Medical check-up in Cyprus: comprehensive health screening at GMI
A medical check-up at the German Medical Institute is a preventive health screening that follows a set programme. Unlike a routine wellness visit, it brings laboratory tests, diagnostic examinations and consultations with doctors together in one clinic in Limassol. At the end, your check-up doctor explains the results and gives you a written report with personal recommendations.
Cardiovascular disease and cancer remain the leading causes of disability and death worldwide. They often cause no symptoms at first, and without a check-up they are frequently found only at an advanced stage. A check-up helps detect risk factors and disease early, when they are easier to control and treat more effectively.
A preventive check-up, including an annual one, is best arranged on your doctor's advice, taking into account your age, risk factors and previous results, even if nothing is bothering you. Regular examinations are especially important if:
- close relatives have had cardiovascular disease or cancer;
- you smoke or used to smoke;
- you lead a sedentary lifestyle, are often under stress or are overweight;
- you have previously been found to have raised blood pressure, cholesterol or blood sugar;
- you are 40 or older.
Find your check-up programme
Answer 9 short questions — we will suggest a programme that may suit you.
Check-up programmes at GMI
GMI offers three basic check-up programmes. Each is a comprehensive health test with its own goal, scope and duration.
General check-up: heart, blood vessels and metabolism
| Goal | Identify risk factors for cardiovascular disease and draw up an individual plan to correct them |
| Who it is for | Anyone who wants to check their heart, blood vessels and metabolism, especially with a family history of heart attack or stroke, a sedentary lifestyle, constant stress or unhealthy habits |
| Duration | One visit |
| Main areas of diagnostics | Heart and blood vessels, metabolism, liver, kidneys, pancreas and thyroid, blood clotting |
| Difference from other programmes | The shortest programme, with no MRI, CT or endoscopy. It focuses on cardiovascular risk rather than on looking for tumours |
What the programme assesses
The main aim of the General check-up is to detect arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidaemia (raised cholesterol and other blood lipids) in time. These conditions cannot yet be cured completely, but they can be diagnosed early and kept under control through lifestyle changes and medication. This helps prevent coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction and stroke.
The cardiac examination shows how your heart works at rest and under exercise, and the duplex scan of the neck arteries shows whether there are any narrowings or atherosclerotic plaques. Blood tests and ultrasound assess the thyroid, liver, pancreas, spleen, kidneys and abdominal aorta.
Programme contents
Laboratory blood tests
| Type of test | Parameters |
|---|---|
| Blood count | Detailed full blood count (FBC) |
| Blood biochemistry | Liver. ALT, AST, GGT, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin Kidneys. Creatinine, urea Lipid profile. Total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides Carbohydrate metabolism. Glucose, insulin, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) Iron metabolism. Iron, ferritin, transferrin Electrolytes and minerals. Potassium, sodium, calcium Other parameters. Total protein, C-reactive protein (CRP), creatine phosphokinase (CPK) |
| Hormone tests | Thyroid. TSH, T3 |
| Vitamins | Vitamin B12, folic acid, vitamin D |
| Coagulation panel | INR, prothrombin index (PI), partial thromboplastin time (PTT), fibrinogen, D-dimer |
Diagnostic examinations and consultations
| Area | Examinations |
|---|---|
| Heart and blood vessels | Cardiologist examination ECG Echocardiography (heart ultrasound) Exercise stress test or coronary CT angiography (as prescribed by the cardiologist) Duplex scan of the neck arteries |
| Ultrasound | Ultrasound of the abdomen and kidneys Thyroid ultrasound |
| Doctor consultations | Initial examination, medical history and personalisation of the programme Final consultation with a review of results and recommendations |
Personalising your programme and additional examinations
The laboratory tests in each programme are a basic set, so the doctor can extend it after the initial examination.
Any programme can be supplemented with examinations it does not include:
- full-body MRI;
- cardiac MRI;
- gastroscopy and colonoscopy;
- mammography;
- a consultation with a breast specialist (mammologist), gynaecologist, urologist or andrologist.
Why choose GMI for a health check-up in Cyprus
The German Medical Institute has been operating in Limassol since October 2017. It started as a centre for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer (formerly the German Oncology Center) and later opened departments of cardiac surgery, interventional cardiology, orthopaedics, otorhinolaryngology, plastic and reconstructive surgery and others.
Advantages of a check-up at GMI:
- examinations are carried out by doctors who trained and worked for many years at leading clinics in Germany, the United Kingdom and Italy;
- diagnostics are performed on modern diagnostic and laboratory equipment;
- the doctor prepares the conclusion and recommendations in line with the principles of evidence-based medicine;
- a rest room with a shower is provided during the examination.
For patients from other countries, a medical check-up in Limassol is a convenient way to have a comprehensive check-up in Cyprus in a single trip.
Frequently asked questions about the check-up
How often is a check-up recommended?
How often a check-up is repeated is decided individually by the doctor, based on your age, risk factors and previous results. An annual health check is a common baseline; some tests, such as colonoscopy, are repeated less often, with the interval set from the results of the previous examination.
How should I prepare for the examination?
The examination is carried out on an empty stomach: blood tests and abdominal ultrasound are performed in the first half of the day. Please bring the results of previous examinations and a list of the medicines you take. If your programme includes a colonoscopy, you prepare for it according to the clinic's instructions.
What documents are issued following the examination?
On completion of the programme, at the final consultation the doctor explains the results of the tests and examinations in detail and gives individual recommendations on prevention or treatment. You also receive the records of your examinations on digital media and a folder with the interpretation, conclusion and recommendations.
Are gastroscopy and colonoscopy associated with any pain?
Both procedures are performed under intravenous sedation: the patient is in a medication-induced sleep and feels no pain.
What is the radiation exposure from full-body MRI and lung CT?
MRI does not involve ionising radiation. Lung CT is performed using a low-dose protocol, so the radiation dose is significantly lower than with a standard CT scan.
What are the next steps if abnormalities are found?
If abnormalities are found, the doctor orders further diagnostics and, if necessary, refers you to a specialist. GMI is a multidisciplinary clinic, so further examinations and treatment are carried out on site, without turning to another medical centre.
Answer 9 short questions — we will suggest a programme that may suit you.