Why are we doing health checks?

There are lots of things you and your GP can do to keep you healthy and reduce your risk of developing heart disease and other diseases of the circulatory system as you grow older. By keeping an eye on how healthy your heart is we can make sure you get the right information, support and treatment to keep you well and able to get the most out of life.

What does the health check involve?

The health check involves:

• Measuring your blood pressure
• Measuring your height and weight
• A simple blood test to measure your cholesterol and blood sugar levels
• Finding out about your family history of heart disease

This information and other information such as your age is then used to find out how likely you are to develop heart disease and other circulatory conditions in the future.

What if I am found to be at high risk?

As the saying goes 'prevention is better than cure'. Being at high risk doesn't mean you will definitely go on to get heart disease but it does mean your GP or practice nurse can work with you to make it much less likely that you will. There are lots of different ways to do this. For example, there are very effective treatments for reducing both high blood pressure and high cholesterol. There may also be things you decide you would like to do yourself to lead a healthier lifestyle. If you do there is lots of help available.

What if I haven't received an invitation from my GP?

You don't need to wait for an invitation, you can just phone your surgery to make an appointment.

How often do I need a health check?

Everyone aged 45 and over should have a health check every 5 years. If a problem is found at your health check, your GP will make sure you are given the right treatment and see you more regularly to keep an eye on things.

What if I am under 45?

You will be invited by your GP surgery to have a health check once you have turned 45.

What if I already have heart disease or diabetes?

If you have already been told by your GP that you have heart disease or diabetes, then you will already be being treated and monitored and there is no need for you to have this health check. If you have any concerns about your condition or your treatment you should contact your GP surgery.

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