At-home tests like holding a plank and standing on one leg are a good way to get an idea of fitness levels compared to the rest of the population.
In terms of overall health though, there are five things everybody needs to know about themselves.
According to Dr Luke Powles, associate clinical director at Bupa Health Clinics, all adults should be aware of their weight, blood pressure, cholesterol level, heart health and diabetes risk.
But millions of Brits are unaware of this key personal information — which may mean they end up missing important clues when something is amiss.
In a recent Bupa survey of 2,000 UK adults, just 35% knew their ‘normal’ blood pressure range, while only 7% of respondents knew their heart health score and 12% their typical maximum heart rate.
Almost one in three (29%) respondents couldn’t even say how much they weighed.
Despite the fact 76% claimed they take their health seriously, less than a third (29%) had ever had a cholesterol check, while half (50%) had never been for a proactive blood pressure assessment.
Perhaps even more worryingly, 51% were unable to tell researchers which prescription medications they were currently taking, 59% didn’t know their blood type, and a whopping 23% had no idea how tall they are.
‘Whether it’s putting your mind at rest about a health worry, finding out where you could make lifestyle changes for the better, or even detecting a serious issue early,’ Dr Powles explains. ‘Knowledge is power.’
There’s clear evidence for this too; among the survey respondents who had taken the initiative and had an unprompted health check, 30% said it highlighted a previously-undetected issue such as anaemia, diabetes, high cholesterol, and even cancer.
How often do you go for proactive health checks?
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Regularly, it's very important
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Occasionally, when I feel it's necessary
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Rarely or never, I don't think about it much
Proactive check-ups are particularly important for those at increased risk, including over-40s, people who are overweight, or those who smoke and drink excessively.
Across the board though, Dr Powles warns: ‘If you do notice a change or something out of the ordinary, please do make sure you speak to a healthcare professional.’
Five things everyone should know about their health
1. Blood pressure
Why it’s important: High blood pressure (hypertension) is sometimes called a ‘silent killer’, because it usually has no obvious warning signs, yet can lead to life-threatening conditions like a heart attack or stroke.
On the other hand, low blood pressure (hypotension) isn’t as concerning, but can cause symptoms such as dizziness and fainting and may need treatment in some cases.
Monitoring your blood pressure helps detect issues early, allowing you to take preventative steps before things become more serious, and is especially vital for those aged 40+ or from black and South Asian heritage.
A reading of around 120/80mmHg is seen as healthy.
How to check: It’s always best to have your blood pressure checked for the first time by a professional. It’s possible to check your blood pressure at home with your own machine, but it’s important you know how to do this correctly, otherwise the reading may not be accurate.
2. Weight
Why it’s important: Being overweight or obese raises the risk of a range of health conditions, including certain types of cancer and diabetes. In addition, excess weight puts added strain on your joints, which may lead to mobility issues.
How to check: Regularly weighing yourself, whether at home, the gym or a pharmacy, can help you to track changes in your weight.
3. Heart health
Why it’s important: This is a major influence your overall wellbeing, so getting in the habit of keeping your heart healthy should be a priority for people of all ages.
Poor heart health can cause both short and long-term conditions, such as heart failure, dangerous irregular heart rhythms or heart attacks.
However, since lifestyle factors (such as what you eat, whether you smoke and how much you exercice) have the biggest impact on heart health, a check-up can be useful in prompting you to make positive changes.
How to check: A heart rhythm screening can detect irregular heartbeats, such as atrial fibrillation, which increases the risk of a stroke. Health assessments are also available for those aged 25 and over to learn their QRisk3 heart health score, which estimates the risk of developing heart disease.
4. Cholesterol level
Why it’s important: Cholesterol is a type of fat that’s made by your body and is found in some foods. Your body needs cholesterol to work properly, but too much of some types of it can harm your health.
While high cholesterol often doesn’t cause any symptoms by itself, it can lead to serious problems that affect your heart and blood circulation; for example, heart attack and stroke.
People with high cholesterol may over time experience symptoms of heart disease such as chest pain that comes on during, or is worsened by, exertion and is relieved by rest.
How to check: A blood test will assess your cholesterol level and provides a full breakdown of both high-density lipoproteins (good cholesterol) and of low-density lipoprotein (bad Cholesterol) to determine if your overall profile is within the desired guidelines.
5. Diabetes risk
Why it’s important: A person can have Type 2 diabetes without knowing it, as it can often present no specific symptoms in the early stages. This type of diabetes can greatly increase the risk of other conditions such as strokes and heart attacks.
By improving your understanding of the factors that could increase your risk of developing diabetes, you can prevent or delay the onset of Type 2 diabetes.
How to check: A blood test can assess your blood sugar levels, directly screening for diabetes. In addition, the Qdiabetes score can help identify your future risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
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