Health Check....

[Rob_and_his_westie]

Having twisted my knee last week, I'm not running at the moment (I'm really missing it). So this is slightly off topic, but it might be of interest to some of you.

The NHS is currently offering Health Checks to the over 40s. I think they call it a midlife MOT. Anyhow, being (well) over 40 I thought I'd take them up on it. Having been on a healthy lifestyle kick for the last 18 months, losing a lot of weight, keeping it off and being a C25K graduate I went along in 'smug mode'.

The check was performed by a nurse at my local health centre. The first test was a cholesterol check. She took a pin prick of blood and inserted it into a hand held device. This is where things went wrong. She had some difficulty operating the machine, which didn't inspire me with any confidence and when the reading came back we were both very surprised. Apparently 5.5 is the upper limit of normal. I recorded 10.3. This then dominated the rest of the appointment. She gave me the stock talk about healthy foods and exercise, which for the first time in my life I was able to rebut as a possible cause. Never mind that my blood pressure, pulse and weight are all quite normal, this cholesterol thing had her worried, the working theory being that it's hereditary. I've since been back and had a blood test and the results are pending.

If the blood test confirms the initial result, no doubt I'll be looking at further treatment of some sort and I'll be advising you all to take up the offer of a check, no matter how healthy you are on the surface or how much C25K has changed you're life. Can't help having doubts over that hand held device though.

I'll keep you posted.

[AncientMum Graduate]

I know 10.3 is very high, but I wouldn't worry too much until you've got the results of the proper lab blood test back. That will give you a far more accurate reading, and will also give you the ratio of HDL ( high density lipoprotein) cholesterol to LDL ( low density lipoprotein) cholesterol: the so called good to bad cholesterol ratio. Obviously, lots of good cholesterol is less worrying than lots of bad ( or at least that was the orthodoxy when I worked in medical research many moons ago.)

Good luck Rob, keep us posted. Hope the knee recovers soon

[Realfoodieclub Graduate]

I agree with Ancientmum. My husband has to have the full test to show his cholesterol as the good one is higher than normal putting the result of the pin prick one out a bit. But I agree we genetically we can have issues. I think the way to look at it whatever the results are you will be doing everything to keep yourself healthy. You've done all the hard work and possibly genetically you might need some help but it's all in hand. At least you will know there are no time bombs round the corner. Good luck with the results.

[misswobble Graduate in reply to Realfoodieclub]

Oooh ta for the heads up. I don't even have a GP but I suppose now would be a good time to get one if a free health check is on offer.

Hopefully in your case the machine is duff and the results will come back ok. Fingers crossed for you. I hope your knee will soon be right and you can get back out there

Good luck Rob.

[GettingFitter Graduate]

Rob, I had a hand held test at work and the maximum reading it could give was 7 and that's what it did for me. I had a BUPA check up 6 months ago and it was measured at 7.2 I have read lots about cholesterol and there are so many conflicting stories I have chosen not to worry about it. I would have thought that cholesterol would drop given all the excersise but I think it goes up in many people. Cholesterol is required by the body to function. The fact that doctors can measure it has led to an industry in statins etc. If you cut your knee cholesterol will be found in the wound helping to heal it. But doctors could measure that and suggest high cholesterol could be causing cut knees. Some eople with low cholesterol have heart attacks, some don't and some people with high cholesterol don't have heart attacks and some do.

Try to read what you can - there is a wealth of info out there. I think the 5:2 diet that I did also raised cholesterol but I would say I feel fitter than ever and am fitter as there is no way I could run 10K 4 months ago.

[Rob_and_his_westie Graduate]

Thank you all. Appreciate the comments.

[QT200QT600 Graduate]

I was never offered this but as several health areas went pear-shaped around Christmas last year I was forced to seek out my GP (I have been doctor-averse, like many men, for many, many years - as I woman I question my chromosomes!). Any how, I ended up with a gamut of tests which have revealed shockingly high blood pressure. Blood pressure is known as a silent killer as it's often only when something dramatic takes place that you know you have it. Just after I started meds I had a mini-stroke so now have other meds too. If I hadn't been alerted to the high BP I probably would have written off the mini-stroke as a 'funny-turn' or just another hormonal dirty trick (I'm 53 and my reproductive system ain't giving up without a struggle!), and then...well maybe it would have been too late. I am extremely grateful to the GP who referred me immediately to a TIA clinic fo a scan. I would say that where tests have been carried out by nurses at the practice I have felt irked at the aproach of them telling you to take more exercise, stop drinking sugary drinks, cut out the ham sandwich, don't smoke, cut the alcohol - all without first asking if I do any of these things - I don't smoke, I've been vegetarian for 33 years and I hate sugary drinks for goodness sake, and I don't do any of the other negative stuff either! GROWL!

Anyhow, the point is, if you're not offered a check, ask for one, better to sort out any underlying issues than them spring a nasty surprise on you.

[GoogleMe Graduate in reply to QT200QT600]

I ended up with something like this health check when I finally showed up for what I intend to be my last smear (having had a stand up row with a practice nurse where I used to live who seemed to find the notion of informed decision making a concept too novel for her). On the basis of my experience I didn't feel I could responsibly encourage my husband to attend for the health check he was invited for early this year as I suspected it could drive him to drink and doughnuts, if not fags. (Turns out he has been monitoring his BP at home for ages and it is fine... and I suspect deciding not to go has actually encouraged him to take more exercise and change his diet!)

My actual health problems were completely ignored (may as well have farted as uttered the word), symptoms which warrant an urgent hospital referral were ignored, I was informed I was obese (and discovered later that "Patient refused to discuss weight reduction diet" was put in my notes which is a flat out lie - how can you refuse something you are not offered?), I was interrogated at inappropriate length about my alcohol intake (more often than just at Christmas is not code for "I have a problem with excessive alcohol intake")

The nurse was obsessed with how on earth I had got through the menopause without drugs.

I don't feel the NHS is getting informed consent to these Health Checks either.

[notbad Graduate]

Thanks for the heads up Rob, I should look into getting one of these myself - hope everything works out okay for you.