Should I book a health check even though I am not ill?

[Cando6]

I’m 61 and one of those lucky people who never sees the GP. I registered at a local one when I moved here (Surrey) 4 years ago.
I did go for a nurse led thing when I first registered and they did blood pressure and weight. I have done the colon cancer test though the post. I have been for my mammogram to a hut in a car park somewhere. So NHS know I exist. Other than that I haven’t seen a GP since last baby 26 years ago.

My friends and colleagues seem to be at the GP constantly. Everyone seems to have cholesterol or blood pressure or thyroid things or mental health issues or menopause medication going on.

So many people seem to get sick with something around my age so I’ve started wondering if I should get some sort of check up. Maybe I do have a heart or thyroid thing.

I feel perfectly well. I work full time in a sedentary job. Eat well. Run up and down stairs. Ignored menopause. Check my boobs.
I keep hearing moaning about how hard it is to see a GP but doesn’t seem to put people off going constantly. I do sometimes have a minor thing like tiredness or constipation but I just sort it out.

I’m from a family that never went to Dr. Dad hasn’t been in 30 years and he’s late 80s.
I googled to see if there is any sort of comprehensive review and apparently there should be something every 5 years. And if it doesn’t happen I should book an appointment. Just feels odd to do so when I’m not ill.
Any NHS people know what should happen?

Health check BP, Lipids, diabetes screen every 5 years at GP.

The surgery will make room for an MOT as they get paid to do it, and it’s not the GP you see, it’s usually a HCA.
Go if you want to, it’s about prevention of disease, so worth doing IMO.

No. It’s thanks to people like you that GPs can survive at all. Not many people understand that a GP has on average 2,000 patients on their list. If everyone behaved like the ones who go weekly, the whole thing would collapse instantly.

I don’t know what you should do, but can I just say that I find this very impressive! And will you please tell us a bit more about your lifestyle and mindset? Given your father, your good health may be mostly good genes, of course. But you surely must have had some annoying symptoms over the past 25 years. Have you ever considered going or been to A&E?

They tend to offer the health checks where they do BP cholesterol and weight. It doesn't sound like you need to see a gp though.

Obviously it's great that you are healthy and well but you do sound a little smug and scathing of others who aren't, mentioning friends and colleagues who seem to be at the gp constantly and declaring that you ignored menopause. I mean good for you but I wonder, would you ignore bleeding through your clothing on a daily basis due to menopause? Would you ignore an eczema flare migraines or a breast lump? You are lucky to have not had anything to go to the gp about but don't assume that everyone else who goes has nothing wrong with them.

Ring them up and ask if you're due any reviews. If yes go, if not its fine.
You're not wasting gps time if you go in for your review, its generally a nurse that does them and they count towards gp's nhs funding so they want you to have them.

No. Why would you go to the doctor's when there's nothing wrong with you? There are far too many people doing this already.

Where I am, the health check was at a local pharmacy, which I booked online.

https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/nhs-health-check/

You can also enter your location here for more info.

I agree. You're incredibly lucky op, some of the people you know are less so. It's not a moral failing to have high blood pressure or to need HRT.

My workplace offers these sorts of checks once in a while and I found it helpful. My cholesterol is every so slightly higher than it should be. Its good to know that so I can take action before I need any medication.

This whole thread just feels like a thinly disguised brag. Well done you for not having any health problems! Let's all sneer at people who need to go more often and can't just 'sort it out'.

I'm really glad to read your post, OP, because I'm in my late 50s and in the same situation and have been wondering the same thing. I've been to the GP once in the last 15 years and that was for food poisoning. My menopause was a total non-event (periods stopped, that was it, no other symptoms).

I feel perfectly well. I have loads of energy and no aches and pains. I work in a sedentary job, I eat well and do some exercise and I barely drink. But I seem to be surrounded by people who are at the GP all the time and I'm wondering too if I should be doing some kind of health check. This has been really useful to read to get the various opinions, so thanks for starting the thread.

