC). (Additional file 2 ) They offered the following health checks to the Dutch public: tests for cardiovascular risk factors (sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol, BMI, questionnaire on lifestyle), tests for cancer (PSA test, rectal examination, mammography, cervical smear, stool test), total body scans, and other blood tests (e.g. sexually transmittable diseases (STD) tests, thyroid- kidney- and liver function, vitamin-, mineral- and hormone tests, hepatitis B&C tests).

We chose the range of providers based on our own knowledge of the field. We included both providers of all commonly performed checks (such as cholesterol tests and governmental screenings) and providers of the checks that are currently widely discussed in the Netherlands (such as the total body scan and PSA tests). Although they themselves do not provide personal health checks, governmental screening officers were approached because of their knowledge of the field. Our aim was to include a sample of health check providers that was as diverse as possible because different providers may stress different criteria. We interviewed medical specialists in commercial and regular care, 5 directors and key players of big organisations as well as health check providers in one-man companies, providers that conduct health checks face to face as well as those who supply via Internet. Sex and age of providers were no selection criteria, as we did not consider it likely that these characteristics would influence criteria. We identified individual candidates from our own network, through an internet-search, via other experts on health checks in the Netherlands and via snowballing. Providers were approached by e-mail and then called by telephone to ask whether they were interested to be interviewed. Of the twenty-eight providers that we approached, twenty agreed to an interview. We managed to arrange interviews with major players in the field. However, we did not succeed in including ‘small’ commercial providers without a (para)medical background: five of the eight providers that declined were small commercial providers.

Saturation as regards to criteria for health checks was reached long before the last interview.

Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. They were coded using NVIVO 10.2.2 for Mac focusing on characteristics of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ tests. An initial list of bottom-up derived codes reflecting characteristics of good and bad health checks and a range of other themes (such as information, autonomy and the organization of healthcare) was composed and discussed between YS and Eva Asscher (EA) after 10 interviews. Additional bottom-up codes were added during the analysis, staying close to the content of the answers of respondents. Similar codes were merged. Two interviews were double-coded by EA to ensure agreement about the codes, there was agreement about the codes used. Analysis of codes to results was done by YS in close consultation with EA and Maartje Schermer (MS). Quotes were translated from Dutch to English by YS.

As we concentrate on criteria for good health checks in this paper, we report on provider’s reasons for offering checks and their opinion on policy only when relevant.

Criteria for good personal health checks

Providers consider characteristics of the test itself, the disease tested on and how health checks are performed (the offer, provider and target population) part of what makes a test good or bad.

We divided the criteria mentioned by providers in three categories: Minimal criteria were (almost) unanimously mentioned by interviewed providers. These criteria are moreover decisive in the distinction between good and bad test: respondents described tests that do not meet minimal criteria ‘bad’. E.g. a good test is reliable and valid, a bad test unreliable and invalid. Aspirational criteria were mentioned by only part of the providers. Checks that do not meet these criteria are not necessarily considered ‘bad’, respondents merely think that health check offers could be improved by complying with these criteria. Contested criteria are aspirational criteria where providers (heavily) disagree about.

We discuss all types of criteria and illustrate them with quotes. The selection of quotes is based on their conciseness and appeal, and represent different providers. For reasons of anonymity, we may leave aside whether providers refer to their own health checks or the offer of others.

Criteria are summarized in Table  1 .

Minimal, aspirational and contested criteria for good personal health checks as formulated by interviewed providers

Minimal criteria

• Health check results must provide clear opportunities for health improvement

To benefit users, nearly all providers state that a good check must provide clear opportunities for health improvement:

First and foremost, you should perform a test only in those cases in which you can act on the results, the condition should be treatable, it should be possible to relieve symptoms [once they present themselves YS]. But preferably that you can detect it in such an early stage that it can be prevented. That, for me, is the main characteristic of a good test (HSO).

In the end, it has to be a treatable condition. (GP).

(Risk factors for) disease must be treatable either through preventive lifestyle changes, medical intervention or changes in the environment. Moreover, providers almost unanimously characterise health checks that (also) test for diseases for which no treatment or prevention is available as ‘bad’; these would harm users by causing concern and a loss of experienced health:

You have to be able to act on it. You need to give a therapy option. If you don’t have one (…) one becomes worried and therefore it is not a good test (ITC-U).

The total body scan 6 is an often-mentioned example of a test that may reveal untreatable conditions.

• 2. The health check must be reliable and valid

The second criterion providers almost unanimously mention is that personal health checks must be reliable and valid tests. Providers stress both the importance of analytical and clinical validity: If the conditions remain the same, results should be consistent, and personal health checks should accurately predict the presence or absence of the (risk factor for) disease. This is operationalized in a high sensitivity and specificity and good positive and negative predictive value for the (risk factor for) disease:

A reliable, valid test, that is [criterion] one (PHA).

The higher the sensitivity, the higher the specificity, the better it is (ITC-U).

It is remarkable how many providers stress the importance of combining tests for risk factors: this would give a better indication of disease developing in the future. According to providers, risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) should be considered in combination, and Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) should be checked in combination with a rectal examination:

Cholesterol alone is not enough. For only a part of a cardiovascular risk profile, but that’s it. (…) If you want to compose a cardiovascular risk profile.. Then I would say yes that makes sense (HSO).

80% of the men referred (…) [to this clinic] with an increased PSA did not get a rectal examination. The first step in diagnosing prostate cancer.. 80% did not get a rectal examination (ITC-I).

Checks that do not meet the reliability and validity criterion are characterized as ‘bad’ by nearly all providers because they may harm individuals. People should not be falsely reassured and false positive test results should be kept to a minimum because they may cause medicalization, unnecessary worries, over-treatment and unnecessary burdens on the health care system:

R: Sensitivity and specificity are truly essential. (…) I think that there are many health checks in which the tests are such that they result in a substantial amount of false positives. I think yes, many worried people will be referred with all the associated consequences. I: What consequences do you have in mind? R: overdiagnosis to start with, more referrals to health care, perhaps burdensome examinations, a trajectory full of uncertainty (PSPO).

A test on total-cholesterol is an often-mentioned example:

It tells you nothing, total cholesterol. It can be five or four, you think great, but it could be that the [LDL/HDL] relation is skewed, so these people are left none the wiser: you’re okay. I consider that even worse (ITC-U).

• 3. Participation must be voluntary and based on reliable information

Providers consider it problematic when people feel pressured or are actually pressured to test due to the conflict with self-determination:

Some people want to know, and others do not at all. People should be free in this decision. One certainly should have the opportunity to say ‘No, I prefer not to know’ (GPSPO).

Good information is almost unanimously mentioned as characteristic of a good check. Potential users should be informed about the advantages, disadvantages and limitations of the check beforehand to ensure informed consent (or dissent):

I consider that one of the most important criteria for good health checks, and that is that you provide people with sufficient and reliable information in advance (ITC-U).

Good information is very important, according to me. And good information may also result in a decision not to test (HSO).

Some providers also explicitly state they consider a check ‘bad’ when informed consent is lacking.

• 4. Health checks should provide more benefits than harms for the individual

Some providers explicitly mention this overarching criterion:

The balance between pros and cons, that is crucial to me (PSPO).

There are two sides to each check. (…) You aim for something that people.. which is quite specific .. where people can act upon, where they can do something about. (...) But the downside, the risk is always that it leads to medicalization (HSO).

Many state that health checks should not cause direct harm and only minimal burden. In fact, they almost unanimously state that the government should forbid the offer of directly harmful tests (eg using X-rays) 7 or should ensure these tests meet high quality standards:

People need to be protected against unsound or really dangerous tests. So it should be possible to ban unsound or dangerous health checks (ITC-U).

Often this criterion refers not only to the test itself, but also to the whole trajectory of testing and treatment. Many providers express worries concerning over-treatment of prostate cancer which may cause impotence and incontinence while the detected cancer may not have resulted in health problems:

It results in a nasty urological treatment, that could be useful for some, but is not for the majority (GP).

To assure health benefits and to avoid harm, the presence of disease should have implications for (future) wellbeing.

In case of governmental screening programs, interviewed providers formulate an additional minimal criterion:

• 5. Health checks should be cost-effective

Providers differentiate between personal health checks and governmental screening programs when it comes to the cost-effectiveness of the check. Governmental screening programs should be cost-effective: the costs of the screening program should be in proportion with the expected gain in health.

Costs certainly play a role in governmental screening programs. The tests should be affordable. (PSPO).

An individual check up is very different to population screening in this regard. For the moment you’d say ‘everybody between age fifty and seventy gets a [free YS] total body scan’, you’ll make costs of formidable size (ITC-U).

Aspirational criteria

• Follow-up care should be provided, including objective explanation of test-results, referral to specialized care and assistance with the realization of health benefits

Many providers stress that results are meaningless unless properly interpreted and put in perspective. Explanation of results may also prevent harm resulting from overtreatment and unnecessary worries. An often-mentioned example in this regard is the PSA test. Providers should take sufficient time to explain that prostate cancer need not always to be treated but may in some instances better be monitored with regular rectal examinations, PSA tests, biopts and/or MRI’s.

Interviewed providers also stress that users need to be referred to specialized care if tests results warrant so.

Finally, to realize health benefits after the test, users should be informed about, advised on, and – according to some providers – if necessary assisted with the realization of treatments and/or lifestyle adjustments:

If a doctor says “go exercise more”, that is one thing, but to actually do it is something altogether different. And I often think that many people really need a big stick and need some advice. It is often easier said than done is my experience. (Physiotherapist).

• 2. Providers should be skilled and experienced professionals that put the benefit of (potential) users first

Many providers think that health checks should preferably be offered and performed by skilled and experienced health care professionals because they have the capabilities to properly inform (potential) users about the benefits and harms of a test, to interpret test results and to explain their relevance to users:

Quality has to do with the quality of the test, and with the quality of the doctor. A test may have a high sensitivity, high specificity, but if the doctor is not able to interpret the results … I always stress, I find it very important that people realize that early diagnosis is a profession. In everybody I investigate I’ll find something. Of course, because I’m looking at a body and no one body is built the same, so you’ll always find variations on the norm. And it’s very important to get to know those variations on the norm so you know when to act and when not to do so. (ITC-U).

Furthermore, some providers state that the interests of (potential) users should come first in the provision of health checks. They warn for (financial) incentives to test or treat in commercial providers, but also in regular care:

When it comes to prostate cancer, the biggest crime is the robots that those hospital directors have put down. To their urologists, they say ‘I’ll buy a robot for you if you remove 200 prostates’. That’s horrible. (...) Don’t do a [PSA] test at a urologists under pressure to operate (ITC-I).

• 3. Providers should take time and attention

In order to properly inform, advise and assist (potential) users before and after the test, providers emphasise the importance of time and empathy:

You need to take the time to explain. (…) Time, time.. That is of crucial importance to patients (ITC-I).

Contested criteria

• People should be free to test on any (risk factor for) disease, provided they are well-informed

A large number of the providers, including all commercial ones, state that testing or not should ideally be an individual choice. With the exception of directly harmful health checks, people should be able to do a personal health check on any (risk factor for) disease, provided they are well-informed:

Health is our most precious possession, and every individual, every citizen has the right to make decisions about their own health. And thus to have it examined when he or she wants to. That’s just a basic right. (ITC-U).

