Do you need a health screening in your 20s or 30s? It’s less about age and more about your health markers

“Feeling well isn’t always the same as being well.”

Many people assume that if they feel healthy, they must be healthy. In many cases that is true. But in medicine, it is also well recognised that some health conditions can develop without obvious symptoms in the early stages.

Many common health conditions do not cause noticeable symptoms in their early stages.

High cholesterol, high blood pressure, early diabetes and fatty liver disease can develop gradually over time. Often, the first indication appears through routine measurements such as blood tests or blood pressure checks.

This pattern is not uncommon in Singapore. According to the National Population Health Survey 2022 by the Ministry of Health (MOH):

• About 1 in 3 adults aged 18 to 74 have high blood cholesterol
• Nearly 1 in 3 adults have hypertension
• About 8.5% of adults have diabetes

Importantly, some people may not realise they have these conditions until they are detected during medical checks or consultations.

When identified early, many of these conditions can often be managed with lifestyle changes, monitoring or medical treatment where appropriate. Regular health checks are one way doctors detect potential issues before complications develop.

National screening programmes in Singapore are designed around population risk.

For example, colorectal cancer screening using the faecal immunochemical test (FIT) is recommended from age 50 for individuals at average risk. Breast and cervical cancer screenings also follow age-based recommendations.

These guidelines reflect when the likelihood of certain conditions increases across the population.

However, this does not mean that younger adults gain no value from understanding their health markers.

In your 20s and 30s, health screenings often serve a different purpose. Rather than focusing on detecting disease, they can help establish a baseline of your health indicators.

This baseline may include markers such as cholesterol levels, blood sugar, blood pressure, liver function and kidney function. Knowing what is typical for you can make it easier to detect meaningful changes over time.

Doctors rarely interpret screening results in isolation. What is often more informative is how results change across several years.

For example, a doctor may notice cholesterol levels gradually increasing, blood pressure shifting from normal to borderline levels, or blood sugar trending upward over time.

These changes may not cause symptoms, but they can indicate increasing health risks.

Regular screenings allow these trends to be monitored and discussed with a doctor, which may help guide lifestyle adjustments or further medical evaluation if necessary.

Without earlier records, it can sometimes be harder to determine whether a result represents a new change or a long-standing pattern.

There is no single age that applies to everyone.

Some screening programmes in Singapore begin at specific ages because the risk of certain diseases increases over time. For example, colorectal cancer screening with a FIT test is recommended from age 50 for individuals at average risk.

However, many doctors recommend that adults start becoming familiar with their health markers earlier. A basic health check in your 20s or 30s can help establish baseline measurements such as blood pressure, cholesterol levels and blood sugar.

These baseline results can be useful for comparison later in life, especially if lifestyle, family history or other risk factors change.

The most appropriate screening schedule varies from person to person. A doctor can advise on what is suitable based on your medical history, family history and individual risk profile.

For many younger adults, a basic screening may include checks such as:

• blood pressure measurement
• cholesterol testing
• blood glucose or HbA1c testing
• liver and kidney function tests
• urine analysis

These tests help provide an overview of metabolic and cardiovascular health.

Additional screenings may be recommended depending on factors such as family history, existing medical conditions, lifestyle risks or symptoms.

Lifestyle patterns today can also influence long-term health.

Long working hours, sedentary work, limited physical activity and dietary habits can affect metabolic health over time. As chronic conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease become more common, there has been increasing emphasis on preventive care.

In Singapore, initiatives such as Healthier SG encourage individuals to build ongoing relationships with primary care doctors and take a more proactive approach to preventive health.

The aim is not to conduct unnecessary tests, but to help people understand their health profile and manage risk factors earlier where possible.

Some younger adults worry that screening might lead to unnecessary anxiety if a result is abnormal.

In practice, many screening findings are mild or require only monitoring. Doctors may recommend repeating a test, observing trends over time or discussing lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise and sleep.

For many people, a screening simply confirms that their health markers are within expected ranges. For others, it may highlight areas worth paying closer attention to.

If you have never had a screening before, speaking with a doctor can help you understand what tests may be appropriate based on your age and health profile.

General practitioners (GP doctors) can help assess risk factors and advise on suitable screenings. For individuals looking for more comprehensive assessments, centres such as HMI Medical Centre also offer health screenings with doctor consultation and review of results.

Health screenings are not about searching for illness. They are about understanding your health markers and recognising changes over time.

Understanding your health earlier does not mean worrying more. It simply means having clearer information to support decisions that help maintain your long-term wellbeing.