Worried about family history

[vilamoura2003]

Does anyone else have health anxiety? It is horrible ☹️

I am only 40 but my dad and grandad have both had strokes and now my mum has had a TIA ☹️ I feel really anxious that it basically means I am going to have one. My parents aren't old, only in their early sixties - which is only 20 years away. I feel like I am buggered 😳 and feel really anxious about it.

Lately I am feeling more and more this sense that life is whizzing past at a rapid rate and a real sense of mortality. I can't imagine not being here or my family having to carry on without me.

I am starting to think I am crackers

Have you had your blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels checked recently? If not and given your family history I think any GP would be happy to offer you them.

Also keeping a check on your weight and regular exercise will reduce your future stroke risk.

Thank you - no I haven't had those checks done, I will make an appointment with the GP to have them checked 👍

Everyone aged 40-70 is eligible for a free NHS cardiovascular health check, and the GPS have targets to gets lots done, so will be keen to see you. The initial appointment will be with a nurse or HCA and they take bloods, height, weight, lifestyle questions etc. Once the bloods are back you can speak to a nurse or GP about your %risks of future problems. We diagnose a lot of Diabetes and Pre Diabetes from these, as well as High Cholesterols and other things to be careful of.
If your risk is >10% they may recommend annual blood tests to keep an eye on things, and that should put your mind at rest.
Good luck

Are you doing all the things to keep your risk down? Keep salt intake low, keep weight healthy, get 150 minutes of exercise a week, no smoking, low to no alcohol intake?

... and did your parents & relatives also make all those low risk choices?

Hhmmm I am probably classed as overweight so that is something I will need to address pronto really. My dad is definitely not a healthy person and so I can see how it has happened to him. However my mum is healthy, gets plenty of exercise, doesn't smoke and doesn't drink to excess, only the odd glasses of wine. I think that is why I am quite shocked, I always thought my mum would go on until a ripe old age and now I have had a rude awakening 😬

Time for a health kick to start I think!

Good idea to focus on what you can do.
Worrying about stuff you can't know or change robs you of the present which is only thing you do definitely have and know about.

I have health anxiety too for similar reasons. Totally agree with lljkk. Worrying about what could happen stops you enjoying what you do have 😊

Instead of seeing your anxiety as a bad thing see it as your body doing the right thing - it's telling you to get and do something about your health whilst you can! I bet you'll feel a lot less anxious once you have lost that extra weight and are as healthy as you can be. Anxiety exists for a reason - it's telling us to do or change something.