🌟 Preventive Health
Ages 20–29
Health Checks in Your 20s
Your 20s feel healthy — and for most people, they are. But this is the decade to establish baselines, catch silent risks early, and build habits that protect the next 50+ years. Many serious adult diseases begin in the 20s without symptoms.
📋 Your life stage: You may be starting a career, in university, navigating relationships, or beginning family life. Health often feels like an afterthought. But this is the most effective time to establish baselines and identify risks — before they become problems. Lagos life in your 20s often means irregular meals, late nights, and high stress.
Recommended Screenings & Tests
High blood pressure has no symptoms and is surprisingly common in Nigerian men in their 20s. It silently damages the heart, kidneys, and blood vessels over years.
👥 Everyone
Type 2 diabetes increasingly affects young Nigerians due to diet and family history. Catching prediabetes in the 20s allows reversal through lifestyle change alone.
👥 Everyone; more frequently with family history of diabetes or obesity
Essential before marriage or having children. Knowing your genotype (AA, AS, SS, SC) is critical for family planning. Sickle cell disease affects the quality and length of life significantly.
👥 Everyone — if not already tested
HIV is treatable and undetectable with medication — but only if diagnosed. Many young Nigerians do not know their status. Testing is confidential.
👥 All sexually active people
Nigeria has high hepatitis B prevalence. Vaccination covers those not infected. Treatment is available for those with chronic infection. Early detection prevents liver cancer.
👥 Everyone
Anaemia is common in young Nigerian women (due to heavy periods). Sickle cell disease may first present in early adulthood.
👥 All women; anyone with fatigue, pallor, or family history of blood disorders
HPV infection — acquired through sexual contact — causes cervical cancer. A smear detects abnormal cells years before cancer develops, allowing early treatment.
👥 All women who are or have been sexually active
Most STIs have no symptoms. Untreated chlamydia causes infertility in both men and women. Testing is discreet and treated simply with antibiotics.
👥 All sexually active people — especially with new partners
Abdominal obesity in your 20s predicts diabetes, heart disease, and metabolic syndrome. Early identification allows lifestyle intervention before chronic disease develops.
👥 Everyone
Red Flags — Never Ignore These
🚨 Chest pain or palpitations — even in a young, apparently healthy person, these need investigation
🚨 Unexplained weight loss of more than 5% body weight over 6 months
🚨 Persistent fatigue that does not improve with rest
🚨 Blood in urine or stool
🚨 Lump anywhere in the body that does not go away within 3 weeks
🚨 Severe headache unlike any previous headache — especially with neck stiffness or light sensitivity
🚨 Genital sores, unusual discharge, or burning on urination
🚨 Jaundice (yellow eyes or skin) at any age
Frequently Asked Questions
I feel completely healthy — why do I need health checks?
Most serious diseases — hypertension, diabetes, HIV, hepatitis B, cervical pre-cancer — are completely silent until advanced. Screening catches problems when they are easiest to treat.
How much do these checks cost?
A comprehensive young adult health screen at Mascot Healthcare covers most of the above. WhatsApp us for current package pricing — we offer affordable options.
Can I just check online if I have symptoms?
Online symptom checkers are not a substitute for physical examination and laboratory testing. They can raise awareness but cannot diagnose or rule out conditions reliably.
Do I need to fast for any tests?
Fasting blood glucose and lipids require 8–12 hours of fasting (water is fine). Other tests — HIV, hepatitis B, genotype, blood count — do not require fasting.
Is testing for HIV/STIs confidential?
Completely. Medical consultations are confidential by law. Your employer, family, and community are not informed of your test results.