Essential Health in more detail

Health and fitness tests in your Essential Health Assessment

Understanding your health Hide

Physical examination: Doctor consultation and physical examination lasting up to 25 minutes.

Test results: You’ll usually be able to get your test results on the day.

Lifestyle consultation: Together with a Bupa doctor and the support of a health adviser during testing, you’ll identify your key health objectives and agree a realistic action plan to help you achieve them.

Health action plan: This includes your available test results, personal health profile and your action plan to maintain and improve your health in the future.

Body composition measures Hide

Height and weight measurement: We combine and compare these measurements with other tests.

Body Max Index (BMI): This is a ratio of your height to weight, which helps to indicate if you are at a healthy weight. People with a BMI of 25 and over can have a higher-than-average risk of health problems like diabetes, heart disease and some cancers.

Heart and lung tests Hide

Blood pressure and pulse rate: We check for higher-than-normal blood pressure (hypertension) as this means that the heart has to work harder to push blood around your body. Over the long term, this is associated with an increased risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney failure.

Read more about blood pressure

Electrocardiogram (ECG): This measures the electrical activity of the heart while you are at rest. An ECG can help identify problems with the heart such as coronary artery disease, an enlarged heart or disturbances in the electrical control of the heart (arrhythmia).

Read about how an ECG works

Lung function tests: Measurement of the flow of air through your lungs, the size and volume of your lungs, and how efficiently they work. Results can indicate early signs of lung disease and conditions such as emphysema, chronic bronchitis and asthma.

Coronary heart disease risk score: We estimate the risk of a heart attack within the next 10 years, taking into account your age, sex, total cholesterol, High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, blood pressure, presence of diabetes and whether or not you smoke.

Read about the cardiovascular system

Blood and urine tests Hide

Biochemistry profile: These tests focus on important functions in the body, identifying whether certain substances are at a normal level.

• The liver is vital for creating important hormones and proteins and breaking down toxic substances.
• Calcium levels are important in nerve and muscle function, as well as being an important part of bone structure.
• Kidney function is essential for removing the body’s waste products by filtering the blood.
• Gout test is a measurement of uric acid, which can lead to painful inflammation of joints if it builds up.

Full blood count: Including haemoglobin measurement and tests on your red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. These tests can check for anaemia and infections.

Cholesterol profile blood test: High cholesterol affects your heart and blood vessels and increases your risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

Read about cholesterol

Diabetes blood test: We check for raised glucose levels which may indicate diabetes. This can usually be controlled with diet, exercise or medicines. If not controlled, it can increase the risk of problems such as heart disease and strokes, nerve damage and blindness.

Read about Type 2 diabetes

Female health tests Hide

Breast check: A physical and visual examination of the breasts. Abnormalities do not necessarily indicate breast disease but must be followed up with a repeat check or referral to a specialist.

Breast awareness instruction: We tell you about self-examination and general awareness of breast appearance and texture. Regular examination can help with early detection of abnormal changes in breast tissue.

Male health tests Hide

Testicular examination: We check for any lumps or masses – if we find any, we would refer you to a specialist for further investigation to identify their nature and any treatment you might need.

Testicular awareness instruction: We tell you about self-examination and general awareness of testicular appearance and texture.

Lifestyle tests Hide

Diabetes risk score: We conduct a simple questionnaire looking at areas of your lifestyle that may increase your risk of diabetes. This will enable you to target your risk areas, and by addressing these, reduce the risk of developing diabetes.