• 2. Health checks should be performed in people likely to benefit most from the check

In contrast, other providers state that people should not be free to participate in whatever health check, but that it would be best if health checks were performed in people likely to benefit most. To optimize the benefit-harm ratio of health checks, health checks should only be performed in people at high risk for disease. This will enhance the positive predictive value of the test, which depends on the prevalence of disease. Checks moreover should only be performed in those likely to implement health advice. An often-mentioned example is that checking for CVD is only useful when people are willing and capable to implement lifestyle changes that are required to lower risk:

Preventive research [including health checks YS] also has to do with what people are willing to do with the results (IC).

Only in people who are willing to take the consequences, testing [for CVD risk factors] is useful (ITC-U).

Some health check providers therefore advice to assess risk factors and likelihood of implementing health advice before the test and to perform health checks only in those people most likely to benefit from the test. They warn of commercial providers, but also of patient groups and medical specialists with a particular focus on the disease tested for, who may be:

very focused to detect so to speak the last patient with cancer left. Very driven to do so. Not surprising of course, for they are confronted with the consequences of cancer for people in their practice. (PSPO).

The downside of this focus would be that they may offer tests to people at low risk for disease, which may result in many false positives.

Benefits other than health, such as reassurance, may also be taken into consideration. According to the providers who state that health checks should only be performed in people who are likely to benefit most, people at low risk who are extremely worried should still be able to test, because reassuring them may improve their wellbeing although it’s unlikely health benefits will result:

If somebody is worried sick, and thinks ‘I’ve got it’ [lung cancer], than yes, that person should be given the possibility to check (PSPO).

• 3. Follow up care of privately funded tests should not drain collective resources

To ensure affordable health care, some providers caution about privately provided tests that may cause follow-up in regular health care possibly draining collective resources. The total body scan is often mentioned as an example:

It [a total body scan] produces a lot of unnecessary additional medical consumption. (…) Obstruction, unnecessary [follow up] research, that is a waste (...) Not just of money but of time. Time of the people who have to do those [follow up] tests, time in the hospital for things that are not useful, which makes other people having to wait longer (GP).

Criteria in practice

So far the focus has been on criteria for good health checks according to providers. This final section is devoted to the role of these criteria in the current offers of health checks. Which checks do – according to providers – meet the criteria for good health checks, and which do not? Do providers themselves comply with criteria? Is it feasible to fulfil these criteria according to providers?

Good’ and ‘bad’ health checks

During the interviews many providers had serious difficulties mentioning a health check that they considered to be ‘good’. Many of them mention other forms of prevention instead, such as vaccinations, easily accessible preventive activities such as sports and smoking cessation programs, and tackling the obesogenic environment:

Uhm, I’m in doubt.. I can not just name one, because you have indeed the false positives and treatment.. it isn’t always easy.. You’re talking about tests, not about preventive vaccinations, those kind of things, you’re really asking for a test (PSPO).

When asked for an example of a ‘bad’ check however, providers readily named tests, often the total body scan and tests on total cholesterol.

Why providers don’t comply with the formulated criteria

Providers reflected on their own offer of tests to emphasise what they think is important in a test, and were asked whether their current practice leaves room for improvement and how this could be achieved. Providers readily admitted they didn’t consistently meet their own criteria for good checks. Some of them offer checks that may detect untreatable disease and tests with a low predictive value. They do not always sufficiently inform potential users, the follow up of some of checks drains on collective resources, and follow up care is not always provided. Especially help with lifestyle changes following checks on CVD risks is rare.

Several reasons were mentioned for this gap between theory and practice. First, many providers struggle with the tension between the importance they attach to reliable, valid health checks that improve health, and their belief that potential users – provided they are well-informed – should be free to choose any personal health check they want, including tests that are unreliable, invalid and are unlikely to improve health, for example because (potential) users do not belong to the target group:

I am a strong proponent of self-determination. If I want to have my creatinine checked, I believe this should be possible. And I also believe that if I want to have my PSA checked – which is such a discussion – I believe I should be able to have my PSA checked. And a GP may think I shouldn’t, but then I think this GP needs to explain to me why I shouldn’t. But even then I believe I should be able to request that [a PSA check]. If, of course, I fit into a specific group [population]. If I’d be 30, well.. No anyway, then it should still be possible (ITC-U).

Second, especially medical specialists express a strong desire to prevent serious illness and death from disease while (as yet) no test with good predictive value is available:

Look, a PSA test is obviously not a good test and should also not be used for screening. That’s not a good test, especially the specificity is much, much, much too low. But there is nothing better. (...) That is a real miserable death, prostate cancer is the most miserable death from cancer that you can imagine. You’ll get metastases in your bones, it will take three years, it is terribly painful, it’s an enormous decline because it is such a slow-growing killer. So look, and that’s exactly what I want to prevent, that misery (ITC-I).

Third, many providers, especially GPs, suffer from a lack of time. In practice they cannot properly inform, advise and assist (potential) users before and after the test:

I find it difficult in cases in which a patient says: I want my PSA checked, that just takes a moment isn’t it doctor? That happened a few times, to then explain as good as possible how it is (GP).

Fourth, although all respondents would like to provide good care, providers other than the government and GPs make (part of) their living selling health checks, so they have an interest that may conflict with offering reliable, valid checks that provide health benefits:

We are a commercial company as well... yeah. So I mean.. would you in such a situation also think “well, should I do this [offer this test] or not”? Yes that can be difficult, to make honest weightings, therein. Yes, I’m very honest about that (HSO).

A similar conflict is reported concerning the provision of objective and full information to potential users:

Really, I would.. I think you should give objective information. (...) Look the point is, and that has to do with market forces in health care, you’ll always .. the biggest .. uhm... challenge is in recruitment versus information. Recruitment meaning how do you recruit your clients, and how do you give the right information. (...) How do you do a.. recruitment in which you do alert people to potential risks or disadvantages (ITC-U).

Informed consent may be difficult to establish

According to interviewed providers, informed consent is a minimal criterion. As just described, sometimes providers fail to supply potential users with sufficient information. A majority of the interviewed providers however questions whether true informed consent is feasible at all. Even if potential users would be provided with objective, reliable, valid, accessible and understandable information; this would not necessarily enable them to make informed assessments concerning benefits and harms of tests. This is because many people, according to providers, have difficulties with making ‘rational’ decisions in the context of health:

What people understand and what people want to understand, you can explain something very well, but sometimes people just want to read something else, so (ITC-U).

The context in which a check is offered is said to have a big influence on decisions (not) to test. When a test is free, easily accessible, if ‘everybody’ participates, and when potential users trust the provider, people would hardly consider information at all:

Yes, the more accessible it is, if it becomes common practice, the less people tend to think about what the consequences might be if you do that [testing] (PHA).

According to providers, health related choices are influenced by fear of death (rather safe than sorry). Faced with the possibility of serious disease that can be treated at an early stage, people are willing to accept unnecessary worry and even damage to health that may result from overdiagnosis and overtreatment. Many providers thus explain choices to test for prostate cancer.

People always tend to believe the worst case scenario. (…) A certain fear to have something, a fear of illness (…) [They take the PSA test] we’ll treat them and they will be glad we do. In the meantime they’re confronted with incontinence, impotence, that sort of thing. And surprisingly enough, they take it for granted. (...) They’ll reason I have prostate cancer and I’ve been treated .. so I escaped death (GP).

Interestingly, the very same providers also make comments in which nothing echoes the aforementioned nuances to the view of man as rational decision maker:

If they want to spent their money on that [total body scan YS] instead of on a vacation. Well, why not, that is their choice (GP).

People should just be smart enough to decide whether or not they participate in checks, ok? (ITC-U).

As long as information is provided, choices would simply reflect what people want. Providers make these comments to justify their own practice, but are also in relation to health checks offered by other providers.

Providers’ criteria are demanding

When we compare the criteria formulated by the providers with existing criteria for personal health checks and population screening, five points stand out. First, the criteria as formulated by the interviewed providers resemble the criteria for responsible population screening closely. Analytic validity, clinical validity, clinical usefulness, benefits outweighing harms and informed consent are all considered minimum criteria. Providers also state that governmental screening should be cost-effective. Providers, thus, agree with ethicists that the Wilson and Jungner criteria are also applicable to personal health checks. [ 2 , 4 – 6 ]

In the regulatory context of personal health checks, the opinions of providers however, give a new perspective. Their criteria are actually more demanding than criteria formulated for personal health checks thus far. Providers consider health benefits and clinical validity minimal criteria for personal health check, as for population screening. In contrast, clinical utility is mentioned in none of the existing criteria for personal health checks [ 1 , 13 – 15 ] and clinical validity in only one. [ 1 ]

Third, the ideas about follow up care of interviewed providers are more demanding than criteria formulated for responsible population screening and criteria for personal health checks. In population screening people are informed about the meaning of results and referred to specialized care, criteria for personal health checks include ‘advice to clients on strategies the client can follow to reduce any further risk of acquiring a condition(s) or its negative consequences.’ ([ 13 ], see also [ 14 ]) Several interviewed providers however advise to help users in realizing the actions necessary to reduce risk.

Fourth, it is remarkable that interviewed providers make almost no remarks about privacy and storage of data. Criteria for responsible governmental screening state that offer and performance should be in accordance with patient and consumer rights. Criteria for personal health checks explicitly mention the handling of data. [ 1 , 13 – 15 ] We think the fact that interviewed providers seem to take patient- and consumer rights as given could best explain this apparent omission (Additional file 3 ).

Last but not least, the interviewed providers have specific concerns about informed consent. Although they consider this a minimal criterion, they question its feasibility in practice. According to providers, people would be more influenced by context and emotions than by information in their decisions to test. This is a cause for concern, considering the importance placed on informed consent in the existing criteria for personal health check. In these criteria, informed consent is not only considered as a criterion in itself but also as a condition to ensure that individual benefits outweigh harms because informed individuals would be able to determine whether that is the case. [ 1 , 13 – 15 ] According to interviewed providers this is, thus, not realistic. To ensure health checks provide more benefits than harms, they instead mention an individual assessment before the test, help with the implementation of health advice after the test, and providers being skilled and experienced professionals who put the benefit of (potential) users first and take time and attention in their provision of care. Although some proposals for the ethical evaluation of personal health checks mention assessment of risk factors [ 7 , 9 ] or qualified providers [ 8 , 9 ], their emphasis is on informed consent.

Providers don’t meet criteria: Lessons

Interviewed providers have difficulties mentioning personal health checks that meet their criteria. Moreover, they do not consistently meet the formulated minimal and aspirational criteria in their own practice. Respondents name several reasons for this gap between theory and practice. We discuss their implications for the usability of criteria for personal health checks.

First, primarily the commercial providers struggle with the tension between the importance of reliable, valid checks that improve health and their belief that potential users should be free to choose any test they want, including unreliable, invalid tests that do not provide opportunities for health improvement, provided they are well-informed. This contested criterion (nr 1) is hard to reconcile with the minimal criteria, which these providers, thus, often fail to meet. There are commercial motives at play, but non-commercial providers also state that people at low risk that are extremely worried should be able to test, regardless the fact that the validity of test results will be negatively influenced and it is unlikely that health benefits will result. (see contested criterion 2) This apparent dilemma between avoidance of harm and respect for autonomy emphasises that a list of criteria may contain value conflicts that are not easily resolved.

