To think the NHS Health Check (for over 40s) can be done at home?

[Usedphone]

I just had that health check done and it was a total waste of time!

The nurse told me that my BMI would skew everything (and that it was due to my muscle mass), she just ticked some boxes, added some data, took my blood pressure and then told me I was low risk and that I should ignore the other advice.

She was also surprised when I told her I was not white! (Which I'm.not but I know I can be white passing).

It would have been quicker to just go in, take my booo pressure and do the rest from my phone. Would have had exactly the same result, and no waste of resources!

I got an invite to book one on my 40th birthday saying “If you’re between 40 and 70”… Way to make me feel old!

I'm late 50s and I've not had one either. I'm on medication that increases cholesterol. I also have a progressive neurological condition and asthma.

It might be because I'm a "difficult patient" (on my notes). I never realised asking for a referral for a second opinion as the doctor told me HRT was only for women wanting to attract younger men/menopause only lasts 2 years would make me so.

I was told NO to a cholesterol test as my DP's is fine.

I'm not holding my breath for an invite any time soon.

I got invited to my first one last week - I'm 46!

Annoyingly the receptionist forgot to book in a blood test so that still has to be done and aparently I need to go to the hospital to get it done. I have a form to book it but have been too busy. I also felt rushed and there was no real time or opening to express any wider concerns about your health.

I get a much more thorough one yearly with a private provider (paid for by at work) - with blood and urine tests and female speciifc checks (breast exam, pelvic exam etc..) so the only reason I did this is I have a bee in my bonnet about how crap the NHS is at preventative medicine. Hasn't changed my view.

I’m late forties and never heard of this!

They are behind in our area, DH has only just had his invite and he's 44

I had full bloods done at mine, thyroid, bone, liver, renal, cholesterol, blood sugar, etc

also weighed, measured and blood pressure done and asked lifestyle questions.

Nope I didn't get any of that!!

I had one when I was about 43. I was grateful for mine as she suggested I might need HRT, which I hadn't considered at all at that age (but did need).

I found it a bit useless TBH. It did tell me I had zero chance of having a heart problem in the next ten years though- I thought zero was quite bold but it gave me some comfort. I had it done when I was about 42. They sent me a reminder for another one last year (I'm 49 now) but I had full bloods done a couple of years ago and everything was normal, plus my BP tends to be on the low side and I have a monitor at home anyway, and I weigh myself regularly.

I'm going to make a private appointment after I turn 50 for menopause/HRT stuff and will get a full MOT then.

I've had invites since I was 40 but never made an appointment. But I need an annual blood test and the nurse just quickly did BP and weight while I was there, so she could tick that box. A BP monitor costs under £20 so it's easy enough to do at home, and most people have scales. I've never been concerned about BP though as mine has always tended to be lower than average.
It would be more worthwhile if they did a full set of bloods like a pp gets.

Also 60 and never been asked.

I'm 65 and going for my first one this afternoon! Never been suggested before. My DH has had one every year for, at least, 10 years.

These check - ups are bollocks.
I'm 45 and don't bother.
So far so good.

I highly recommend getting your own blood pressure monitor and keeping an eye on it yourself. When I found out I had slightly high blood pressure I started, though obviously the smart move would have been to do that before it developed, so late 30s. Better late than never 😅. But I wish I had really realised the importance and taken it in, I knew but I didn't really realise if that makes sense.

I'm 66 and just found out I have high blood pressure yesterday. It's largely symptomless, like high cholesterol, so I encourage everyone to get any checks they're offered.

I had one years ago and it was a total waste of time. Bit of a lecture on the fact I was 7lbs overweight, a real push to get me to agree to a Mirena coil and a blood pressure check. That was it.

Had a call a few months ago to go for another one and the surgery were most miffed I declined to attend but they’ve now moved them to another practice in the partnership which requires a 60 minute round trip to the other side of town. Not worth it in my view.

I had a random BP check when I had my last Covid booster and was shocked when it was 175/105, having kept an eye on it over the years I thought it was fine. This led to my discovering I also had hypercholesterolemia and starting two medications.

With lifestyle and diet modifications I hope to reverse any damage and hopefully dump the meds eventually but uncontrolled hypertension wreaks havoc on your body.

Edit: I'm forty-eight years of age, moderately fit at best and overweight.

I thought they were meant for people who weren’t otherwise being monitored.

Never had the invite myself either and I'm 47. I have no other reason to visit the Drs for any other problems, so would have no idea if I've any underlying health issues such as high blood pressure or anything worse!

Wow, i’ve been trying to get a mirena done for years on and off and there’s never anyone who can fit one here! It’s all so random.

I send out 60 invites a month to our patients. About 10% reply. If you get an invite and don't want one, please decline so we don't waste time inviting you again.

I always send to the 40th birthdays but others may not get one at the right time as there are more to invite than spaces available.

You can always ask for one if you don't get an invite.

They are basic checks done by HCAs so they can't give advice on things such as menopause.

I am about a stone and half overweight but nothing was said about it😂

These checks can find stuff that's asymptomatic. High blood pressure normally has no symptoms but is one of the main causes of heart attacks and strokes.

Gosh l get weighed.. have blood pressure n oxygen test.
Ask about my diet n drinking
All bloods done.
Feet checked and much more.

I had one at work. They used the body analyser scale things, which I guess are calibrated? And did a cholesterol finger prick blood test.

But on re reading all my data I realised she'd under measured my height by 2 inches so all the calculations will have been wrong.