Is it that unusual to be in your 60s and not on medication?

[Mumblechum0]

This is just something that made me think this week; 3 separate groups of friends and family, all late 50s or early 60s.

im finding increasingly that a lot of conversations turn to various ailments etc. I find these very dull.

amyway, in all 3 groups (I know how bizarre this sounds), they talked about what medications they’re on, and were surprised that I don’t take anything, not even vitamins, hrt etc.

i had cancer over 20 yrs ago but have been to the GP twice in 10 years. If I get ill, I tend to just wait for it to pass.

anyway, I wondered idly whether I just hang out with a lot of very unlucky people in terms of health, or is it usual to be on 3 or 4 meds?

(one friend had an alarm going off on her phone all day to remind her to take her tablets which led to today’s conversation)

I used to be like that. Then I was diagnosed with a neuro problem that I'm going to have to live with. Some genetics, some just luck though. We found out our family tends to osteoporosis when my sister slipped on ice and broke her arm. now we take calcium. If she hadn't slipped, we'd never have known. It's worth having check ups.

I got a text from my GP practice inviting me to do so. As part of a national screening programme. That's why.

NICE guidelines recommends nhs bloods done every 5 years for adults aged 40–74 without existing cardiovascular disease, diabetes, kidney disease, or hypertension to assess risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and kidney disease.

This should include blood pressure measurement, cholesterol test, blood sugar / HbA1c test, body mass index (BMI) and waist measurement and lifestyle questions (smoking, alcohol, diet, exercise).

I'm 67 and was asked to attend for bloods after submitting BP readings for a week as my GP Surgery requested. Readings were on high side but no need for medication if I adjust my lifestyle (reduce salt, lose weight).

As PP has said there is a nationwide programme to give health checks for certain groups as prevention is always better than cure, so saves NHS money in the long term.

I don’t think one person would have batted an eye lid at two people in their 70s and 80s. That is an odd thing to draw people’s attention to, especially in a thread which is not about age gap relationships, so it is you who is judging your parents. Was your mum very young when they got together, as in under 16?

Have not had any texts from my surgery telling me this is available! I get one weekly telling me the ‘drop-in’ service is cancelled due to staff sickness!

Just had a look on my GP surgery website- nothing about wellness checks. I had one when I was early 40s I think- went in for something else and nurse did BP, arranged cholesterol etc and finger prick. All was well and if anything I’m healthier in my lifestyle now at 54 than then so I guess they are focussing on those in the at risk categories. I have never been overweight, drink a small amount, never smoked, no diabetes in family, don’t eat sugary stuff, walk miles a day. My home bp machine says 100/65 most of the time so I’m happy with that.

My mum is 70 and only on calcium supplements for her bones as she has osteoporosis. Just off-the-shelf ones.

I'm 41 and alternate daily between a joint health supplement, one for perimenopause, and one for gut health. I also take a daily antihistamine for my sensitive skin. I also have dry eyes, but that's now well-managed with twice-daily eye drops.

My 44yo sister has been on blood pressure medication since her early 30s, her knees are absolutely shot, mostly due to being overweight all her adult life. Her mobility is quite poor already.

Honestly, I think it's just luck.

Easy one. Male acquaintance in 70s went to Dr about something. Not sure what but unrelated to this story. Dr realised acquaintance hadn't seen a GP in years and ordered routine bloods. Prostate cancer was revealed. Acquaintance is fine now. Go for check ups. Cholesterol, thyroid, blood pressure, PSA level can all do massive harm if they go unnoticed.

Oh I get screening done and as I said measure bp at home. DH had PSA. My blood test in my 40s was good and I feel well.

I’m 69 I have HRT and Amlodipine for high blood pressure that unfortunately runs in my family. I feel annoyed to need this. DH is a year older and has no medication at all.

I have been invited too. I am officially carer for my daughter, who has epilepsy and a learning disability. They give me free flu vaccine too. It's part of helping me as a carer and I think that's great.

It's called preventative medicine. Which will treat you in advance of anything more serious and costly in ten years time.

At my surgery, the pin prick test and BP is the standard for the ‘over 40 health check’ but if your cholesterol or blood sugar levels are looking as if they may be slightly high/borderline from the pinprick test, that’s when they ask you to get full bloods done to make sure. Similarly if BP is looking slightly high then they ask you to monitor over a week.

I'm in my 60s and the health check I was offered was just some questions by text, like height weight and suggestions where I could check my blood pressure, like a generic form, it wasn't an invite to the surgery. The nurses are probably busy doing the normal appointments, I had to have a nurse appointment for my skin lesions as there were no doctors appointments. That has been fortunately my only need to visit the surgery in recent years

prescriptions are free for the over 60s, a fair few will be on meds.

This is true, MIL had loads of boxes of paracetamol that had been on prescription, surely this is quite an expensive way of doing things, they are very cheap to buy.

My relative is in his late 60s and always took such immense pride in not taking any form of medication and being a regular gym goer.
He was diagnosed with cancer and has spent the last 12 months fighting the doctor about every single medication he’s prescribed. He’s furious he has to take sleeping medication for example.
He sees it as a personal failing. I guess because he spent so many years feeling superior to anyone on medication.

Yes I’m aware of that but there is. A health crisis and can’t get an appointment for weeks when I am ill! Luckily that isn’t often.

My five yearly health checks are with a nurse, not a doctor.

It is six weeks to get an appointment with a GP in my surgery but nurse access has no waiting list so you’re unlikely to be affecting things in that regard.

Blood tests aren’t done by doctors. We have well woman checks with cholesterol and bp done by nurses. Mine was low bp but very slightly raised cholesterol which was great to know as I can sort that in my 50s and will prevent less use of the nhs further down the line.

Good to know. Perhaps I’ll wait until spring when the burden is less.

Wow loads of empathy there.

Once you have "a condition" we get yearly check ups in our birthdays 😊

I have CKD, only recently diagnosed, I have duplex kidneys..... And high BP because of it. DH has high BP. We both have full bloods & checks every year. We also do our annual poo sample, mammograms and cervical smears, PSA etc

This year that included a colonoscopy for a positive poo sample, and a hysteroscopy for a thickened womb. We are both clear. But I don't understand reticence for not getting stuff checked out. Why wouldn't you??

P.s. We are never ill, ever, very generally healthy.

We are very lucky. Our local hospital trust covers 3 hospitals and they have a website where you can book blood tests once they have been approved by the GP.

I almost always get one the same day, or if I keep checking there is usually a cancellation. But bizarrely the receptionists don't mention it to patients and I've overheard people booking three weeks in advance with a nurse. I can't imagine that anyone wants to wait for these things.

Then the results are normally on the NHS app within 24-48 hrs.