Second, providers are sometimes faced with the dilemma that they want to prevent harm from disease, but have no options except health checks with poor predictive value, which may result in harm due to over-treatment and unnecessary worries. On a population level, it may not be easy to identify when health checks no longer provide more benefits than harms. On the level of an individual user or patient, providers – like individuals themselves – reason it is better to be safe than sorry.

These dilemma’s point out that in developing ethical criteria for offering health checks potential conflicts between criteria and underlying values should be explicated and addressed.

Other reasons why providers do not meet criteria point to components in the organisation of health care that may conflict with an ethical provision of health checks: Especially GPs report that they lack time to properly inform, advise and assist (potential) users before and after the test. This has been reported before in studies on preventive care in general practice. [ 23 ] They express moral frustration about this situation because they want to provide good care.

Some (semi) commercial providers have an interest that sometimes conflicts with offering reliable, valid checks that provide health benefits and giving objective and full information to potential users. Commercial providers are faced with the question why their practice should be moral if they could make money instead. The question ‘why be moral?’ may be even more central in the practice of the ‘small’ commercial providers without a (para) medical background which rejected our request for an interview by stating that this ‘would be at the expense of customers who pay € 225 per hour’.

These dilemmas point out that in thinking about the ethics of offering health checks; we should take the larger context into account. It is important to realize the conditions that would facilitate providers to meet the criteria. Other actors, like the government or insurance companies, need to take responsibility here as well.

When it comes to the usability of general criteria for personal health checks there is of course also the general problem of the application of criteria. As mentioned in the introduction, the criteria for population screening may be relatively uncontested, but whether or not specific population screening programs meet these criteria is subject of debate. [ 9 ] Agreement about general criteria for personal health checks is thus only a first step towards the ethical evaluation of specific checks. When is a test ‘reliable’ and ‘valid’ enough? General criteria must be interpreted for specific tests, and it may well be that different providers will interpret criteria differently or that there will be dissensus when it comes to applying general criteria for specific tests. To our mind, standards should be at least as demanding as those of population screening.

Contested criteria: Ethical evaluation

The criteria as formulated by providers should not be taken as a final say, but used as input in the ethical and policy debates over the right criteria. Their minimal and aspirational criteria are in line with what most ethicists consider to be good (personal) health check offers. [ 2 , 4 – 6 ] This is different however, when it comes to contested criteria. In this section we provide an ethical evaluation of these contested criteria and explore their relevance for an overarching ethical framework for responsible offer and use of personal health checks.

Respecting autonomous choice

The idea that people should be free to participate in unreliable, invalid checks on (risk-factors for) disease that cannot be treated provided that they are well-informed may be seen as an attempt to prevent harm from checks while respecting autonomous choice. Autonomy is a key value in medical ethics. [ 24 ] We briefly discuss how we understand autonomous choices in the context of health checks and evaluate this criterion on this basis.

An autonomous choice is a choice made in freedom, a choice that is in line with somebody’s values, with his or her perception of the good life, a choice that ideally is based on reliable information. [ 2 , 24 ] Interestingly, many providers – commercial and non-commercial – think people would be more influenced by context and emotions than by information in their decisions to test. Indeed people may not be capable of using the information provided during informed consent procedures in decisions to test because they lack the health literacy to do so [ 25 , 26 ] or because emotions or heuristics override rational considerations. [ 27 ]. 8

If providing information to potential users does not necessarily lead to autonomous choices (not) to participate in health checks, how to evaluate these choices? This should depend on whether that choice is conductive to this individuals’ own perception of a good life. [ 2 ] Most people value health more than anything else. [ 28 ] In addition, a choice for a test should be in line with what the individual wants or expects from the check. [ 29 ] Many people expect tests to have a good predictive value, to offer opportunities for health improvement and not to inflict any harm [ 30 ] and participate for reasons of health. (e.g. [ 31 ]).

From this we may conclude that offering tests with a low predictive value that do not provide health benefits is not likely to be conductive to the autonomy of (potential) users. This is because most people value health, expect health check to provide certainty about the presence or absence of disease and test to improve health. [ 29 – 31 ] Moreover, providing information about test- and disease characteristics that are contrary to what people expect will probably not suffice to prevent harm because decisions (not) to test are more often made on the basis of emotions and heuristics than information. [ 25 – 27 ] The idea that people should be free to participate in whatever check, provided that they are well-informed is thus not likely to result in respect for autonomous choice while preventing harm from checks.

This is different when potential users would be ‘informed’ in individual assessments, as some providers suggest in the context of contested criterion 2. In such assessments, risk factors and likelihood of health advice being implemented would be discussed and the individual needs of potential users would be deliberated upon. [ 32 ] This way, unrealistic expectations may be corrected [ 29 ] and individual benefits and harms could be determined in the context of individual needs. Such individual assessments – perhaps best comparable to counselling in clinical genetics – would require personal contact and thus take time and attention from providers. They may also require offering less comprehensive tests. For example, it does not seem realistic to discuss all relevant benefits and harms of a total body scan or broad genome-wide testing. [ 33 ]

In case of health checks with a low predictive value or checks that do not provide opportunities for health improvement, we thus suggest performing individual assessments as ‘alternative’ informed consent procedures. This way, it is assured that participating is in line with individual’s values and expectations and provides more benefits than harms.

This analysis of autonomous choice and the limitations of informed consent has implications beyond an ethical provision of health checks. In general we think it is important to design informed consent procedures such that they truly function as means to respect the autonomy of (potential) users. [ 24 ]

Taking the context into account

The suggestion of some providers to perform in particular cardiovascular health checks only in people who are willing and capable to implement any lifestyle advice could, like a recent, very similar advice from the US Preventive Service Task Force [ 34 ], be criticized as ‘withholding potential benefit from the population subgroups whose socioeconomic burdens and comorbidities place them in greatest need of help’. [ 35 ]. After all, the low SES groups who are, according to interviewed providers, not likely to implement health advice have on average a bigger risk on cardiovascular disease. [ 36 , 37 ]

However, a different picture arises if we would evaluate this suggestion from a ethical perspective in which the context is taken into account. We think that a true ethical provision of health checks requires weighing benefits and harms of health checks against other measures targeting (risk factors for) disease. Let us weigh the benefits and harms of cardiovascular health checks up to benefits and harms of other measures targeting (risk factors for) CVD: asking people to change their lifestyle if they’re not capable to, is not likely to improve their health but may cause worries and feelings of guilt. [ 3 ] Low SES groups indeed deserve care, but may need different care than the provision of cardiovascular health checks. [ 31 ] It would be more fair and effective to help those people maintaining a healthy lifestyle by changing the obesogenic environment they live in. [ 38 – 40 ] Thinking about the ethics of health checks may thus also result in an advice to implement other measures than health checks, for certain subgroups or in general. To change the obesogenic environment other actors than providers need to be addressed, such as governments and industry. [ 3 ]

Limitations of the study

We have chosen a qualitative approach because we are the first to question providers on an ethical provision of health checks and the openness of a qualitative method allows the uncovering of unexpected views. The aim was an in-depth understanding of what providers consider criteria for good personal health checks and potential barriers in the implementation of these.

Although we interviewed a very divers sample of providers, saturation as regards to criteria was reached long before the last interview: they formulated very similar and ‘demanding’ general criteria. We did not expect this to happen. Despite differences in education(al) level, profession, work field and interest, providers – apparently – have very similar ideas when it comes to the ethics of health checks. Although we cannot exclude the possibility of a social acceptability bias in their answers – respondents were aware that they were interviewed by an ethicist and perhaps did not want to come across as thoughtless – however we do not consider this a likely scenario. The atmosphere during most 9 interviews was perceived by YS and described by respondents as surprisingly open and relaxed.

In addition, providers were aware that their answers would be employed in the development of an ethical framework for personal health checks. Strategically providers had every reason to be somewhat less demanding while showing goodwill to make some adjustments in their offers. Such a position after all would minimize the chances of (governmental) involvement in their practices. That being said, our results may suffer from a sampling bias: ‘Small’ commercial providers without a (para) medical background who declined our interview requests would perhaps have formulated less ‘demanding’ criteria. And the two providers of governmental screening programs came up with criteria very similar to criteria for responsible governmental screening, as was perhaps to be expected.

To draw conclusions on how many providers value which criteria for good health checks, the results of this study would need to be quantified.

A potential shortcoming of this study is the relatively short section on criteria in practice as these results are the most interesting from an ethical point of view. The reason why we do not have more material to present is that we wanted providers to be as open and honest about their practices as possible in an interview with an ethicist, and figured they would be more at ease if we did not question them too directly and long about whether and why they (do not) keep to criteria.

Providers are more demanding than existing ethical criteria for personal health checks and state that personal health checks should meet the following minimum criteria: (Risk factors for) disease to which the check is directed should be treatable; Tests must be reliable and clinically valid; Participation must be informed and voluntary; Health checks should provide more benefits than harms; Governmental screenings should be cost-effective. Some providers also formulate aspirational criteria: Follow-up care should be provided; Providers should be skilled and experienced professionals that put the benefit of (potential) users first; Providers should take time and attention. Providers disagreed over the following contested criteria: People should be free to test on any (risk factor for) disease; Health checks should only be performed in people at high risk for disease that are likely to implement health advice; Follow up care of privately funded tests should not drain on collective resources.

Providers do not always fulfil their own criteria. Their reasons reveal conflicts within the set of criteria for good checks, conflicts between criteria and other ethical values, and point to components in the organisation of health care that hinder an ethical provision of personal health checks. Moreover, many interviewed providers consider informed consent a criterion that is hard to establish in practice. An individual assessment in which risk factors, the likelihood of health advice being implemented and the needs of potential users would be discussed is an interesting suggestion for an informed consent procedure that truly functions as means to respect the autonomy of (potential) users. [ 24 ]

The results of this study suggest that in thinking about the ethics of health checks, drawing up a checklist of criteria will not suffice. Potential conflicts between criteria and their values should be explicated and preferably help in the weighing of criteria should be provided. Moreover, in the ethics of health checks it is important to take the larger context into account. It is important to realize the conditions that would facilitate providers to meet the criteria. Actors, like the government or insurance companies, need to take responsibility here as well and thus, should be addressed. Moreover, an ethical framework for health checks should enable weighing up benefits and harms of health checks to other measures targeting (riskfactors for) disease. An ethical evaluation of health checks within this larger context may result in an advice to implement or promote other measures than health checks.

Additional files

Interview guide (DOCX 126 kb)

Profession and age of health check providers (DOCX 64 kb)

Comparison of criteria. Comparison between criteria as mentioned by interviewed providers and what is written on these criteria (eg what is mentioned about informed consent) in criteria for responsible population screening and existing criteria for personal health checks (DOCX 114 kb)

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank all respondents for their time and frankness during the interviews. Marian Verheul, thank you for the faithful transcription of the interviews.

This work was supported by ZonMw [200330010].

Availability of data and materials

Abbreviations, authors’ contributions.

YS conducted the interviews and was a major contributor in writing the manuscript. Analysis of codes to results was done by YS in close consultation with EA and MS. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

In the Netherlands, ethics approval for this type of research is not required. After being informed about the purposes of this study, providers agreed to participate.

