Age 40 NHS health check

[Autumnwoman]

I've been invited for an NHS healthcheck, I assume because I turned 40 a couple of months ago.

I have been told this will include a blood test. I assume they're primarily checking cholesterol. Would they also be checking for hormone/menopause as standard at this age? Periods are still regular, but wondered if it would be standard.

No, they would not be checking your hormone profile.
The chop test will probably be a finger prick test, you may get a glucose test with it but not necessarily.
You will answer questions on lifestyle, family history, medications you be on, have your blood pressure checked and a urine dip test. Based on that info, all your answers will be entered into an algorithm to assess your QRISK. That us your risk of developing a heart attack or stroke within the next 10 years.
Unfortunately, these NHS health checks seem to largely only attract the healthy, the ones really at risk of cardiovascular events rarely turn up for these tests.

Not chop, I meant chol

I'm 50 and I'm still waiting for my invitation. I'm guessing given I'm still standing my 10 year risk would have been low....

Don't bother going. Any results will be used as a stick to beat you with. These tests are only any use for the worried well.

Yes, you will definitely be told to cut down on your drinking, even if you, my husband, and his best friend are tee total! It's a hugely broad test, and its primary purpose us to scare you into making healthier lifestyle choices.

I had one at 40 , I went to see what my cholesterol was like as I've never had it checked , everything was fine my health age came in at one year less, so about right , he just said carry on with whatever your doing.

Im 51 and never had a 40s health check, still waiting for my 50s.

Never been invited for one of these. Do you have a village GP practice?

I must have had one lumped in with another appointment then but didn't realise that was what it was. I'd gone because I was feeling low and wanting to sleep all the time so she took a full blood count, weighed me, asked about my lifestyle and did my blood pressure. She also did a medicine review for my Ramipril. Everything was normal apart from being borderline vitamin D and 1 point away from pre-diabetes so she put me on citalopram. Apparently I have a 5% chance of having a heart attack in the next 10 years according to their data.

Just goes to show you the variation in NHS GPs right now if some areas are offering these check-ups and in others you cannot see a GP.

We recently restarted these, but with covid cases going up, I can see them stopping again. Its not essential. We check cholesterol, liver function and glucose on the bloods. nothing else.

Not all GP Practices have signed up to do these, it's optional as the benefits are debatable.

I got told I was a bit fat and that was it really

It would be a good idea to know what your blood pressure is. It's called "the silent killer" as you won't be aware if it's too high and you should know your cholesterol numbers.

Would do you no harm to go and you'd pick-up on anything not so good early on.

Hopefully you'll pass with flying colours

Never heard of this. I'm 41, we have a lot of friends all turned 40 in the last couple of years and nobody's ever mentioned it

It’s a postcode lottery for these checks. It’s worth going as they check your cholesterol and blood pressure.

I had one one when I was 40 - a long time ago! I thought it was well worth going. I had no idea about my blood pressure or cholesterol levels so I found it very beneficial. Why wouldn't you go? Is best to find out if there are any problems you can address before they get out of hand.

Ive had one of these checks, it was good to know everthing was fine as Ive never had cholesterol checked.

I do these. Bloods for liver and kidney function, cholesterol and glucose. BMI and BP. Lifestyle advice.
Tbh, it's worth it for the BP check (although can do this at home if you buy a sphyg) and definitely cholesterol. We pick up loads of people with undiagnosed diabetes and hypertension. DH cholesterol despite a healthy lifestyle was through the roof!
When people say someone has died of Covid with no underlying health conditions I suspect many do have issues but are are just undiagnosed.

@PanamaPattie

Don't bother going. Any results will be used as a stick to beat you with. These tests are only any use for the worried well.

I had one some years ago. An overweight, sweaty HCA told me I was overweight and my cholesterol was too high so I needed statins. I had to point out that both of these situations were caused by my underactive thyroid which the doctors were refusing to treat!

Agreed that they attract rule followers, who think they have to go, and the worried well and are therefore of dubious value.

@NaToth

I had one some years ago. An overweight, sweaty HCA told me I was overweight and my cholesterol was too high so I needed statins. I had to point out that both of these situations were caused by my underactive thyroid which the doctors were refusing to treat!

Agreed that they attract rule followers, who think they have to go, and the worried well and are therefore of dubious value.

Thanks all. My cholesterol was slightly high about 5 years ago so that will be a worthwhile test, if nothing else.

I got weighed and was told by an overweight nurse that I was overweight. She checked my blood pressure and that was that. I asked if she was going to check my cholesterol and she said no, even though DH had had his checked at his well man check. It was pointless really

I was invited for mine at the grand old age of 48. The nurse said they were running a little behind schedule!

I had bloods taken (which showed high cholesterol), I was weighed, and there was a chat about doing lots of exercise (which I already do). I was pleased I went because I had no indications of the high cholesterol. I’m pretty slim, eat healthily and exercise.

Think they do them every 5 years around here, I got another at 45 but didn’t bother going.