What Tests You Should Get Based on Your Age
Your health is your greatest asset, but how often do you check in on it before something feels wrong? Life gets busy, and it’s easy to put off health checks when you’re feeling fine. But taking time for an annual health check is one of the most powerful ways you can invest in your long-term wellbeing.
Let’s walk through the key checks and tests you should consider at every stage of life. Knowing what to expect (and what to ask for) can help you feel more empowered and prepared at your next check-up.
In Your 20s and 30s: Building a Healthy Foundation
Your 20s and 30s are often marked by good health and high energy, but
that doesn’t mean annual health checks should be ignored. This is the
ideal time to create a solid baseline of your health, pick up early
warning signs and lay the groundwork for a healthier future. Many
chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes,
start silently and may go unnoticed for years unless proactively
checked.
Recommended Tests:
- Blood Pressure Check (yearly): High blood pressure (hypertension) is often called the “silent killer” because it has no obvious symptoms until it becomes severe. A quick yearly check can help you stay ahead.
- BMI and Waist Circumference: Measuring your BMI along with your waist circumference helps assess your risk of obesity and related health conditions. Excess abdominal fat is a key marker of central obesity, which significantly increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, and cardiovascular problems.
- Complete Blood Count (CBC): A simple blood test that can detect anaemia, infections, and immune system issues. Fatigue, poor concentration, or frequent illnesses may be linked to abnormal results.
- Lipid Profile (cholesterol): This measures your total cholesterol, HDL (good cholesterol), LDL (bad cholesterol), and triglycerides. If you have a family history of heart disease or an unhealthy lifestyle, it should be done more frequently than the general 5-year interval.
- Blood Sugar (Fasting or HbA1c): These tests measure your blood sugar levels and help screen for type 2 diabetes or prediabetes. It’s especially important if you’re overweight, have a sedentary lifestyle, or a family history of diabetes.
- Cervical Screening (Pap Smear & HPV Test – Women Only): In the UK, cervical screening starts at age 25. It checks for abnormal cells that could lead to cervical cancer and tests for the presence of high-risk HPV strains. It’s offered every 3 years for women aged 25–49.
- STI Screenings: If you are sexually active, especially with new or multiple partners, regular STI screening is vital. Many infections, including chlamydia and gonorrhoea, can be asymptomatic but still affect fertility and overall health.
- Mental Health Review: Mental health is a key part of overall wellbeing, especially in your 20s and 30s. If you’ve been feeling low, overwhelmed, or not yourself, speaking to a GP can lead to early support and treatment. Looking after your mental health is just as important as caring for your physical health.
- Lifestyle review: A lifestyle review looks at your diet, exercise, smoking, alcohol, and sleep habits to identify areas that may affect your health. It’s a supportive, non-judgemental part of your check-up that helps you make small but impactful changes to reduce long-term health risks.
Think of your 20s and 30s as your health-building years. The better your foundation now, the stronger your future will be.
In Your 40s Your 40s are often when long-term lifestyle effects start to show up, but this is also the perfect time to prevent problems before they begin. This decade is about proactive care and smart screening. In addition to the checks you should already be doing in your 20s and 30s, here are some additional tests and reviews to consider in your 40s:
- Mammogram (Women): Discuss breast cancer screening with your GP. Routine NHS screening begins at age 50, but women with a family history or other risk factors may need earlier screening.
- Prostate Exam (Men): Talk to your GP about the PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) blood test, especially if there's a family history or urinary symptoms.
- Thyroid Function Tests (TSH): Especially important for women. If you experience fatigue, weight gain, thinning hair, or low mood, a blood test is recommended.
- Eye Exam: Every 2 years, even if you don’t wear glasses. Helps detect vision changes, glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and high blood pressure.
- Cardiac Risk Assessment: Reviews cholesterol, blood pressure, BMI, smoking status, family history, and lifestyle to assess 10-year heart disease/stroke risk.
Your 40s are about staying one step ahead. Think of it as fine-tuning your body’s engine to keep running smoothly.
In Your 50s Even if you feel great, your 50s are when certain risks naturally rise. The goal here is early detection, catching conditions like cancer or osteoporosis while they’re easy to treat. In addition to the tests recommended in your 20s-40s, here are key new screenings and checks to consider in your 50s:
- Colonoscopy (or Bowel Cancer Screening): In the UK, a home FIT test is offered every 2 years starting from age 56 (gradually lowering to age 50).
- Bone Density Scan (DEXA Scan): Recommended for all women over 50 to detect osteoporosis and prevent fractures through early intervention.
- Hearing Test: Detects gradual hearing loss that may go unnoticed but impacts quality of life.
- Hepatitis C Screening: Especially for those born between 1945–1965 or with certain risk factors. Early detection allows curative treatment.
Your 50s are about proactive screening. Catch it early, treat it early, and keep living life to the fullest.
In Your 60s and Beyond Health checks in your 60s+ help you prevent illness, maintain mobility, and stay mentally sharp. It’s about ageing well and feeling your best. Along with continuing earlier checks, here are additional important ones:
- Annual Flu Vaccine: Especially important for those with chronic conditions or weakened immune systems.
- Pneumococcal & Shingles Vaccines:
- Pneumococcal Vaccine: Offered once at age 65 to protect against infections like pneumonia and meningitis.
- Shingles Vaccine: Recommended from age 60; Shingrix offers better and longer-lasting protection.
- Cognitive Screening: Helps detect early dementia or mild cognitive impairment if memory issues arise.
- Functional Assessment: Assesses physical abilities to reduce the risk of falls and frailty. May include:
- Balance and mobility tests
- Timed Up and Go test
- Home safety and fall history review
- Regular Eye & Hearing Checks (Yearly):
- Eye Exams: Screen for glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy.
- Hearing Tests: Early detection prevents social isolation and cognitive decline.
Your later years should be about quality of life, not just quantity. Health checks can help you stay active, connected, and independent.
Tips to Maximise Your Annual Health Check
Your health is your greatest asset, and prevention is the best medicine.
At Ocimum Healthcare, we can help you understand which health checks you might need and guide you on arranging them with a local provider or through the NHS.
Whether you’re in your 20s building a foundation, or in your 60s managing long-term wellness, our expert team is here to help you stay one step ahead.
