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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.

Hypertension, diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidaemia do not cause any symptoms for years. It is precisely during this time that they cause the greatest damage. The preventive medical examination detects them before you feel anything.

Hypertension, diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidaemia do not cause any symptoms for years. It is precisely during this time that they cause the greatest damage. The preventive medical examination detects them before you feel anything.


Portrait of Dr. Ibrahim Amir
Text: PVZ Editorial Team · Medically reviewed by Dr. Ibrahim Amir, Specialist in General and Family Medicine4 August 20263 min read

The screening examination, often still called a preventive health check-up, is available free of charge once a year to every person aged 18 and over in Austria. [1] Despite this, only a minority take advantage of it.

This is critical because the diseases detected during the check-up do not cause any symptoms in the first few years. Hypertension does not cause pain. Elevated blood glucose does not either. Nevertheless, both damage your blood vessels, kidneys, and eyes. Those who wait until something is felt have often lost 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 disease.

The advantage lies in gaining time. Early-detected hypertension can often be managed with exercise, 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 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, i.e. the detailed discussion regarding 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 your results on a piece of paper, but rather have them explained: what the value means, whether it represents a problem, and what the consequences are.

What an individual value actually means

Some values can only be evaluated 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. We document your results, compare them over the years, and can thereby see if there are any trends. If further diagnostic investigation is appropriate, 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 headache or vertigo

  • changes to the skin or naevi

  • 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 disease.

The advantage lies in gaining time. Early-detected hypertension can often be managed with exercise, 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 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, i.e. the detailed discussion regarding 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 your results on a piece of paper, but rather have them explained: what the value means, whether it represents a problem, and what the consequences are.

What an individual value actually means

Some values can only be evaluated 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. We document your results, compare them over the years, and can thereby see if there are any trends. If further diagnostic investigation is appropriate, 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 headache or vertigo

  • changes to the skin or naevi

  • 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 is in it for you

Regular health check-ups offer you more than just good laboratory values. Above all, they provide you with clarity about your current health status and what you should pay attention to in the coming years. The objective is not to identify a problem in every test result, but to know in good time if one arises.

We perform the health check-up at the PVZ Primärversorgungszentrum in Vienna's Josefstadt. You can find all services in the Service Overview, and you can book your appointment under Appointment and Contact.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the health check-up cost?

Nothing. All persons aged 18 and over residing in Austria are entitled to it once a year, regardless of their health insurance provider.

How often should I go for a health check-up?

Once a year is possible and advisable for most people. In the presence of risk factors such as arterial hypertension, family history of diabetes mellitus, or obesity, we will discuss shorter monitoring intervals for individual parameters if necessary.

Do I need to fast for the health check-up?

Yes, for the blood collection at the first appointment. Plan for approximately twelve hours without food; you are allowed to drink water. It is best to discuss your medication with us beforehand.

What is examined during the health check-up?

The basic programme includes blood and urinalysis, a faecal occult blood test, blood pressure and pulse measurement, a physical examination, a detailed consultation, and verification of vaccination status. [3]

Do I need a health check-up if I feel completely healthy?

Precisely then. The conditions in question do not cause any symptoms in their early stages. Those who feel well are the primary target group.

Sources

  1. Österreichisches Gesundheitsportal. Vorsorgeuntersuchung (Gesundheits-Check). Link

  2. Österreichisches Gesundheitsportal. Vorsorgeuntersuchung: Ablauf. Link

  3. Österreichisches Gesundheitsportal. Vorsorgeuntersuchung: Was wird gemacht? Link

This article serves as general information and does not replace individual medical advice.

What is in it for you

Regular health check-ups offer you more than just good laboratory values. Above all, they provide you with clarity about your current health status and what you should pay attention to in the coming years. The objective is not to identify a problem in every test result, but to know in good time if one arises.

We perform the health check-up at the PVZ Primärversorgungszentrum in Vienna's Josefstadt. You can find all services in the Service Overview, and you can book your appointment under Appointment and Contact.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the health check-up cost?

Nothing. All persons aged 18 and over residing in Austria are entitled to it once a year, regardless of their health insurance provider.

How often should I go for a health check-up?

Once a year is possible and advisable for most people. In the presence of risk factors such as arterial hypertension, family history of diabetes mellitus, or obesity, we will discuss shorter monitoring intervals for individual parameters if necessary.

Do I need to fast for the health check-up?

Yes, for the blood collection at the first appointment. Plan for approximately twelve hours without food; you are allowed to drink water. It is best to discuss your medication with us beforehand.

What is examined during the health check-up?

The basic programme includes blood and urinalysis, a faecal occult blood test, blood pressure and pulse measurement, a physical examination, a detailed consultation, and verification of vaccination status. [3]

Do I need a health check-up if I feel completely healthy?

Precisely then. The conditions in question do not cause any symptoms in their early stages. Those who feel well are the primary target group.

Sources

  1. Österreichisches Gesundheitsportal. Vorsorgeuntersuchung (Gesundheits-Check). Link

  2. Österreichisches Gesundheitsportal. Vorsorgeuntersuchung: Ablauf. Link

  3. Österreichisches Gesundheitsportal. Vorsorgeuntersuchung: Was wird gemacht? Link

This article serves as general information and does not replace individual medical advice.

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