3 HEALTH CHECKS IN 3 MINUTES!

These quick and simple tests will teach you a lot about your wellbeing...

TEST YOUR BREATHING

Poorly controlled asthma, age-related respiratory troubles or repeated exposure to harmful irritants such as smoking can all add up and result in poor lung health causing breathlessness.

HOW TO

Briskly walk up two flights of stairs or around the block while talking to a friend. “The aim is to do it without having to stop to catch your breath,” says Dr Magdalena Simonis, GP at the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.

WHAT IT MEANS

This reveals how your lungs provide oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. If you find yourself breathless or wheezing, or your breathing becomes uncomfortable, see your GP for a check-up. “While difficulty breathing is often due to a decline in lung function, it can also be related to an underlying heart condition,” says Dr Simonis.

TEST YOUR BRAIN

Simple drawing, such as the clock-drawing test, can be useful at showing mild cognitive impairment in people who are at risk of dementia.

HOW TO

It only takes a minute to test yourself. Draw a clock face on a piece of paper and mark in the hours. Then add the hands to indicate a particular time, for example 10 past 11.

WHAT IT MEANS

Dr Simonis says it’s a measure of your spatial orientation, which is crucial for decision making, adapting to new environments and moving around.

“Any difficulty drawing the clock, such as crowding numbers at one end of the face or reversal of numbers, can provide insight into the severity of your dementia risk,” she says.

See your GP immediately if your drawing concerns you.

TEST YOUR HEARING

“Everyone over the age of 65 should have an annual hearing check. But if you think something has changed, assess your hearing quickly with the whispered voice test,” says Dr Simonis.

HOW TO

“Gently block one ear and ask someone to whisper a combination of numbers or letters – such as ‘99’ – into that ear from a metre away. Then repeat that combination back to them,” says Dr Simonis.

WHAT IT MEANS

“If you can repeat the whisper, it’s a sign your hearing is adequate. But if you can’t, see your audiologist for a check-up,” Dr Simonis advises.