Consent for publication

Interviewed providers were informed about the purposes of the interviews and consented to publication.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

1 The screening and any subsequent interventions should lead to an improved health outcome among people with a positive test result.

2 The accuracy with which the test measures a specific biomarker.

3 The accuracy with which the test identifies a particular (risk factor for) disease.

4 Note that many more guidelines for direct to consumer (DTC) genetic tests exist. [ 41 , 42 ] We however, only discuss guidelines applicable to all sorts of personal health checks.

5 In the Netherlands, people need a referral from their GP to be treated or examined by a medical specialist in regular/insured care. In contrast, care by specialists in commercial/uninsured care is accessible without GP referral. Specialized medical care may either be provided in hospitals (regular care) or in independent treatment centres (either insured or uninsured care).

6 There is currently much public debate in the Netherlands concerning the Total Bodyscan. Thus far, performance is forbidden in the Netherlands. However, it is offered and performed just outside Dutch borders. This may have influenced how often providers refer to this test during the interviews.

7 The Netherlands has a special law on screening: the Population Screening Act. As explained in the introduction it states that population screening must benefit participants. It operationalizes this through a mandatory permit for (expected) harmful screening: that uses ionizing radiation, aims to detect cancer or diseases for which no treatment or prevention. Grounds to refuse the permit are 1. The screening test is scientifically unsound; 2. The screening is not conform the legal rules for medical treatment; 3. The expected benefit of the screening does not outweigh the risks for the participants. To determine the risk-benefit ratio for participants, the Wilson and Jungner criteria are used. (HCN 2008) During the time of the interviews, the minister of health of the Netherlands deliberated on possible adjustment of the Population Screening Act.

8 One may wonder why providers state that people should be free to test provided they are well informed, if they think people would be more influenced by context and emotions than by information in their decisions to test. As discussed the very same providers that question informed consent also make rather indiscriminate statements about self-determination: choices would simply reflect what people want. As most providers came across as genuinely committed to the well-being of the users of their test, a mechanism called ‘cognitive dissonance’ may be at play. [ 43 ] Cognitive dissonance refers to the psychological stress that results from holding a belief that is contradictory to ones actions. To reduce stress, people may either adapt their ideas or their actions. [ 43 ] To fit their practice in which they perform unreliable, invalid health checks that do not always provide opportunities to improve health but may even harm health, providers may simplify their conception of self-determination. Another or additional explanation as to why providers state people should be free to test provided they are well informed is that they may hold on to informed consent procedures as if it were an ethical anchor. Informed consent procedures as something intrinsically good would then outweigh uncertain harms done by unreliable or invalid checks that do not provide opportunities for health improvement. Although this is an understandable thought given the attention within medical ethics to informed consent [ 24 ], informed consent should be understood as a means to respect the autonomy of (potential) users, not an end in itself.

9 With the exception of two interviewees who seemed on their guard.

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The Importance of Regular Check-Ups

A generation ago, people used to see their doctor only when they were sick, or dying. Today, preventative health care is becoming commonplace as people become more educated and empowered about their own health. People are preemptively seeking medical advice on how to live a healthy lifestyle. They are looking to lower their risk of various conditions or diseases by maintaining a healthy diet, weight, and level of physical activity.

Doctors are also requesting that patients get regular check-ups to help stay on top of their health. They are highlighting the importance of prevention, as a means to reduce the number of patients requiring medical treatment or surgery.

Regular check-ups can help find potential health issues before they become a problem. When you see your doctor regularly, they are able to detect health conditions or diseases early. Early detection gives you the best chance for getting the right treatment quickly, avoiding any complications. By getting the correct health services, screenings, and treatment you are taking important steps toward living a longer, healthier life.

Our practitioners specialize in providing comprehensive care for both women's health as well as men's health .

The benefits of regular check-ups include:

• Reduce your risk of getting sick
• Detect potentially life-threatening health conditions or diseases early
• Increase chances for treatment and cure
• Limit risk of complications by closely monitoring existing conditions
• Increase lifespan and improve health
• Reduce healthcare costs over time by avoiding costly medical services
• Form a good partnership with the doctor so treatment can be more efficient
• Get updated on new medical information or technologies that are available

Preventive health screening checklist for adults

• Family history
• Blood pressure
• Body mass index (BMI)
• Physical exam
• Preventive screening
• Breast (women)
• Cervical (women)
• Testicular and Prostate (men)
• Hearing (only if symptoms arise)
• Tetanus, Diptheria (Tdap)
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• Haemophilus Influenza Type B

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The Importance of Regular Check-ups: A Guide to General Care

Taking care of your health now helps you avoid serious problems later. That’s where regular check-ups and screenings come in. This guide will explain their importance and the health issues they can catch early.

Regular check-ups have saved countless lives—they can help with everything from keeping your weight in check to catching serious problems early when they’re easiest to treat. Consulting with a regular check-up system enables you to understand how your body is doing and gives you and your doctor a heads-up about potential issues. That way, you know what steps to take for the best possible health.

No matter how old you are, getting a scheduled check-up is an intelligent move. It’s best to catch health issues early and ensure you feel your best. Regular check-ups also monitor your overall health and suggest ways to stay healthy and prevent long-term illnesses. Healthcare providers at the Family Medical Center offer quality healthcare services, so you know you’re in the best hands.

What Are Regular Check-ups?

Also called a physical exam, check-ups are systemized, regular health consultations with your doctor. They’ll do a few tests to see how things are working and if any areas of your health need extra attention. Usually, your doctor at the Family Medical Center will run the following routine:

• The Basics: You’ll chat with your doctor about your medical history, current lifestyle and health routine, medications, and diet.
• The Exam: The doctor will check your eyes, ears, nose, throat, heart, lungs, and more. They’ll also check for unusual lumps and take your height, weight, and blood pressure.
• Lab Tests: These are common during a check-up. They might do blood tests to check cholesterol and blood sugar and a urine test to ensure your kidneys are working well.
• Additional Tests: Depending on your health history and needs, your doctor might suggest more in-depth tests. These could include X-rays, CT scans, an ECG, or a stress test.

What Benefits Do Regular Check-ups Offer?

Regular check-ups are like armor against health problems. They help prevent many diseases and catch others early when they’re easiest to treat. Plus, you’ll stay informed about your health, and your doctor will have all the necessary information to give you the best care.

It’s human nature to put our well-being on the back burner, especially when life gets busy. But the truth is, waiting until a health problem surfaces can make things so much more complicated. Regular check-ups are a way to show your body some love and get ahead of potential issues.

Regular check-ups are like an extra layer of protection against getting sick.

Regular health check-ups are your body’s early warning system. Your doctor checks you from head to toe, both physically and mentally, to ensure everything works well. This helps them catch problems early on when they’re easiest to treat. The goal is to avoid any significant issues down the road and keep you feeling your best. You get a detailed picture of your health with physical exams, blood tests, and other routine screenings. This helps catch potential problems before they become severe and lets you track any changes. Think of it like this: cholesterol tests monitor heart disease risk, and mammograms or colonoscopies screen for cancer. Your doctor will tailor which check-ups you need and how often based on your age, gender, and family history.

Regular check-ups save you money on healthcare over time.

Regular check-ups are your best defense against getting sick. They help find problems early when they’re easier to treat, which keeps you healthier and lowers your medical costs. Getting sick can be expensive, especially if a problem isn’t caught early. Regular check-ups help keep you healthy, so you need fewer sick days or trips to the hospital. They let your doctor find issues early when they’re most accessible and cheapest to treat. Consider check-ups an investment—they save you money on medical bills in the long run.

Regular check-ups help you understand your health better.

It’s easy to forget how important our health is until we lose it. Regular check-ups are a powerful reminder to take care of yourself. They don’t just check for problems—they also help you understand your health better. That knowledge empowers you to make smarter choices about exercise and diet. Plus, visiting a doctor for a check-up can be a wake-up call to prioritize your well-being.

Regular check-ups help you build a trusting relationship with your doctor.

Regular check-ups help you build a strong relationship with your doctor.

This means you’ll feel comfortable sharing concerns and asking questions. Your doctor can teach you about staying healthy, offer advice on good habits, and work with you to prevent health problems. This partnership helps you make the best choices for your long-term health and well-being.

Regular check-ups help your doctor spot signs of stress-related diseases early.

Taking care of your health is necessary, which means more than just not feeling sick. Stress from work, traffic, and unpredictable life events can sneak up on you. Regular check-ups help your doctor spot signs of stress and its impact on your body and mind. This lets you address problems early and get the support you need. By getting regular check-ins, you’ll stay informed about your overall health and make intelligent choices for your well-being.

Regular check-ups can assess your mental health.

Regular health check-ups go beyond just your physical health—they also address your mental well-being. Mental health is just as crucial as physical health, and check-ups are an excellent opportunity to discuss any concerns you might have with a healthcare professional. Addressing mental health concerns early can make a world of difference in your overall quality of life. Regular check-ups allow you to manage your mental well-being, like your physical health, proactively. You can live a happier, healthier life by caring for your body and mind.

Regular check-ups let your doctor create a personalized preventive care plan.

Everyone is different, and regular check-ups let you get personalized prevention care based on your medical history and risk factors. If healthcare workers know your health needs, they can ensure that their preventative steps are appropriate for you. This could include suggestions for vaccinations, tests for certain diseases based on your sex and age, and living advice that is specific to your wellness goals. If you want to protect your health, personalized preventive care can help you stay a few steps ahead. A good doctor will tell their patients to take more responsibility for their health and do what they must to stay healthy. This will suggest keeping healthy habits and a general healthy way of life.

How to Select the Right Check-up Plans?

Your ideal health check-up isn’t a one-size-fits-all package. It’s tailored to your age, gender, family medical history, and the lifestyle choices you make. A check-up often includes:

• Blood Pressure Checks: Monitoring for potential heart issues.
• Cholesterol and Blood Sugar Levels: Keeping an eye out for diabetes and heart disease risks.
• Cancer Screenings: Early detection can mean lifesaving treatment.
• Physical Examination: A head-to-toe assessment of your overall health.

When Is the Right Time for a Check-up?

How often you need a check-up depends on your unique health picture. Most adults benefit from an annual check-up, but more frequent visits might be necessary if you have specific health concerns or chronic conditions.

Why Do Regular Check-ups Matter?

Regular health check-ups are a robust investment in your long-term well-being. They provide an opportunity to:

• Take Charge: Be proactive about your health, not reactive.
• Catch Problems Early: When issues are minor, they’re often easier to treat.
• Partner With Your Doctor: Work together for your best possible health.

Does My Insurance Cover Health Check-Ups?

Many health insurance plans do offer coverage for preventive health check-ups. The best way to know is to carefully review your insurance policy or contact your insurance provider directly. They can clarify your specific coverage and any potential costs.

How Many Times Should I Conduct Regular Check-ups?

How often you need a check-up depends entirely on you. Your health needs and any risk factors you might have are the best guides. Generally, most adults benefit from annual check-ups. But if you have specific health concerns or chronic conditions, your doctor might recommend more frequent visits.

