.png)
With the Christmas and New Year celebrations out of the way, now is the time to think of your wellness. It’s the perfect time to focus on your health and wellbeing. Ultimately, you want to lead a fitter, healthier and happier life, and in this article, we’ll help you get started.
We’ll look at:
General Health Screening for Both Men and Women
First of all, try to get into the habit of scheduling regular health checks as it’s easy to lapse back into old, unhealthy routines.
Be proactive rather than reactive.
I’ve worked for many years as a hospital consultant and most illnesses could have been prevented by a healthy lifestyle or earlier health screening.
A good start is having a simple Well Man Check or Well Woman Check that can potentially identify early warning signs of more serious disease.
Let’s start by addressing some simple health checks for both men and women:
Blood pressure
This is the force of the blood circulating around your body when your heart pumps. It’s usually caused by an unhealthy lifestyle such as:
Smoking
Drinking excessive alcohol
Being overweight and not exercising enough
It can also be raised if you have diabetes or kidney disease
In some people it can run in families.
Your blood pressure should be around 120/80 mmHg and under new definitions of hypertension, a reading of 130/80 mm Hg is considered as ‘elevated’ blood pressure.
Although some people do experience symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness and headaches, many don’t realise they have high blood pressure until it’s too late. High blood pressure increases the likelihood of cardiovascular disease such angina, heart attacks and a stroke. This is why it’s so important to identify if you’re at risk and then get regular health checks.
Cholesterol check
Cholesterol and blood lipids are fats that are not only present in your diet but are also produced by your own body.
Raised cholesterol and lipids (otherwise known as hyperlipidaemia) can clog up arteries in your heart, brain. These lipids can deposit on the inner lining of your arteries to form ‘plaques’. The trouble with these plaques are that they’re effectively ticking time bombs. If and when they rupture, they activate a ‘clotting cascade’ in your arteries so that they completely block them. This is actually what happens when someone has a heart attack or a stroke.
Again, most people won’t know when their cholesterol and lipids are raised, so it’s vital they’re checked regularly. Your cholesterol and lipids can be elevated, if you :
Have a diet consisting of ‘bad’ saturated fats,
Smoke
Drink excessive alcohol
Don’t exercise
Or in some individuals, despite a good diet, it can be an inherited condition
3. Blood Glucose test
A blood glucose test can identify diabetes, years before you notice any symptoms. Diabetes results in elevated blood sugars and if uncontrolled, can cause long term damage to your eyes, heart and kidneys.
The HbA1c test which reflects your average sugar levels three months prior to the test is even more accurate in detecting early diabetes.
Although, we can’t yet cure diabetes, it can be nevertheless be controlled so that you can live a normal healthy life.
Weight, BMI (Body Mass Index), and overall fitness assessments
These are simple physical checks to evaluate how healthy you are and to identify warnings signs of poor physical fitness.
Weight and Body Mass Index – There’s good evidence that obesity can increase your risks of diabetes, heart attacks and angina, strokes and some forms of cancer such as bowel cancer. Try this NHS BMI calculator tool to see where you are this chart below:
Image: Body Mass Index calculator Courtesy of Healthy Weight Grampian
You can also measure your other components of your overall fitness such as aerobic fitness, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility and body composition here.
Immunisations and vaccinations
Vaccinations are one of the most effective ways to keep a population healthy and safe. The hugely successful vaccination campaigns for the eradication of deadly and devastating diseases such smallpox and polio are testament to this. Here are some important vaccinations you should consider this winter:
Flu jab
We’re currently in peak flu season and the hospitals and intensive care units are inundated with sick patients with influenza. It’s still not too late to get a flu jab as the flu season can go on till early April in the Western Hemisphere.
Pneumococcal vaccination
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a common bacteria that causes pneumonia, meningitis, ear infections and sepsis. If you’re over the age of 65 you’ll be eligible for a free vaccination from your GP. It’s also free if you have a chronic illness or a weakened immune system. Otherwise, you can still get the vaccination from independent vaccination clinics such as Health Klinix.
