You may be aware of how fast you can run, or how many minutes you can hold a plank, but how aware are you of your internal health?
Health screening is compiled of simple routine tests that look for signs of disease before symptoms are developed; after all, why wait for health problems to arise when you can prevent them?
Prevention is better than cure
From a medical perspective, prevention is better than cure, and in some cases easier due to stages of different diseases. Additionally, individuals are more likely to make lifestyle changes if they are aware of where they are at risk, rather than vaguely deciding to become ‘healthier’ next year, and they now have an objective benchmark to start from that clearly shows progression over time.
What to look out for
Blood pressure and body composition are the main elements of any health screening, as these are very simple tests that are quick to do and yield detailed information pertaining to the overall health of an individual. Body composition should be completed using a smart scale and participants can be advised on simple lifestyle swaps if necessary.
However, unless there is a qualified doctor administering or present during the test, referral should always be made for certain markers; e.g. blood pressure above 140/90.
How can health checks benefit your company?
Health screenings are extremely beneficial to corporate businesses because they enable a large gathering of health data regarding employees that can be used to improve overall health and wellbeing. While data shown against an individual is kept confidential, group data can provide useful company insights; e.g. x% of employees are currently having below the recommended amount of sleep.
The lifestyle questionnaire that usually comprises the final step in a health screening is also an important reflection of an employee’s attitude to work, as well as the company culture; happy people are productive people, and healthy people mean a healthy business.