Key Takeaways

Let’s be honest: health sometimes gets put on hold in our busy lives. But here’s the thing: regular check-ups are the secret weapon for staying on top of your well-being. Think of them as a chance to proactively invest in your health. Sure, a visit to the doctor might not always be the most exciting thing on your to-do list, but it’s way better than scrambling to deal with a health issue down the road.

Check-ups can identify potential issues before they snowball into something more serious. By staying on top of your health, you can focus on what truly matters—feeling your best and enjoying life to the fullest.

Finding a doctor who feels like a good fit is critical. You want someone with the right expertise for your needs but also someone conveniently located and who listens to your concerns. After all, a doctor who understands your medical history and offers personalized care can make all the difference in your health journey. Contact us today if you would like to discuss about becoming a patient at Family Medical Center.

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• SUMMARY AND COMMENT | 
• General Medicine

June 15, 2021

How Worthwhile Are Routine Checkups?

Thomas L. Schwenk, MD , reviewing Liss DT et al. JAMA 2021 Jun 8 Brett AS. JAMA 2021 Jun 8

A review showed some intermediate benefits, but evidence of long-term clinical effect is lacking.

The periodic health exam or checkup is a time-honored medical tradition that generally is received positively by patients, is eligible for reimbursement and encouraged by some insurance plans, and intuitively seems to be beneficial for delivering recommended preventive services. In this systematic review, researchers identified 19 randomized trials and 13 observational studies in which the benefits of routine checkups in primary care were assessed; most of the studies were conducted in Europe and the U.S. A meta-analysis could not be conducted because of the high level of heterogeneity across the studies.

The review showed minimal to no benefit in preventing early mortality, even though it included data from a large study of all-cause mortality with a 30-year follow-up. Researchers found modest benefit for detecting chronic diseases, for detecting and improving various risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and for delivering preventive services (e.g., screening for cancer, tobacco use, and depression). Slight excess risk was noted for adverse events associated with routine checkups.

This systematic review showed some benefit in various intermediate markers of disease prevention and health promotion, but no evidence of benefit in actual long-term clinical outcomes. Some guidelines and expert recommendations focus on a more selective approach to delivering evidence-based health-promotion and disease-prevention services. An editorialist notes other potential benefits for these checkups, including the value of a continuous relationship (which is predicated on routine visits with the same provider over time); however, screening tests and preventive services should be ordered in a selective, evidence-based fashion. He states a particular criticism of so-called “executive physicals” that generally offer a wide range of non–evidence-based services.

Dr. Brett, the author of the editorial, is Editor-in-Chief of NEJM Journal Watch; he had no role in selecting or summarizing this article.

Liss DT et al. General health checks in adult primary care: A review. JAMA 2021 Jun 8; 325:2294. ( https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2021.6524 )

Brett AS. The routine general medical checkup: Valuable practice or unnecessary ritual? JAMA 2021 Jun 8; 325:2259. ( https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2021.4922 )

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• Disclosures

Disclosures for Thomas L. Schwenk, MD, at time of publication

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The importance of regular check-ups at the doctors and their impact on human health

2022, nternational Journal of Bio-Medical Informatics and e-Health

Regular checkups with healthcare professionals are essential for maintaining and improving human health. This article reviews the literature on the importance of regular checkups and their impact on human health. The benefits of regular checkups include early detection of diseases, better management of chronic conditions, prevention of complications, and positive impacts on mental health. Regular checkups can help detect serious health conditions such as cancer, hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease, leading to better treatment outcomes and improved quality of life. Despite the benefits, many people face barriers to accessing healthcare, which need to be addressed to ensure that everyone can benefit from regular checkups. Overall, attending regular checkups with healthcare professionals is critical for individuals to take an active role in maintaining their health and preventing serious illnesses.

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The purpose of this study was to explore the level of integration of health promotion and disease prevention services with the curative care provided at hospitals and health centres in Addis Ababa, and to propose recommendations that could improve such an integrated health service. A quantitative approach, using an exploratory and descriptive design was applied at 22 public health facilities in Addis Ababa followed by the Delphi technique to reach consensus on ways to improve the integration of health promotion, preventive and curative care. An integrated health service (IHS) framework was used as the conceptual framework upon which the study was based. Multistage sampling involving stratified simple random sampling was applied to select hospitals and health centres while a systematic sampling technique was used to sample patients from the outpatient and inpatient medical departments. Data was collected by means of two questionnaires from patients and health service managers, respec...

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Background Health screens are the cornerstones for health promotion and preventive interventions at a community level. This study investigated the barriers and facilitators to the uptake of diabetes health screening in the general population of Singapore. Methods In this mixed methods study, participants without diabetes were recruited from the general population. The quantitative phase (n = 2459) included face to face survey of participants selected through disproportionate stratified random sampling. Those who participated in the quantitative survey were then randomly chosen for a one-to-one semi-structured interview (n = 30). Results Among the survey respondents, 73.09% (n = 1777) had attended a diabetes health screening in their lifetime whilst 42.36% (n = 1090) and 57.64% (n = 1328, p < 0.0001) attended the health screens regularly (every 12 months) and irregularly, respectively. A significantly higher proportion of older adults (≥ 40 years) attended regular diabetes health ...

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6 Reasons Why Regular Health Checkup Is Important

It has been told over and over again by doctors, that one needs to have regular medical check-ups to keep track of their health . Something as simple as visiting the doctor for a check-up can ensure that you are getting screened for diseases.

These check-ups could be quarterly, twice a year or yearly. These screenings can help individuals detect any possible ailments or diseases that you are at risk for. Regular check-ups can help you increase your chances for treatment and help you find a cure in a more timely fashion.

Regular health check-ups are essential because they help identify potential problems at an early stage.

In critical cases like cancer, early diagnosis can be the difference between a cure and a long-drawn battle.

According to cancer.org, early detection is crucial to survival rates in cancer , this is amply shown by the survival rate of stage 1 cancer which is 100% as opposed to stage 2 cancer which is 93%.

Importance of Annual Health Screenings

Health screenings can be a routine visit to the doctor but these routine visits can be of utmost importance in maintaining your health.

These screenings help evaluate your state of well-being and help diagnose any potential problems that might be cropping up These regular check-ups are a great way to help identify any ailments or issues in their nascent stage making treatment far easier.

There are some diseases that are very insidious and their progression cannot be tracked very well unless the patient has regular health screenings. This makes it crucial that one gets a regular health check-up to ensure that you are not missing out on identifying any life-threatening diseases.

This becomes even more important if you have a lifestyle which makes you prone to health risks.

Regular health check-ups are a part of one’s fitness routine.

It is as important as exercising regularly. It is almost as important as eating right in helping you maintain a disease-free lifestyle.

Health check-ups are not merely the physical check-ups by a doctor but also include screening in the form of laboratory tests and other scans.

These form the cornerstone of early detection methods and vary according to age, sex, family health and history.

The doctors can also help advise patients on how they can work towards avoiding any impending problems because of their lifestyle.

It is a great way of bettering doctor-patient relationships and helps the doctor get a better understanding of the patient and his or her disease history.

Do Healthy Individuals Need Full-Body Checks?

As counter-intuitive as it may seem, anyone, however healthy they might be, need regular health check-ups.

Medical experts suggest that a full-body screening is essential for everyone, however old or fit they might be.

In healthy people, doctors take a more selective approach to prevent diseases instead of recommending them with a full body health check-up.

Benefits of Regular Check-Ups

1. lower healthcare costs.

The thought of a huge doctor’s bill is daunting to the best of us.

If one wants to cut down on the healthcare costs they may incur it is important that one schedules a regular health screening.

These regular check-ups ensure that you save money in the long run. This is the case because regular health check-ups mitigate the risk of potential health ailments that can turn out to be dangerous. I

t can also, in certain cases, help reduce the risks of undergoing surgery and other serious medical expenditure.

2. Nips Diseases in the Bud

Regular medical check-ups help the doctors diagnose a disease before it advances to greater proportions.

These screenings are done on the basis of an individual’s age, sex, history, and lifestyle choices.

The doctors can advise numerous tests and preventative screenings to help detect any risk to the patient. These screenings can identify diseases at the onset making it easier to cure them.

3. Blood Tests

During a regular health screening a doctor may also ask you to do a blood test.

These are done in order to eliminate the risk of diseases that can show up in your blood.

These include cholesterol, diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, anaemia, HIV/AIDS , as well as coronary artery diseases. Blood tests also help doctors to properly evaluate the functioning of various body organs like liver, kidneys, heart and thyroid.

5. Identifies Stress-Related Diseases

We live in an extremely fast-moving world with hectic work schedules and lifestyles.

This can spark off a variety of diseases in the human body that are brought on by stress. Increase in stress and anxiety have been found to be directly related to a number of different diseases that are both physical as well as psychological.

These include hypertension, high blood pressure, weight gain, mental disorders, Alzheimer’s, depression, asthma, and even gastrointestinal problems. Regular medical check-ups make sure that it is easier to diagnose and detect these problems before they turn too severe.

Regular check-ups can make sure that you get the advise and support you need from your doctor to help stave off the ills of a high-stress lifestyle.

6. Keeps You Abreast of Your Health

Your screening results will tell your doctor all they need to know about your health.

Depending upon them they may warn you and/or give you advice on how you can better maintain your health.

A simple example is how so many people ignore their dental health. This can exacerbate very rapidly and cause problems at a later stage. When identified at an early stage problem can be handled with small changes in lifestyle.

On the other hand, if the problem is detected at an already exacerbated stage, it becomes very difficult to manage it and can even be a major financial drain on the patient. Regular check-ups are a great way to stay aware of what you can do to improve your health and reduce your risk of diseases.

• Essential Tests and Screenings
• Cholesterol
• High Blood Pressure
• Body Mass Index (BMI)
• Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection
• Colorectal Cancer Screening
• Oral Health for Adults
• Immunization Schedules
• Skin Cancer
• Prostate Cancer Screening
• Viral Hepatitis

In case the doctor suspects something else he or she will advise the necessary check-ups and screenings for the patient with the relevant follow-ups.

Who to Visit for a Medical Check-Up

The best case would be that you visit your regular healthcare provider for medical check-ups. This ensures that they know your medical history thoroughly and can better diagnose any problems that you might be facing without alarming you unnecessarily.

They can also be best placed to advise you about the specialists that you might need to see depending upon your test results.

A healthy mind and body are something that we often take for granted. All it takes is a little bit of attention on our part and good health is not that far from what one imagines.

Being healthy is as much about eating right and exercising as it is about getting screened by a healthcare professional regularly.

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Older adults, patient handouts.

Regular checkups with your health care provider are different from appointments for sickness or injury. These checkups include physical exams as well as preventive care. Preventative care may include:

• Overall health
• Family health history
• Risks for certain diseases
• Vaccines , which can improve your health by preventing diseases and other health problems.
• Education and counseling to help you make informed health decisions. This could include advice about your lifestyle, including your diet, how much exercise you get, and any alcohol, tobacco, or other substances you may be using.

