KEEP IN CHECK
1 May, 2007
Regular screenings can pick up weaknesses before they become something more sinister. We sent brave volunteers to investigate the state of their health at the latest clinics, both medical and alternative, to see what’s on offer.
LIFECHECK GOLD
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE
Approximately 2.5 to 3 Hours.
PREPARATION
Fast for twelve hours in advance (that’s for your blood glucose levels) and wear clothes that you can slip on and off
THE TESTS
Carried out in three parts – first, a nurse takes your body weight, body mass index and blood pressure, conducts eye and hearing check, an ECG (extra cost), urinalysis, lung test and a smear test, takes blood for a full blood profile (that is cholesterol, blood count, gout diabetes, liver and kidney function , haemo-chromatosis) and an ovarian cancer tumour marker. She also runs through a brief questionnaire on personality type. The second part is a health and lifestyle consultation – only carried out if one was under treatment for heart disease.
LIFESTYLE ANALYSIS?
While a dietary consultation was part of the plan, no fitness test or flexibility tests are used. Perhaps if I had received the dietary questionnaire, lifestyle would have been more fully covered.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU HAVE IT?
Once a year, smear test every three years
COULD DO BETTER?
More feedback as the tests are done would be welcome, particularly during the physical exam so you know what is being tested, why and whether the results are normal. A report is posted out with findings outside the normal range highlighted and a recommendation to follow up with your GP or the clinic.
HOW MUCH?
Lifecheck Gold €490; ECG, €50
HEALTHY NEW YOU?
I did leave with printed guidelines for eating healthily according to the metabolic typing diet, but I found the brief explanation confusing more than helpful
WHERE
Charter Medical Health and Wellness, The Forge, Smithfield Market, Dublin 7, 01 657 9000;
