Health MOT?

[Crumpet]

After a recent health ‘scare’ (which turned out to be something and nothing) I’ve become rather more aware of my lack of immortality! Background is age 40, never been to hospital, rarely go to the doctors and have always been fortunate enough to have good health - touch wood and all that.

I feel like this last few years I’ve neglected things due to overworking, lack of fitness facilities while at work and poor diet during covid. As I’m soon to be over 40 I wondered if there was some kind of full body assessment where they can check everything? Cancer, illnesses……the lot!

I have an annual medical for work but the most in-depth thing on that is the ECG; the rest is pretty mundane stuff like eyesight and hearing. I had a ‘Pinpoint’ test for cancer during my recent scare but they don’t share the results. Is there a reliable privately available test like that? What else would or should I have looked at? Genetic tests to see whether I’m prone to anything?

Or should I just focus on being healthier and fitter and react to any symptoms accordingly rather than trying to be proactive?

[A500leroy]

Your gp should offer a full mot for guys your age.

[mcelliott]

Just concentrate on staying fit and healthy, you're not at an age where you should be stressing about what might or might not be, full body MRIs bloodwork and gene testing could lead you down a very nasty path of major health anxiety

[Riley Blue]

A500leroy said:

Your gp should offer a full mot for guys your age.

Like this: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-health-check/

[Scabutz]

Go to your GP as others have suggested or you can pay for private ones at Bupa etc. But really without any symptoms the things to check which can cause problems later are blood pressure and cholesterol. Heart disease is the no 1 killer in the world and improving these two factors can have a significant impact.

Get your self fitter, even walking is good for that. Lift some weights, strength as you age declines and there have been a few studies that show stronger people live longer.

Arnold Schwarzenegger does a daily wellness email and one of his the other day listed the top 5 things that can added 13 years to your life. They are

No smoking
Maintaining a healthy BMI (BMI can be misleading for people with a lot of muscle. More on this in a moment)
30 minutes of moderate or intense activity per day
Low alcohol intake
Eating vegetables, fruits, fiber (grains and seeds), healthy fats (like eggs and avocado), and lean proteins (think fish and poultry)


https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29712712/

[V8covin]

Riley Blue said:

Like this: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-health-check/

If that's anything like the one I had they weigh you,work out your bmi and ask you a few questions about how much you drink,what your diet is like,family medical history etc.
No tests are carried out at all

[Armitage.Shanks]

V8covin said:

Riley Blue said:

Like this: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-health-check/

If that's anything like the one I had they weigh you,work out your bmi and ask you a few questions about how much you drink,what your diet is like,family medical history etc.
No tests are carried out at all

Sounds like you got the nurse check-up. If you do get offered the MOT ask about a full blood run beforehand to understand your cholesterol readings and QRISK etc. Ideally you need this first before going.

[Crumpet]

mcelliott said:

Just concentrate on staying fit and healthy, you're not at an age where you should be stressing about what might or might not be, full body MRIs bloodwork and gene testing could lead you down a very nasty path of major health anxiety

This would be my worry; that I’d live in fear of Parkinson’s or something similar - something that may never happen.

Scabutz said:

Go to your GP as others have suggested or you can pay for private ones at Bupa etc. But really without any symptoms the things to check which can cause problems later are blood pressure and cholesterol. Heart disease is the no 1 killer in the world and improving these two factors can have a significant impact.

Get your self fitter, even walking is good for that. Lift some weights, strength as you age declines and there have been a few studies that show stronger people live longer.

Arnold Schwarzenegger does a daily wellness email and one of his the other day listed the top 5 things that can added 13 years to your life. They are

No smoking
Maintaining a healthy BMI (BMI can be misleading for people with a lot of muscle. More on this in a moment)
30 minutes of moderate or intense activity per day
Low alcohol intake
Eating vegetables, fruits, fiber (grains and seeds), healthy fats (like eggs and avocado), and lean proteins (think fish and poultry)


https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29712712/

Thanks for that! I’ve gone from a 180kg deadlift pre-covid to someone who looks like they spend their life in the pub - this is why I need to do something about it!

I think the GP based health check will only tell me what I already know; that I’m overweight, have high cholesterol but with ok blood pressure! Alcohol intake is definitely an issue but something I’m really cutting back on.

Thanks again, I’ll take a look at that publication.

[V8covin]

Armitage.Shanks said:

Sounds like you got the nurse check-up. If you do get offered the MOT ask about a full blood run beforehand to understand your cholesterol readings and QRISK etc. Ideally you need this first before going.

I've no need for an MOT, I've had just about every blood test and scan going these last few years lol

[mooseracer]

Armitage.Shanks said:

V8covin said:

Riley Blue said:

Like this: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-health-check/

If that's anything like the one I had they weigh you,work out your bmi and ask you a few questions about how much you drink,what your diet is like,family medical history etc.
No tests are carried out at all

Sounds like you got the nurse check-up. If you do get offered the MOT ask about a full blood run beforehand to understand your cholesterol readings and QRISK etc. Ideally you need this first before going.

52 and I've never been "invited" for a test by my GP practice. Not bothered in the slightest as I got full blood test and analysis through work a couple of years ago.