Healthcare is a basic need, and everyone should have access to affordable health care with a family doctor or general practitioner as the first contact, including access to specialists and hospitals that provide adequate treatment.
However, health care systems are lacking in many places, with treatment being expensive, lack of primary care and aftercare. These limitations have made taking steps at home to keep your health in check important.
With virtual healthcare becoming more popular, there are different things you can do from home to monitor your health. The following health checks can be done at home to help monitor your health, an ongoing condition and even symptoms before seeking professional health screening London to get an accurate diagnosis.
Temperature check
Checking your body temperature can help you identify when you have a fever, a common symptom for different conditions. Adults have a normal temperature of 37oC (98.6oF), but the exact value varies depending on the time of the day, body part checked and age.
You can take your temperature when you are healthy to know your normal body temperature. Ensure you get a good thermometer for an accurate reading. Some wearable devices can take your body temperature, but they may not give an accurate reading.
Having a high body temperature can be worrisome, so ensure you consult your doctor for advice if you are unwell and have a high body temperature.
Testicular check
Testicular checks help in detecting swellings and lumps in the testes, which may indicate cancer. Checking the testes regularly is important to identify abnormalities early. You can check the testicles after a shower or warm bath by holding the scrotum in the palm and using the thumbs and fingers in both hands to examine the testes.
If swelling or an unusual lump is present, or you feel pain, consult your doctor.
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Breast awareness
Being familiar with how your breast feels and looks at different times in your menstrual cycle is important. The breast can change for several reasons, and most of these reasons are not serious. Ensure you observe your breasts for changes in shape and outline, including bumps, lumps or thickening and skin or nipple changes. Abnormalities in the breast may indicate cancer, so it is best to see your doctor if you notice changes in your breast.
Heart rate check
Your resting heart rate in the morning gives an idea of your general health. The normal range will depend on your fitness and age, and you can know your normal pulse rate by checking it for one week. The heart rate check can be done with a heart rate monitor, smartphone app, fitness tracker or manually.
If your heart rate is above 100 beats per minute (bpm), you could be stressed, sick, excited or dehydrated, and if the heart rate remains elevated for long, consult your doctor. When you have a change of 10 bpm, you may be run down.
Blood pressure check
High blood pressure is a known risk factor for kidney disease, heart failure, strokes and heart attack. In most cases, no warning symptoms show, which makes checking your blood pressure important. Different blood pressure monitors are available and easy to use. However, ensure you take the blood pressure reading when you are at rest in a calm environment.
Adults have normal blood pressure between 90/60 to 120/80 mmHg. If your blood pressure reading is high, consider reducing your alcohol and salt intake, exercise regularly and take steps to maintain a healthy weight. Ensure you consult your doctor about your high blood pressure.
Blood and swab tests
A wide range of home tests is available, which promise over 90% accuracy. The common home blood tests show cholesterol levels, allergies, thyroid issues, and detect HIV. Swab kits for urinary tract infections, bacterial throat infections and strep are also available.
Get proper professional guidance to interpret the result when you get it, as information online could be misleading. If the test gives a positive result, ensure you contact your doctor.
Blood sugar level check
Diabetes is a common condition that leads to different complications like dental, kidney and heart disease, blindness and stroke. Home blood glucose tests are available, which require fasting before the test. Although these home test kits are usually accurate, home testing alone is insufficient because diabetes is a complicated condition.
If you experience common signs of diabetes such as dry mouth, headaches, increased hunger, blurred vision or increased thirst, consult your doctor. If the doctor thinks you need further testing, they can arrange for you to visit the clinic.
Meningitis test
Meningitis can be a life-threatening condition, especially in children, because it develops quickly. Identifying the symptoms early can save lives. These symptoms are similar to flu symptoms which occur alongside drowsiness, neck stiffness, a rash that still shows when you press a glass firmly against the skin and an aversion to bright light. Try not to wait until the rash develops before getting medical attention.
Waist fat measurement
Maintaining a healthy weight is important, but ensure you do not accumulate excess waist fat. Excess fat around your waist can elevate your risk of insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
You can take the measurement at the level of your belly button. Irrespective of your BMI or height, consider losing weight if your waist is over 94cm (37ins) for men and 80cm (31.5ins) for women.
Skin check
Skin cancer is quite common, but screening for the condition at home is easy. Ensure you check your skin for moles that bleed, itch, crust over or burn, or new growth once every month. If you find any of these changes, contact your doctor.
Fair-skinned people with lots of moles who are always in the sun are at a higher risk of developing skin cancer need to visit a gynaecologist at least once a year for a professional check.
These health checks are easy to carry out and do not take a lot of time. You can save yourself from life-threatening conditions with the information gotten from these checks when carried out properly.
If you want access to quality and timely health care services, you can visit Blood London or call us on 020 7183 0244 to schedule an appointment. We have a wide range of affordable healthcare packages to meet your health needs.