To make the most of your next check-up, here are some things to do before you go:

• Review your family health history
• Find out if you are due for any general screenings or vaccines
• Make and bring a list of issues and questions you would like to talk about with your provider
• Make and bring a list of any medicines, vitamins, supplements that you take

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• Are You Up to Date on Your Preventive Care? (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Preventive Services for Healthy Living (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
• Adult Immunization Schedule: Recommendations for Ages 19 Years or Older, United States, 2023 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

• QuestionBuilder App (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality) Also in Spanish
• Screening Tests for Men Quiz (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

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• Health Checkup -- see more articles
• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Also in Spanish
• HRSA: Find a Health Center (Health Resources and Services Administration)
• KidsHealth (Nemours Foundation)
• Your Child's Checkups (Nemours Foundation)
• Medical Care and Your 13- to 18-Year-Old (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Preventive Visit and Yearly Wellness Exams (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) Also in Spanish
• Health screenings for men age 65 and older (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Health screenings for men ages 18 to 39 (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Health screenings for men ages 40 to 64 (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Physical exam frequency (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Well-child visits (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.

• 5 Reasons Why Regular Health Check is Important

5 Reasons Why Regular Health Check is Important Jun 04, 2020

We live in a highly toxic world where the lifespan is reducing and the number of diseases are increasing. This is why doctors advise us on getting regular health check-ups, to help us keep a track of our health. And this article is all about knowing the benefits of regular health check-ups.

Who needs to have a regular check-up done?

Importance of regular health check-ups.

With Apollo Diagnostics by your side, regular health check will never be an issue. Backed by advanced laboratory technologies and highly qualified technicians, we’re committed to delivering trusted health reports always. To book now, call 9205478479 or visit www.apollodiagnostics.in

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The importance of a medical check-up.

• Family Health
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It doesn’t matter what state your health is in, as an adult you should be going for routine medical check-ups.

The reason why you should be getting checked by your doctor even when you are feeling healthy is that the medical exams can help detect health problems early on. Sometimes they can be detected before they have even started.

Once the problem has been detected the doctor can help you with treatment and even a cure which ultimately gives you a better chance at a happy, healthy and longer life.

Of course, your age, health, family history and lifestyle choices will affect how often you need to receive a check-up at your health practitioner.

Do not wait until you are sick before you pay a visit to the doctor for what should be a routine examination. Rather make it a habit to take care of yourself and your health by making regular appointments with your doctor throughout your life.

Regular health checks and screening tests are vital for 3 reasons:

• Health problems can be detected at an early stage before they develop into something much more serious.
• A screening test can detect and prevent a serious illness like cancer.
• Preventing health problems from becoming chronic can save you money.

If you have a family history of a certain disease or other risk factors, regular health checks are even more important.

Here are the recommended health tests you should have at least every one to two years – more frequently if you are in the high-risk category:

• Blood pressure – This is tested using a simple pressure cuff and will tell whether your blood pressure is too low, too high or normal.
• Cholesterol – This will be checked to see if your LDL (bad cholesterol) level is high which can increase your risk of getting heart disease. A simple prick of the finger to test your blood will show your overall cholesterol levels.
• Blood glucose – A blood test or simple finger prick will determine whether your glucose or blood sugar levels are normal or not. If the blood sugar tests high, it means your body is struggling to produce insulin and you may have diabetes.
• Skin cancer screening – The doctor will carefully check for irregular marks on your skin and decide whether any look suspicious. These will be removed and tested for cancer.

Recommended health checks for women:

• Mammogram – This is an x-ray of your breast to check for developing breast cancer.
• Pap smear – Your doctor (or gynaecologist) will use a special stick to take cells from your cervix, which is then sent to a laboratory where it is examined for cancerous cells.
• Bone density test – A special scan is used to determine how weak or strong your bone density is. Weak bones can mean you are at risk of getting osteoporosis.
• Colonoscopy from age of 50 years

Read more about the 6 common health risks for women here.

Recommended health checks for men:

• Prostate exam – The doctor will test for prostate cancer by doing a digital rectal exam and possibly even a prostate-specific antigen blood test.
• Testicular cancer test – This exam should be done at every routine physical.

Read more about the 7 Factors men should know that will affect their health here.

All these tests may seem quite overwhelming but by simply talking to your doctor about your health history at the first check-up will help you better plan for them. You may find that the doctor recommends you have some of the checkups more regularly because you are at a higher risk and others much less frequently because you are at a lower risk, or some not at all. At the end of the first one, you will not only have a better idea of your medical check-up schedule but peace of mind, too.

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For more information please contact: Dr E Kabuzi (Specialist Physician) MBChB (MUK) DTM & H (WITS) Dip.Hiv.MAN (SA) Dip.Diabetes.MAN (UK) Randfontein Private Hospital Tel: +27 (0) 87 087 2731 Email: [email protected] or [email protected]

Disclaimer: Any information contained here is merely a guideline. Always visit your healthcare practitioner for any health-related advice or diagnosis.

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5 Benefits of Regular Medical Checkup

Regular medical check up is crucial for the benefit of general well being and overall health. All you need to do is just visit your doctor regularly. It can be quarterly or twice a year. This would help you to detect any possible or upcoming health issues to be diagnosed and treated properly. Moreover, they also help to diagnose the disease at an early stage, when the chances for treatment and cure are higher and better.

Top 5 Health Benefits of Regular Checkup

The right health checks taken in time helps you increase the chances of a longer and healthier life. Your health, age, lifestyle choices, and family history, along with other crucial factors can influence the type and frequency of medical checkup.

The Major Benefits of Regular Medical Checkup Are:

1. lesser healthcare costs.

In the present day world, even the thought of a huge doctor’s bill is sufficient to ignore scheduling a health checkup. Well, regular medical check up also helps to save a good amount of money in the long run. This is because it mitigates the risk of potential health ailments that can be life threatening. This also reduces the risks of surgery or any other more serious medical care in near future.

2. Prevention is Better Than Cure

Regular medical check up make it easier for the doctors to choose a way to diagnose any health issue at an early stage. Medical checkups include numerous tests, counting physical examinations and preventive screenings to check the present health condition and detect any risk to the patient’s health.

The Main Screenings and Tests to be Included Essentially in a Regular Medical Check Up are:

• Cholesterol
• High Blood Pressure
• Body Mass Index (BMI)
• Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection
• Colorectal Cancer Screening
• Oral Health for Adults
• Immunization Schedules
• Skin Cancer Basic Information
• Prostate Cancer Screening
• Viral Hepatitis

In case of more serious concerns, the doctor would advise for the same and then conduct a proper follow up.

3. Blood Test

When you visit a doctor for regular health care checkup, you can also ask for a blood test . This can be helpful to eliminate the risk of various diseases associated with blood as well as conditions that are incorporated into the bloodstream, including cholesterol, diabetes , cancer, high blood pressure , anemia, HIV/AIDS, and coronary artery diseases. Moreover, a blood test also helps the doctor to properly evaluate the functioning of various body organs, like liver , kidneys , heart , and thyroid .

4. Stress Related Diseases

The fast moving life and hectic work schedules in the present day world can give rise to many health ailments that are highly influenced by the stress levels. Any kind of rise in the stress levels can lead to numerous health problems – not only mental but physical as well. Some common ones include hypertension and high blood pressure, weight problems, mental disorders , diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, asthma , and gastrointestinal problems. Well, regular medical check up, it becomes easier to diagnose and detect these problems way before they turn into deadly or severe. You can also take help from your healthcare provider to manage and control ailments related to stress quite effectively.

5. Makes You More Aware About Your Health

Depending upon the results of your blood tests, the doctor or healthcare provider might warn you about various habits based on your family history, age, and health conditions. For example, many people usually ignore dental health and are completely unaware of oral care. However, if some are aware, they do not practice it completely. You might not be brushing your teeth twice a day. But, with regular reminders from your doctor, you might start doing it. This change in your habit reduces the chances of advent of various dental problems. This is just a small example. There are many such areas that we do not take proper care of, in spite of it being most crucial. Regular checkups make your doctor guide you to follow proper care routine for these areas and health aspects.

Where to Go for a Medical Checkup?

It is usually the best decision to visit your healthcare provider for medical checkups and health services. But, if you don’t have one, you can consult any general physician to refer to the essential tests. Later, if any ailment is detected, you can consult the concerned specialist as per the physician’s advice.

A healthy body and mind can make you more productive at work. Good health also reduces the number of sick leaves, thus improving your work record for better. Therefore, make sure to be regular with your medical checkups to stay fit and healthy.

Maanasi specializes in health topics including diet and nutrition. A mother of an untiring seven year old, she enjoys nurturing her love affair with English. She is often found nestled with a book, plopped against a dozen pillows, smiling away at the brink of finishing yet another book of the many dozens, that adorn the shelves of her Mini Library!

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Medical Check Up Checklist

Get a free Medical Check-Up Checklist for your practice. Streamline your physical exam with this comprehensive checklist for primary care providers.

By Ericka Pingol on May 15, 2024.

Fact Checked by Nate Lacson.

What is a medical check-up?

A medical checkup, also known as an annual physical exam or health assessment, is a comprehensive evaluation of one's overall health and well-being. It involves a series of tests and examinations designed to detect potential health issues early on, allowing for timely intervention and treatment.

Regular medical check-ups are essential for maintaining good health and preventing the development of chronic diseases. They also allow individuals to discuss any concerns or symptoms they may be experiencing with their primary care provider.

A medical check-up typically includes a physical exam, a review of one's family health history and lifestyle habits, and various health screenings and tests.

Printable Medical Check-Up Checklist

Download this Medical Check-Up Checklist to maintain good health and prevent developing chronic diseases.

The importance of regular medical check-ups

Annual medical check-ups are crucial for catching health problems early on when they are most treatable. They also help establish a baseline for one's overall health and provide an opportunity to discuss any changes in lifestyle or risk factors that may affect it.

Here are other reasons individuals should prioritize regular medical check-ups:

• Early detection of health issues: Many diseases and conditions are more easily treated when caught early on. Regular check-ups allow for early detection and intervention.
• Prevention of chronic diseases: By regularly monitoring their health, individuals can take preventive measures to avoid developing chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, prostate cancer, etc.
• Review and update of medical history: A medical check-up is an excellent opportunity to review and update one's medical history. This includes any past diagnoses, medications, allergies, or surgeries.
• Discussion of lifestyle habits: Lifestyle choices such as smoking, consuming alcohol, drinking caffeine, or not getting enough exercise can have a significant impact on one's health. Regular check-ups allow individuals to discuss changes in their habits and address potential health risks.
• Screening for risk factors: Health screenings during a check-up can detect risk factors for various diseases, allowing individuals to take action to prevent or manage them. For example, blood tests can identify high cholesterol levels, increasing the risk of heart disease.
• Identification of family health history: Family health history affects one's health. By discussing and updating this information during a check-up, individuals can be aware of any hereditary conditions they may be at risk for and take necessary precautions.

What is included in a medical check-up?

Here are some of the critical components that are typically included in a medical check-up:

Physical exam

The patient's height, weight, and blood pressure are measured during a physical exam. The doctor also checks the patient's heart rate and breathing and listens to their lungs for abnormalities.

Family health history

A family health history is an important aspect of a medical check-up as it helps doctors identify potential hereditary conditions or diseases in the patient's family. This information can help determine if the patient is at an increased risk for specific health issues and may require additional screenings or preventive measures.

Health screenings and tests

Depending on the patient's age, gender, and individual risk factors, various health screenings and tests may be included in their medical check-up. Some common ones are:

• Complete blood count
• Comprehensive metabolic panel
• Blood tests to check for risk factors such as cholesterol levels, blood clotting disorders, or overactive/underactive thyroid
• Pap test and pelvic exam for women
• Prostate exam for men
• Other health screenings for other conditions are based on family medical history, lifestyle habits, and overall health.

