A free NHS Health Check will help you know more about your health and how to keep fit and well
It could stop you getting heart disease, diabetes or kidney disease or having a stroke
Who should have a health check?
If you are between 40 and 74 you will be asked to come in for a health check
Other people can ask for a health check if they are worried about their health
If you already have heart or kidney disease or diabetes or have had a stroke then you will not be asked to come for a health check
Health checks happen every 5 years
Why do I need a health check?
Anyone can get heart disease or diabetes or kidney disease or have a stroke
As you get older you are more at risk of getting these illnesses
There are some things that can make you more likely to get these illnesses. These are:
- being fat
- not keeping fit
- not eating a good diet
- smoking
- drinking too much alcohol
- having high blood pressure
- having too much fat in your blood, called high cholesterol
You can have these things if you are a man or a woman and they may cause:
- a stroke
- a heart attack
- kidney disease
- diabetes
- certain types of dementia
Having a health check can stop you getting these illnesses and keep you fit and well
Even if you feel fit and well it is a good idea to have a health check. We can catch some illnesses early on before you know you have them
Some illnesses run in families. It is a good idea to have a health check as you may be more at risk of getting some things
What happens at a health check?
The health check takes 20 to 30 minutes
We will ask you some questions about your health and illnesses you have had
We will check how tall you are, how heavy you are and some other questions about you
We will take your blood pressure
We will take some blood to check your cholesterol
What happens after the health check?
After the health check we will tell you what we found out
We will talk to you about your risk of getting any illnesses
We will talk to you about how you can keep fit and well. And how we can help you keep fit and well
You may have to come back another day for this
If we found you have high blood pressure we will check your kidneys are ok by taking some blood
We may have to take some blood to check for diabetes
We may give you medicine to stay fit and well. But this is something your Nurse or Doctor can discuss with you
If you smoke we can help you try and stop
We will provide you with the links (see below) to information to help you to keep fit and well
Cholesterol - https://www.bda.uk.com/foodfacts/cholesterol.pdf
https://patient.info/health/cholesterol
Alcohol - https://www.bda.uk.com/foodfacts/Alcohol.pdf
Physical Activity Guidelines - https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/213740/dh_128145.pdf
Weight Reducing - Sensible Slimming -http://www.nnuh.nhs.uk/publication/sensible-slimming-v5/
Eat Well Guide - https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/528193/Eatwell_guide_colour.pdf