RSV vaccination
Respiratory Syncytial Virus is a common cause of a type of pneumonia called ‘bronchiolitis’ in the very young and pneumonia in older adults. For this reason, the UKHSA introduced the RSV vaccine in late 2024 for pregnant women and adults aged 75-79 years. Private clinics also offer the vaccine but there’s a charge.
Shingles vaccination
Shingles is a painful rash caused by the re-activation of the chickenpox virus that you had might have had in childhood. The condition can be so excruciatingly painful and debilitating, that some have even attempted suicide. You can get the shingles vaccine free in the UK if you are:
turning 65 years
aged between 70-79 years
over 50 years and a have a weakened immune system
Chickenpox vaccination
Chickenpox is more common in winter and nurseries have regular outbreaks. Although most chickenpox infections are mild, it can be severe and lead to pneumonia, sepsis or encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). Health Klinix offers a safe and very effective chickenpox vaccine.
Health Screening for Women
If you’re a woman, then there are some tests are that are more specific to you:
Cervical Smear and Human Papilloma Virus) HPV test
All women in the UK are offered a cervical cancer screening with a cervical smear test. You’ll be invited every 3 years from age 25 to 49 years and every 5 years from age 50 to 64 years.
In the smear, they’ll test for strains of HPV known to cause cervical cancer and if necessary, for any abnormal cells. If you’ve not been invited please call your GP.
Breast cancer screening using mammograms
Mammograms are special X-rays that can identify early breast cancer too small to see or feel. If you’re a woman, you’ll be invited every 3 years from age 50 to 71 years. If you have a family history of breast cancer, if then ask your GP about breast cancer screening from an earlier age.
Bone density screening for osteoporosis
Our bones become thinner as we grow older but women are much more susceptible. That puts them at an increased risk of wrist and hip fractures in later life. To identify those at risk of osteoporosis, the NHS offers a DEXA scan: a special X-ray that measures the mineral density of your bones.
A DEXA scan should be considered in anyone (including men) if you’re :
Over the age of 50 and at risk of developing osteoporosis
Under 50 years with other risk factors such as smoking or had a previous fracture
Thyroid function tests
The thyroid hormone you produce helps control your body’s metabolism. It’s produced by a small walnut sized gland in your neck.
At least 2% of the UK population have an underactive thyroid and if you’re over the age of 60, this increases to 5%. Another 2% in the UK have an overactive thyroid. Women are 5-10 times more likely to develop thyroid disease. Either way, it’s easily detectable with a simple thyroid blood test.
If you’re not sure what to do next, a good place to start is the comprehensive Well Woman Health Check.
Health Screening for Men
Although men are vulnerable to many diseases like heart disease, bowel and lung cancer, there are a couple of cancers worthy of mention:
Prostate examination
1 in 8 men get prostate cancer and if you’re black, the risk could be double that. You’re also at higher risk if you’re over 50 years or there’s a family history. The trouble with prostate cancer is that it’s often diagnosed very late, when it’s more difficult to treat. If you belong to a risk group, you might want to consider getting a PSA blood test (Prostate Specific Antigen).
Testicular examination
Testicular cancer is more common in younger men, especially those between 15-35 years. You should examine your testicles monthly for any new lumps or swelling as these are the most common symptoms. If caught early, it’s usually curable. So check regularly!
Our Well Man Health Check is a comprehensive health screening test worth considering as it covers a PSA test, male hormones and cholesterol, amongst many other blood parameters.
Summary
January may be almost over and your New Year’s wellness goals may already be ebbing away but you can still “start fresh” and prioritise their health in 2025. Remember, be proactive and start to take control of your health. Contact your GP, or why not book an appointment with Health Klinix?
Sources and References:
Written and Approved by:
Dr Ravi Gowda
Consultant Physician in Infectious Diseases
MBBS, MRCP(UK), MRCGP, DTM&H, DCH, DRCOG, DFFP
Comments