What is a Health Screening?

BMI is an estimate of body fat to help assess your risk for diseases related to overweight or obese individuals. While BMI is a standard measurement, there are some limitations for certain body types or ages. Generally, a desirable BMI falls within 18.5 to 24.9.

Adult BMI interpretations for those age 19 and older. Important note: BMI does not distinguish between excess fat, muscle or bone mass. On average, older adults have more body fat than younger adults for an equivalent BMI; women have greater amounts of total body fat than men with an equivalent BMI; and muscular individuals, or highly trained athletes, may have a high BMI because of increased muscle mass.

Waist circumference measures excess abdominal fat as an indicator for possible health risks associated with overweight and obesity. If most of your fat is around your waist rather than at your hips, you are at a higher risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

Ranges at higher risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes:

⇒ Men: >40 inches

⇒ Women (Nonpregnant): >35 inches

Blood pressure is the force of blood against the arteries when your heart beats and rests. High blood pressure, or hypertension, usually has no major signs or symptoms. If undetected and untreated, hypertension can damage your heart and arteries, increasing risk for heart failure, heart attack and stroke.

High blood pressure should be monitored weekly, ideally over an eight-week period, and reported to a healthcare provider if it remains high.

Cholesterol is a necessary fatty substance to keep your body healthy. Most health screenings measure your total cholesterol while your healthcare provider may look specifically at your HDL (“good”) cholesterol and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. High cholesterol, often associated with fried foods and saturated and trans fats, is a risk factor for coronary heart disease and stroke and is a part of your overall health profile. Other risk factors must be considered, such as age, family history, smoking and high blood pressure. If your cholesterol is high, share your screening results with your healthcare provider, who will help inform you of your specific cholesterol levels and overall health.

The amount of sugar, or “glucose,” in our blood changes constantly depending on the time of day, your eating and your exercise activities. Health screenings for blood sugar provide a very general snapshot of your sugar levels and reveal the potential for any affiliated health risks such as diabetes. If your blood glucose is out of the normal range, you should consider a test with your healthcare provider, who will determine your true levels and offer appropriate management for you. Keep in mind, the chart below indicates ranges for individuals without diabetes.

Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become thin and brittle, making them easy to break. Since there’s no pain associated with bone loss, you may not know you have the disease until you fracture a bone. Getting screened for osteoporosis is very important for early detection and prevention. Risk for osteoporosis goes up with age, women over 50 and people with slender body frames are particularly susceptible. Race and family history also play a part. Here are some things you can do to help prevent osteoporosis, or to slow its progress and avoid complications:

Get regular physical activity.

• Include bone-strengthening activity
• Practice good nutrition through a balanced diet
• Get enough calcium and vitamin D
• Limit alcohol and soda
• Quit smoking
• Prevent falls