Review of lifestyle habits and health risks

Doctors will also discuss the patient's lifestyle habits and any potential health risks that may be present. This can include discussing the effects of consuming alcohol or drinking caffeine, as well as other risk factors such as smoking or a sedentary lifestyle.

How to use Carepatron's free Medical Check-Up Checklist

Our free Medical Check Up Checklist template makes it easy to check your patient's health status and identify potential risk factors. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Download the form

Access the checklist using the link on this page. You may also get a copy from the Carepatron app or our resources library, which offers other templates for health screenings.

Step 2: Print or use the digital format

Choose the type of format that works best for you and your patient. You can print or use a hard copy digitally, such as on a tablet or computer.

Step 3: Fill in the template

Enter the patient's age, gender, and any known medical conditions or concerns. This will help you tailor the checklist to their specific needs.

Step 4: Review family health history

Ask your patient about any relevant family health history that may affect their health status. This can include a history of certain diseases or conditions and genetic predispositions.

Step 5: Review medical history

Review the patient's medical history, including any chronic conditions or medications they may be taking. This will provide important context for their health status and potential risk factors.

Step 6: Complete other information

Complete the template's various sections covering different health aspects, such as physical exams, blood pressure, blood tests, and screenings for specific conditions. Use the applicable health data to guide your patient's care.

Step 7: Discuss with your patient

Go through the completed template with your patient and discuss any areas of concern or potential risk factors. This is also an excellent opportunity to educate them on the importance of annual physical exams and preventive care.

Medical Check-Up Checklist example (sample)

Our team has created a sample Medical Check Up Checklist sample to serve as a guide for you and your patients. This sample is for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice.

Download this free Medical Check-Up Checklist example here:

Why use Carepatron as your medical software?

Are you seeking a comprehensive solution streamlining all your medical practice tasks, from appointment scheduling to billing and coding ?

Carepatron is designed to tackle the unique challenges faced by healthcare providers. It combines robust functionality with an intuitive interface, ensuring a hassle-free user experience that maximizes productivity.

At Carepatron, the goal is to make your life easier, allowing you more time to focus on what truly matters - delivering exceptional patient care. So why wait? Sign up today and experience the transformative impact of Carepatron on your practice.

Discover seamless general practice managemen t, all in one place. Choose Carepatron - because you deserve medical software that works as hard as you do.

Commonly asked questions

An annual physical exam is a preventive measure to detect potential health problems before they become serious. It's an opportunity for doctors to assess risk factors, discuss health choices, and encourage a healthy lifestyle.

Family health history influences an individual's risk of developing certain diseases. If they have a family history of a specific disease, they may need to start screenings earlier or have them more frequently.

You can customize the Medical Check Up Checklist according to your practice's specific needs and protocols. This allows for a more personalized approach to annual physical exams for each patient.

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Essay on Health for Students and Children

500+ words essay on health.

Essay on Health: Health was earlier said to be the ability of the body functioning well. However, as time evolved, the definition of health also evolved. It cannot be stressed enough that health is the primary thing after which everything else follows. When you maintain good health , everything else falls into place.

Similarly, maintaining good health is dependent on a lot of factors. It ranges from the air you breathe to the type of people you choose to spend your time with. Health has a lot of components that carry equal importance. If even one of them is missing, a person cannot be completely healthy.

Constituents of Good Health

First, we have our physical health. This means being fit physically and in the absence of any kind of disease or illness . When you have good physical health, you will have a longer life span. One may maintain their physical health by having a balanced diet . Do not miss out on the essential nutrients; take each of them in appropriate quantities.

Secondly, you must exercise daily. It may be for ten minutes only but never miss it. It will help your body maintain physical fitness. Moreover, do not consume junk food all the time. Do not smoke or drink as it has serious harmful consequences. Lastly, try to take adequate sleep regularly instead of using your phone.

Next, we talk about our mental health . Mental health refers to the psychological and emotional well-being of a person. The mental health of a person impacts their feelings and way of handling situations. We must maintain our mental health by being positive and meditating.

Subsequently, social health and cognitive health are equally important for the overall well-being of a person. A person can maintain their social health when they effectively communicate well with others. Moreover, when a person us friendly and attends social gatherings, he will definitely have good social health. Similarly, our cognitive health refers to performing mental processes effectively. To do that well, one must always eat healthily and play brain games like Chess, puzzles and more to sharpen the brain.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Physical Health Alone is Not Everything

There is this stigma that surrounds mental health. People do not take mental illnesses seriously. To be completely fit, one must also be mentally fit. When people completely discredit mental illnesses, it creates a negative impact.

For instance, you never tell a person with cancer to get over it and that it’s all in their head in comparison to someone dealing with depression . Similarly, we should treat mental health the same as physical health.

Parents always take care of their children’s physical needs. They feed them with nutritious foods and always dress up their wounds immediately. However, they fail to notice the deteriorating mental health of their child. Mostly so, because they do not give it that much importance. It is due to a lack of awareness amongst people. Even amongst adults, you never know what a person is going through mentally.

Thus, we need to be able to recognize the signs of mental illnesses . A laughing person does not equal a happy person. We must not consider mental illnesses as a taboo and give it the attention it deserves to save people’s lives.

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The best burger spot in Madera, according to reviews—plus, check out the runners-up

Posted: May 29, 2024 | Last updated: May 30, 2024

Highest-rated restaurants for burgers in Madera, according to Yelp

There's something about a hamburger. The way juices from the freshly grilled meat gently dribble down your chin as you take that first bite into the succulent patty, seasoned to perfection. Something about the way the cheese curves along the sides, melting slowly over the ground-beef goodness placed gently between two buns. While that certain something may always defy definition—what can be said for certain is that America, and what seems like the world, loves hamburgers.

Named after Hamburg, a region in Germany known for its cattle, the Hamburg steak was the first step toward what would become the sandwich we know and love today. Served on a plate (sans buns if you can believe it), the steak was said to have become popular during the Industrial Revolution after an influx of German immigrants into New York. In order to make the food easier to consume for the workers on their breaks, a now unknown cook sandwiched the steak between two pieces of bread, and the rest as they say, is history.

While it may never be proven where the hamburger was first invented, what can be shown without a shadow of a doubt is that this deliciously simple sandwich is here to stay. Which got us wondering—who serves the best burger, and more importantly—where can we find them?!

To find the answers, Stacker turned to some of the experts at Yelp to compile a list of the highest-rated restaurants for burgers in Madera. To determine which ones made the rank we look at the number of reviews the restaurant has, as well as the average rating it received. Keep reading to see if your favorite spot made the list—or if you will find your new favorite spot listed among them!

#7. Rally's

- Rating: 2.0/5 (35 reviews) - Price: $ - Address: 2310 West Cleveland Madera, CA 93637 - Categories: Burgers, Fast Food - Read more on Yelp

#6. Carl's Jr

- Rating: 2.5/5 (12 reviews) - Price: $ - Address: 1305 Country Club Dr Madera, CA 93638 - Categories: Fast Food, Burgers - Read more on Yelp

#5. Carl's Jr

- Rating: 2.5/5 (25 reviews) - Price: $ - Address: 301 S Madera Ave Madera, CA 93637 - Categories: Fast Food, Burgers - Read more on Yelp

- Rating: 2.5/5 (67 reviews) - Price: $$ - Address: 2201 W Cleveland Ave Madera, CA 93637 - Categories: American (Traditional), Breakfast & Brunch, Burgers - Read more on Yelp

#3. Frosty Queen

- Rating: 3.5/5 (114 reviews) - Price: $ - Address: 1120 N Gateway Dr Madera, CA 93637 - Categories: Burgers, Sandwiches, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt - Read more on Yelp

#2. Pita House

- Rating: 4.5/5 (78 reviews) - Address: 114 N Gateway Dr Madera, CA 93637 - Categories: Mediterranean, Burgers, Greek - Read more on Yelp

#1. Compa Franks

- Rating: 4.5/5 (61 reviews) - Price: $$ - Address: 1816 Howard Rd Ste 5 Madera, CA 93637 - Categories: Seafood, Tacos, Burgers - Read more on Yelp

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Trump Distorts New Regulation Extending ‘Obamacare’ to DACA Recipients

By D'Angelo Gore

Posted on May 21, 2024

Este artículo estará disponible en español en El Tiempo Latino .

A new Biden administration rule will make recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals eligible to obtain health insurance plans established by the Affordable Care Act. But former President Donald Trump has mischaracterized the regulation, claiming that it is “giving Obamacare and all free government health care to illegal aliens.”

DACA is a program created by the Obama administration to defer deporting certain individuals who were brought to the United States illegally as children years ago. They are often called “Dreamers,” a reference to legislation that never became law.

The new rule , announced May 3, defines DACA recipients as “lawfully present” in the U.S. for the purpose of enrolling in a qualified health plan through the ACA health insurance exchanges, or an insurance plan through a state-run basic health program . The exchanges and basic health programs are for people who have to get their own insurance. For those who choose to buy a health plan on the exchanges, they also may qualify for federal financial assistance that would lower the cost of that private insurance.

However, the rule does not grant DACA recipients – or anyone living in the U.S. illegally – access to “all free government health care,” as Trump said.

Immigrants who are not lawfully present in the U.S. are ineligible for the health plans created under the ACA. Furthermore, immigrants in the country illegally are still generally not eligible for non-emergency federal health care programs.

DACA and the ACA

Trump made the health care claim during a May 11 campaign speech in Wildwood, New Jersey. He said he would “rescue our health care system from Joe Biden’s migrant invasion.”

That was after Trump’s presidential campaign issued a statement on May 3, the day the new rule was announced, saying that Biden was now forcing Americans to pay for “the healthcare of illegal immigrants.”

It’s true that DACA recipients had been prohibited from signing up for qualified or basic health plans – because the 2010 health care law requires enrollees to be citizens, U.S. nationals or lawfully present in the country. (Healthcare.gov, the site through which people can sign up for ACA exchange plans, lists the legal immigration statuses that are eligible to obtain coverage, such as lawful permanent resident, asylee and refugee.)

Starting on Nov. 1, individuals with DACA status will become eligible to apply for those health plans, when the new rule – finalized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services – goes into effect. Those who enroll in a qualified health plan through the ACA marketplace could also be eligible for income-based premium tax credits that would lower their monthly premiums, as well as cost-sharing reductions that lessen out-of-pocket costs for health services.

To qualify for DACA , which was created by executive action in 2012, individuals must meet several criteria. Among other things, they need to have been born on or after June 16, 1981; arrived in the U.S. before they turned 16 years old; and continuously lived in the U.S. since June 15, 2007. They also needed to be a student, high school graduate, General Education Development recipient, or an honorably discharged military or Coast Guard veteran.

As of Dec. 31, there were about 530,000 active DACA recipients in the country, who can renew their status every two years. But the program, which is still being challenged in court, is not processing new initial applications, as ordered by a 2023 court decision.

Trump tried ending DACA, but was blocked by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2020.

