Why you shouldn't wait for pain to enter, until you go and see a physician.
Why you shouldn't wait for pain to enter, until you go and see a physician.
High blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol don't cause any symptoms for years. Yet, this is exactly when they do the most damage. Your health check-up finds them before you even feel them.
High blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol don't cause any symptoms for years. Yet, this is exactly when they do the most damage. Your health check-up finds them before you even feel them.
Primary Care Centre Editorial Team · 4 August 2026 · 3 min read
Primary Care Centre Editorial Team · 4 August 2026 · 3 min read
The preventive medical examination, often still referred to as a health check-up, is available free of charge once a year to every person in Austria aged 18 and over. [1] Nevertheless, only a minority take advantage of it.
This is particularly delicate because the diseases detected during this screening do not cause any symptoms in the early years. Hypertension does not cause pain. Elevated blood glucose does not either. Yet both are actively damaging your vessels, your kidneys and your eyes. Those who wait until symptoms become noticeable have often wasted years.
Why preventive screening is worthwhile especially when you feel well
Many diseases develop over years without you noticing anything. Hypertension, elevated blood glucose or cholesterol levels, and early signs of cancer do not cause any symptoms initially. This is precisely why the screening is intended for people who feel healthy. It does not search for an explanation for symptoms, but rather for abnormalities that have not yet caused any.
The advantage lies in gaining time. Early-diagnosed hypertension can often be managed with physical activity, diet, and a single medication. The same hypertension, left untreated for ten years, is a risk factor for myocardial infarction, stroke, and renal damage.
How the preventive health screening is conducted at our clinic
Two appointments are scheduled for the complete basic programme. [2] This is how we do it:
1st Appointment
Blood test
Urinalysis
Faecal occult blood test
Blood pressure and pulse measurement
ECG
2nd Appointment
Anamnesis, which is the detailed discussion of your medical history and lifestyle
General physical examination
Discussion of all findings and personal consultation
Review of your vaccination record
The laboratory analysis takes place between the appointments. At the second appointment, you will not simply be handed the results on a sheet of paper, but rather have them explained to you: what the value means, whether it is a problem, and what the consequences are.
What an individual value actually signifies
Some values can only be assessed over time. A slightly elevated cholesterol level means something different for a 30-year-old non-smoker than for a 58-year-old smoker with a family history of cardiovascular disease. We document your results, compare them over the years, and can thereby see if anything changes. If further investigation is indicated, we will plan the next steps together with you.
When you should not wait until the next screening
Please contact us sooner if you notice any of these signs:
persistent fatigue or unintentional weight loss
recurrent headaches or dizziness
changes to the skin or moles
blood in the stool or urine
family history of cardiovascular disease or cancer
your last preventive screening was more than a year ago
Why preventive screening is worthwhile especially when you feel well
Many diseases develop over years without you noticing anything. Hypertension, elevated blood glucose or cholesterol levels, and early signs of cancer do not cause any symptoms initially. This is precisely why the screening is intended for people who feel healthy. It does not search for an explanation for symptoms, but rather for abnormalities that have not yet caused any.
The advantage lies in gaining time. Early-diagnosed hypertension can often be managed with physical activity, diet, and a single medication. The same hypertension, left untreated for ten years, is a risk factor for myocardial infarction, stroke, and renal damage.
How the preventive health screening is conducted at our clinic
Two appointments are scheduled for the complete basic programme. [2] This is how we do it:
1st Appointment
Blood test
Urinalysis
Faecal occult blood test
Blood pressure and pulse measurement
ECG
2nd Appointment
Anamnesis, which is the detailed discussion of your medical history and lifestyle
General physical examination
Discussion of all findings and personal consultation
Review of your vaccination record
The laboratory analysis takes place between the appointments. At the second appointment, you will not simply be handed the results on a sheet of paper, but rather have them explained to you: what the value means, whether it is a problem, and what the consequences are.
What an individual value actually signifies
Some values can only be assessed over time. A slightly elevated cholesterol level means something different for a 30-year-old non-smoker than for a 58-year-old smoker with a family history of cardiovascular disease. We document your results, compare them over the years, and can thereby see if anything changes. If further investigation is indicated, we will plan the next steps together with you.
