NHS Health Check

[Prosecco85]

I have received a letter from my GP surgery saying my health check is due. I have just turned 40 and never had a check before. Does anyone know what would be involved? Thank you.

When I went 3 years ago it was some blood tests, height, weight, blood pressure and questions about drinking, smoking etc and a check that I knew how to check my breasts for lumps. That's was about it I think.

Totally routine. Height, weight, blood pressure and lipids (cholesterol etc), kidney and liver function. Smoking and alcohol usually.

Thank you both for your reply.

I'm in my mid 50s and have never heard of this. Does anyone know when they're meant to be offered / how frequent etc?

Me neither I would like a health check I'm 59.

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

Every five years from age 40. If you are already on a chronic disease register for hypertension, heart disease, diabetes etc, your annual review will cover all the above anyway and you won’t get a separate health check. It’s really only worth it for the bloods. More effective to check your BP at home.

Normal health check is routine bloods, BP, maybe a discussion on alcohol use/ smoking, can’t honestly say mine have ever involved anything else

I was offered one when I was 40. 54 now. Just routine stuff.

I’m 68 and went today, the nurse explained it’s a new initiative. I was asked about smoking, drinking, diet and exercise. I gave my height and weight and had bloods taken to be tested for diabetes/liver and kudney function.

Unfortunately my blood pressure was through the roof so I have to take readings over the next three days. If still high I have to back.

Thank you for the information, hope you ger sorted with your blood pressure.

Thank you all for the information. I will call the surgery tomorrow morning and book an appointment. It can't be any worse than having a smear test!

It was great. I stopped smoking in 2014 at 56, then stopped vaping in 2023. My beloved dog died and I stopped going to yoga. I’ve put on 3 stone and got my Fast 800 book out tonight😊Good luck.

Well it's not new I had one or two a few years ago. I got another offer recently which I keep meaning to follow up. I have white coat syndrome so take my BP before hand it will me amazingly high when I am there! I also found out I am 1.5 inches shorter than I was, my spine is gently collapsing, great!

Just ask if you haven't been offered yet.

I had my first one last year at the age of 42. Standard questions about smoking, drinking, exercise, stress and depression screening, etc, followed by blood pressure, fingerpick blood tests, height, weight and waist measurement.
They also took my pulse and asked me to book in a GP appt which led to an ECG as they picked up a couple of irregular heartbeats, but they turned out to be benign ectopics.
I was a little surprised at some of it though... I have a family history of Type 2 Diabetes diagnosed at a young age, but despite the fact I am overweight with a very large waist measurement and older than my mother and maternal grandmother were when they were diagnosed (they were both also overweight with a large waist) they told me they didn't need to do a diabetes screening as I was too young. I also came out at the top end of the "overweight" category but was told this didn't matter as I wasn't weighing in as "obese" which is the only point my weight would be cause for concern.
My waist measurement was off the scale and put me at "very high risk" which did not surprise me as it is something I have always battled with. However, the only advice the healthcare assistant undertaking the check offered was "you should do some sit-ups and waist training exercise." My understanding is that whilst this might be great for toning the muscles sat somewhere underneath the fat, it isn't going to do much by itself to actually reduce the fat covering my belly?
I was also told that my cholesterol and blood pressure were "fine" but when I got the link to download my report after the appointment I discovered that all the readings for these were just hovering where the green "healthy" tips into the red "unhealthy" section of the chart. Whilst I suppose this could be classed as "ok" I was surprised I wasn't advised that I was only just in this catergory and given some advice on how to stay where I am or get more firmly into the green.
Having said all that, reading the report and seeing a picture of my overall health on paper did give me a kick up the backside to start looking after myself more. I don't think I will bother with a future NHS Health check, but may consider paying for a more comprehensive one once it has been a year since the NHS one so that I can gauge where I'm at by then.

You can get a diabetes test online for about £20 if you’re worried :)

I'm 65.
I was offered one aged 50. When I.phoned to make the appointment I was told the apppintments only took.place between 1pm and 2pm. I worked full-time and didn't think it warranted a whole day off work.

I had the blood test as I’ve never actually had one before so it was interesting to have some information about my body. Didn’t bother with the appointment as I knew all they would do would be to lecture me about being too fat. I do my own blood pressure at home so no need for that. I never go to the doctor so imagine that was why I was called quickly, I’ve heard it’s partly to check you’re still alive if you never go!