DH and blood tests

[Orangesandlemons77]

I managed to get DH to go for one of those over 40s health checks at the GP. He's mid 50s and a drinker.

He's thin and does run and swim, the blood pressure came back OK and they didn't do the HB1AC test.

But the cholesterol came back very high (over 8 in total) his QRisk score was 7. Also he is anaemic and they want to repeat that test.

Also his resting heart rate was low (around 50)

Had a look online and some of these things seem to be linked with alcohol. Although he doesn't eat red meat so that could also be linked to the anaemia. He's started an iron supplement.

Has anyone else found similar results with alcohol please? I'm worried about heart disease. I thought the GP might follow up the cholesterol test but they don't seem to have.

He also told them how much he drinks so they are aware of that. they told him he was having the weekly allowance in one night and asked if he wanted any help stopping- he said no.

Low HR is normal for fit men and women. 50 is perfectly normal.

High cholesterol can indeed be linked to high alcohol consumption. Any heart attacks in his mother or father ?

You seem focused on his alcohol intake. He sounds like he's an otherwise active and functioning adult. Does his alcohol use cause problems at home ? Or Is it that you're purely worried for his health ?

Unfortunately you can't make someone do something. If he's happy with drinking a little too much and he's not causing major problems, he's an adult with capacity and that's kind of his choice I suppose.

I used to drink in binges. I no longer drink. Despite this , my programming is as a 'drinker' that's my default setting. I get why people flirt with drinking, crave it and reach for it and use it. Because I was one of them. My DH on the other hand doesn't get it at all- just doesn't make him tick. So like you, he would find it irritating and baffling that someone would choose to drink and knowingly drink more that sensible limits.

I don't drink now , but my mind is wired up that way of a "drinker" - so I get "drinkers". I think it's a real clash in a marriage when you get a "drinker" and a non drinker. One and the other just don't understand each other.

(I stopped drinking because it did negatively impact my mental health and those around me ) You don't say whether that's the case with your DH?

Those issues might not be caused by alcohol. I am not suggesting that the alcohol is helping btw. It is just that he has got to make the decision to cut down or stop drinking by himself. In my family there is a history of high cholesterol and anemia. My mum is the only heavy drinker. My grandma was 6 stone. She didn't drink alcohol. She ate healthily and she exercised. Yet she had high cholesterol and anemia. I thought that she looked under weight.

SquishedMallow Any heart attacks in his mother or father ?

No but high cholesterol and a stroke in his mum, heart problems with dad but he died of lung problems overall.

Does his alcohol use cause problems at home ? Or Is it that you're purely worried for his health ?

Both really. He can get argumentative and difficult after a few drinks, quite critical of me at times. maybe I am hoping these tests are related and the GPs might tell him to stop, or they might be a wake up call

I think it's a real clash in a marriage when you get a "drinker" and a non drinker. One and the other just don't understand each other.
(I stopped drinking because it did negatively impact my mental health and those around me ) You don't say whether that's the case with your DH?

Interesting. I suffer with depression, anxiety and PTSD and was quite a heavy drinker myself as I was worried I was self medicating with alcohol. It wasn't a great combination with my meds either. I found it possible to stop and maybe feel he should be able to do that too. But yes, maybe it's not so easy for everyone.

Yes I do think it might be impacting his mental health. He doesn't seem to be able to stop, and maybe feels dependant on it, he is very defensive about it. He seems anxious and down at times, and alcohol is a depressant. But then sometimes he says things like he really likes drinking, or it is like breathing to him.

Those issues might not be caused by alcohol. I am not suggesting that the alcohol is helping btw. It is just that he has got to make the decision to cut down or stop drinking by himself.

Yes that's true. He's also on a med called Humira and I read this can sometimes increase cholesterol. Could also be genetic. and he doesn't eat much like your grandma. TwinklyFawn