It's really really not that. It's basically wondering if (A) it's a good idea to go and find out if you might be at risk of something that hasn't shown up in the form of symptoms yet or (B) the NHS is so overstretched, it's a bad idea to go and waste resources if there's nothing up with you

I honestly think I’m just lucky. And no I’m not smug or dismissive of other people’s genuine health issues. More concerned that I might have some without knowing.
Dad is very healthy as he prioritises it. He is quite anti-intervention and sorts himself out. He is a super fit 89 year old. Mum died quite young in an accident so am probably influenced by Dad’s attitude.
It was actually a conversation with a colleague that got me thinking. She has started feeling menopause symptoms and is tired. So said she had gone to GP for a blood test. They spotted some things and she’s having more tests.
I’ve gone though menopause. Have been tired. Just ignored it.
Yes have been to A&E with other people. Accidents rather than illness as the DC are all healthy. They are adults now and the three of them have actually never been since early years routine check things. I do think one might be a bit anaemic so we got her some iron stuff. Maybe I should tell her to see GP.
Anyway a mixed response. I think I’ll call them and ask if I should be having any sort of MOT.

What I would say is that you usually won’t if you have blood pressure/cholesterol/type 2 diabetes unless you get them checked. So no harm to get those checked.

I don't think you sound smug or like you're bragging.

I think you are due a checkup though, if they're supposed to be done every 5 years.

How proactive are you around your health. Do you prioritise good food, moderate exercise and do you sleep well? Are there any symptoms you ignore from day to day that a GP might pick up on.

GP health checks are pretty basic. If you wake up every morning , feeling well rested and looking forward to the day. If you enjoy productive life enjoyable hobbies and fall asleep the minute your head hits the pillow, there is likely not much wrong with you.

The bar for things GPs and the NHS can spot and resolve is pretty low. They do get paid for running health checks so you are not adding to their burdens.

If there is a niggle that you have been ignoring then by all means try their health checks. I tend to think people know when there is something not quite right and hesitate, waiting for ‘permission’ to follow it up.

if there is anything however slight on your mind by all means get it checked out. If you are the worried well, then channel your energy into something enjoyable.

@FinallyHere Thanks. Yes it’s the internal ‘permission’ to bother with something that’s not a bother.
No health problems at all really. Sometimes get an aching neck after work. I don’t do anything for fitness except a daily brisk walk and avoiding eating crap.
Will be retiring soon so it’s got me thinking about what I need to do to stay healthy and not take it for granted.

I'm quite similar OP....and my brother is too. Genes perhaps? I'm 66 and have no health issues. I have bloods done annually and have my NHS checkup/ bowels/ mammogram done.

I wouldn't bother unless you have any particular concerns. I'd suggest having a think about any lifestyle factors that you could tweak as you are aging. Perhaps add some resistance training to your brisk walks? Have a think about any nutrients you may be lacking? Are you eating adequate protein etc.

This is a good point. I believe some pharmacies do these checks if you don't want to bother a GP. My mum only found out about her high blood pressure by accident - no symptoms at all. Obviously if left unchecked high blood pressure can cause a stroke.

I was like you till I hit around 50.

My issues are genetic so there was a good chance they would develop as I got older. My mate who is a shrine to health and fitness needs a heart valve replaced as she was born with an issue but now as we all approach 60 it has given out and it’s not her fault. My MIL is like you as is DH and DS. Until MIL got cancer last year at 83 she never went to the Doctors. DH has been 3 times in 30 years and one was for travel vaccines.

The Dr I saw 2 weeks ago said walking is underestimated
Be glad you have good genetics.

There are some issues that are silent until they're serious. It's a silly idea that you should only go when there's something clearly wrong.

We should have having health MOTs at least every 5 years. To check bloods and blood pressure.

You've ignored menopause and don't do any weight bearing exercise. Your bones may be crumbling away without you knowing. Until it puts you on your backside.

Its up to you. But I'm personally of the mind that early intervention is better than trying to catch up.

Yabu. Just get a check up, basic blood pressure and blood test. I always have the MOT's offered by my GP. Silly not to.

I agree that if you haven't looked after yourself during the menopause it may have stored up bone or heart problems. Brisk walking is good but cardio and carry very heavy shopping would have been better.

The more you post the more it sounds like you’ve buried your head in the sand a little bit. Ignoring the menopause and just “sorting things out” without further checks isn’t really the best idea.