When you should not wait until the next screening
Please contact us sooner if you notice any of these signs:
persistent fatigue or unintentional weight loss
recurrent headaches or dizziness
changes to the skin or moles
blood in the stool or urine
family history of cardiovascular disease or cancer
your last preventive screening was more than a year ago
“I don’t wait until something hurts. I want to know that everything is absolutely fine.”
“I don’t wait until something hurts. I want to know that everything is absolutely fine.”
“I don’t wait until something hurts. I want to know that everything is absolutely fine.”
What’s in it for you
Regular health check-ups give you so much more than just great lab results! They offer you wonderful clarity on where your health stands and what you should keep an eye on in the coming years. Our goal isn’t to find a problem in every report, but to make sure you know exactly what’s happening in your body in good time.
We carry out your health check-up at the PVZ Primary Care Centre (Primärversorgungszentrum) in Vienna's Josefstadt. You can find all the services we offer in our Service Overview, and you can book your appointment over at Appointment and Contact.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the health check-up cost?
It’s completely free! Everyone aged 18 and over residing in Austria is entitled to one check-up a year, regardless of your health insurance provider.
How often should I have a health check-up?
Once a year is highly recommended and works wonderfully for most people. If you have risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes in your family, or are overweight, we can happily discuss shorter monitoring intervals for specific values if needed.
Do I need to fast before my health check-up?
Yes, for the blood test during your first appointment. Please plan to fast for about twelve hours beforehand, but feel free to drink plenty of water! It’s best to discuss your current medications with us beforehand.
What is examined during the health check-up?
The standard checkup includes blood and urine analyses, a stool test for hidden blood, blood pressure and pulse measurements, a physical examination, an in-depth chat with you, and a review of your vaccination status. [3]
Do I really need a health check-up if I feel completely healthy?
Absolutely, that's actually the perfect time! The conditions we screen for often don't cause any symptoms in their early stages. If you are feeling great, you are exactly who this check-up is designed for!
Sources
Austrian Public Health Portal. Health Check-up (Gesundheits-Check). Link
Austrian Public Health Portal. Health Check-up: Procedure. Link
Austrian Public Health Portal. Health Check-up: What is done? Link
This article is for general information purposes only and does not replace individual medical advice.
What’s in it for you
Regular health check-ups give you so much more than just great lab results! They offer you wonderful clarity on where your health stands and what you should keep an eye on in the coming years. Our goal isn’t to find a problem in every report, but to make sure you know exactly what’s happening in your body in good time.
We carry out your health check-up at the PVZ Primary Care Centre (Primärversorgungszentrum) in Vienna's Josefstadt. You can find all the services we offer in our Service Overview, and you can book your appointment over at Appointment and Contact.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the health check-up cost?
It’s completely free! Everyone aged 18 and over residing in Austria is entitled to one check-up a year, regardless of your health insurance provider.
How often should I have a health check-up?
Once a year is highly recommended and works wonderfully for most people. If you have risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes in your family, or are overweight, we can happily discuss shorter monitoring intervals for specific values if needed.
Do I need to fast before my health check-up?
Yes, for the blood test during your first appointment. Please plan to fast for about twelve hours beforehand, but feel free to drink plenty of water! It’s best to discuss your current medications with us beforehand.
What is examined during the health check-up?
The standard checkup includes blood and urine analyses, a stool test for hidden blood, blood pressure and pulse measurements, a physical examination, an in-depth chat with you, and a review of your vaccination status. [3]
Do I really need a health check-up if I feel completely healthy?
Absolutely, that's actually the perfect time! The conditions we screen for often don't cause any symptoms in their early stages. If you are feeling great, you are exactly who this check-up is designed for!
Sources
Austrian Public Health Portal. Health Check-up (Gesundheits-Check). Link
Austrian Public Health Portal. Health Check-up: Procedure. Link
Austrian Public Health Portal. Health Check-up: What is done? Link
This article is for general information purposes only and does not replace individual medical advice.
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