CMS estimates that its new policy could result in 100,000 DACA recipients enrolling in health coverage in fiscal year 2025 – 99,000 through an ACA marketplace plan and 1,000 through a state basic health program. Enrollment, or re-enrollment, in basic health plans is estimated to remain at that same level through FY 2028, while marketplace enrollment is expected to drop to 85,000 a year starting in FY 2026.

Those totals are a fraction of the nearly 11 million immigrants living in the U.S. without legal permission, as of Jan. 1, 2022, according to the Office of Homeland Security Statistics.

Currently, only New York and Minnesota have basic health programs, which offer insurance to low-income individuals and families who do not qualify for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program, or CHIP. There is no monthly premium for those who qualify for New York’s “essential plan.”

Oregon’s basic health care program is scheduled to launch in July . For qualifying members, the state says there will be no premiums, co-payments, coinsurance or deductibles.

Due to the expected increase in ACA marketplace enrollment, CMS estimates that the federal government will spend an extra $240 million on premium tax credits in FY 2025. After that, the cost is projected to increase to about $300 million a year through FY 2028.

In addition, because the federal government provides money to help states implement their basic health plan programs, increased enrollment in such plans is estimated to cost about $5 million a year from FY 2025 to FY 2028, CMS says. The federal government pays states 95% of what enrollees in basic health plans would have received if they had enrolled in marketplace plans and received tax credits and cost-sharing reductions.

Federal Health Care Programs

Contrary to what Trump claimed, the new rule does not give “all free government health care to illegal aliens.”

Even for DACA recipients, the regulation says that it does not — at this time — make them and other immigrants newly classified as lawfully present eligible for Medicaid and CHIP , low-cost health care programs that can be free for beneficiaries in some cases. (CMS said it is still reviewing public comments it received about a proposal to classify DACA participants as lawfully present and eligible for Medicaid and CHIP.)

The larger population of people illegally residing in the country has long been generally excluded from participating in most health programs provided by the federal government. Emergency medical care is the main exception, as we have written before .

“Facilities such as emergency departments and health centers have obligations to provide care regardless of insurance status, though they may charge for the services they provide,” the Congressional Research Service said in a report updated in December 2022.

In addition, the report said: “Federal programs also support providers that deliver family planning services and those that seek to reduce the transmission of communicable diseases. These programs generally provide services regardless of ability to pay or immigration status. Moreover, federal law provides that public health services related to communicable disease transmission be available to individuals regardless of immigration status.”

Editor’s note: FactCheck.org does not accept advertising. We rely on grants and individual donations from people like you. Please consider a donation. Credit card donations may be made through  our “Donate” page . If you prefer to give by check, send to: FactCheck.org, Annenberg Public Policy Center, 202 S. 36th St., Philadelphia, PA 19104. 

Retrace your steps with Recall

Search across time to find the content you need. Then, re-engage with it. With Recall, you have an explorable timeline of your PC’s past. Just describe how you remember it and Recall will retrieve the moment you saw it. Any photo, link, or message can be a fresh point to continue from. As you use your PC, Recall takes snapshots of your screen. Snapshots are taken every five seconds while content on the screen is different from the previous snapshot. Your snapshots are then locally stored and locally analyzed on your PC. Recall’s analysis allows you to search for content, including both images and text, using natural language. Trying to remember the name of the Korean restaurant your friend Alice mentioned? Just ask Recall and it retrieves both text and visual matches for your search, automatically sorted by how closely the results match your search. Recall can even take you back to the exact location of the item you saw.

Note:  Recall is optimized for select languages (English, Chinese (simplified), French, German, Japanese, and Spanish. Content-based and storage limitations apply. For more information, see https://aka.ms/nextgenaipcs .

System requirements for Recall

Your PC needs the following minimum system requirements for Recall:

A Copilot+ PC

8 logical processors

256 GB storage capacity

To enable Recall, you’ll need at least 50 GB of storage space free

Saving screenshots automatically pauses once the device has less than 25 GB of storage space

How to use Recall

To open Recall, use the keyboard shortcut +J , or select the following Recall icon on your taskbar:

Your timeline in Recall is broken up into segments, which are the blocks of time that Recall was taking snapshots while you were using your PC. You can hover over your timeline to review your activity in a preview window. Selecting the location on the timeline or selecting the preview window loads the snapshot where you can  interact with the content .

Search with Recall

Maybe you wanted to make that pizza recipe you saw earlier today but you don’t remember where you saw it. Typing goat cheese pizza into the search box would easily find the recipe again. You could also search for pizza or cheese if you didn’t remember the specific type of pizza or cheese. Less specific searches are likely to bring up more matches though. If you prefer to search using your voice, you can select the microphone then speak your search query.  

By default, results are shown from all apps where Recall found matches. You can narrow down your results by filtering the matches to a specific app by selecting an app from the list.

When the results are displayed, they will be listed under the headings of text matches and visual matches . Matches that are closer to your search are shown first. You’ll also notice that some items are listed as one of the following types of matches:

Close match : Close matches typically include at least one of the search terms or images that are representative of a term in your query.

Related match : Matches that share a commonality with the search terms would be considered related. For instance, if you searched for goat cheese pizza , you might also get related matches that include lasagna or cannelloni since they are Italian dishes too.

Interacting with content

Once you’ve found the item you want to see again, select the tile. Recall opens the snapshot and enables screenray, which runs on top of the saved snapshot. Screenray analyzes what’s in the snapshot and allows you to interact with individual elements in the snapshot. You’ll notice that when screenray is active, your cursor is blue and white. The cursor also changes shape depending on the type of element beneath it. What you can do with each element changes based on what kind of content screenray detects. If you select a picture in the snapshot, you can copy, edit with your default .jpeg app such as Photos , or send it to another app like the Snipping Tool or Paint . When you highlight text with screenray, you can open it in a text editor or copy it. For example, you might want to copy the text of a recipe’s ingredients list to convert it to metric.

Note:  When you use an option that sends snapshot content to an app, screenray creates a temporary file in C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\Temp in order to share the content. The temporary file is deleted once the content is transferred over the app you selected to use.

Below your selected snapshot, you have more snapshot options. In many cases, you can have Recall take you back to exact location of the item, such as reopening the webpage, PowerPoint presentation, or app that was running at the time the snapshot was taken. You can also hide screenray, copy the snapshot, delete the snapshot, or select … for more snapshot options.

Pause or resume snapshots

To pause recall, select the Recall icon in the system tray then Pause until tomorrow .  Snapshots will be paused until they automatically resume at 12:00 AM. When snapshots are paused, the Recall system tray icon has a slash through it so you can easily tell if snapshots are enabled. To manually resume snapshots, select the Recall icon in the system tray and then select Resume snapshots .  You can also access the Recall & snapshots settings page from the bottom of this window.

What if I don’t want Recall to save information from certain websites or apps?

You are in control with Recall. You can select which apps and websites you want to exclude, such as banking apps and websites.  You’ll need to use a supported browser for Recall to filter websites and to automatically filter private browsing activity. Supported browsers, and their capabilities include:

Microsoft Edge: blocks websites and filters private browsing activity

Firefox: blocks websites and filters private browsing activity

Opera:  blocks websites and filters private browsing activity

Google Chrome: blocks websites and filters private browsing activity

Chromium based browsers:  For Chromium-based browsers not listed above, filters private browsing activity only, doesn’t block specific websites

To exclude a website:

Select … then Settings to open the Recall & snapshots settings page.

You can also go to Windows Settings > Privacy & Security > Recall & Snapshots to manage Recall.

Select Add website for the Websites to filter setting.

Type the website you want to filter into the text box. Select Add to add it to the websites to filter list.

To exclude an app:

Select … then Settings to open the Recall & snapshots settings page

Select Add app  for the Apps to filter setting.

From the app list, select the app you want to filter from Recall snapshots.

In two specific scenarios, Recall will capture snapshots that include InPrivate windows, blocked apps, and blocked websites. If Recall gets launched, or the Now option is selected in Recall, then a snapshot is taken even when InPrivate windows, blocked apps, and blocked websites are displayed. However, these snapshots are not saved by Recall. If you choose to send the information from this snapshot to another app, a temp file will also be created in C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\Temp to share the content. The temporary file is deleted once the content is transferred over the app you selected to use.

Managing your Recall snapshots and disk space

You can configure how much disk space Recall is allowed to use to store snapshots. The amount of disk space you can allocate to Recall varies depending on how much storage your PC has. The following chart shows the storage space options for Recall:

You can change the amount of disk space used or delete snapshots from the Recall & snapshots settings page. 

To change the storage space limit:

1. Expand the Storage settings.

2. Change the Maximum storage for snapshots limit by choosing the limit from the drop-down list. When the limit is reached, the oldest snapshots are deleted first.

To delete snapshots:

Expand the Delete snapshots settings.

You can choose to delete all snapshots or snapshots withing a specific timeframe.

To delete all snapshots, select Delete all .

To delete snapshots from a specific timeframe, select a timeframe from the drop-down list, then select Delete   snapshots.

Keyboard shortcuts for Recall

You can use the following keyboard shortcuts in recall:, when interacting with a snapshot with screenray, you can use the following keyboard shortcuts:, microsoft’s commitment to responsible ai and privacy.

Microsoft has been working to advance AI responsibly since 2017, when we first defined our AI principles and later operationalized our approach through our Responsible AI Standard. Privacy and security are principles as we develop and deploy AI systems. We work to help our customers use our AI products responsibly, sharing our learnings, and building trust-based partnerships. For more about our responsible AI efforts, the  principles that guide us, and the tooling and capabilities we've created to assure that we develop AI technology responsibly, see Responsible AI .

Recall uses optical character recognition (OCR), local to the PC, to analyze snapshots and facilitate search. For more information about OCR, see Transparency note and use cases for OCR . For more information about privacy and security, see Privacy and security for Recall & screenray .

We want to hear from you!

If there's something you like, and especially if there's something you don't like, about Recall you can submit feedback to Microsoft by selecting … then the  Feedback icon  in Recall to submit feedback on any issues that you run into. 

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Check Questions Papers For JEE Advanced 2024

The joint entrance examination- advanced (jee advanced) 2024 was conducted on may 26 in two sessions..

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has released the question papers for the JEE Advanced 2024 held on May 26. The questions have been released for both Paper 1 and Paper 2 .  

Meanwhile, candidates who appeared in the JEE Advanced exam 2024 will be able to check their response sheet on Friday May 31, 2024 and the provisional answer key will be available on the official website on June 2. The answer key released initially will only be tentative as it may change in case any student submits feedback or objection against any question. 

Candidates will have time from June 2-3, 2024 for submitting objections against the question in the answer key. The final answer keys will be displayed on the website on June 9, 2024 after considering the candidates' feedback.

The Joint Entrance Examination- Advanced (JEE Advanced) 2024 was conducted on May 26 in two sessions. The first session took place from 9 am to 12 noon, followed by the second session from 2.30 pm to 5.30 pm.

The exam is conducted to offer admission to undergraduate programmes leading to Bachelor's degrees, Integrated Master's degrees, and Bachelor-Master Dual degrees in fields like Engineering, Sciences, and Architecture. 

Students who secure a rank in JEE Advanced 2024 will be eligible to participate in the Joint Seat Allocation process for a seat at an IIT. All eligible candidates must participate in the joint seat allocation process by filling in their preferential choices of courses and institutes through a single platform.  

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