I’m 81, can I avail of a full health check from my doctor?

I AM 81 and would like to have a full health check up. Where should I go, and what kind of tests can I have?

ONE of the main concerns with full health screening offered by private companies is something called false positives. These are health abnormalities that are not likely to cause any problems but are flagged up, causing unnecessary stress, anxiety and even treatment.

Anyone undertaking this sort of health screening should think carefully about whether they have anything to gain by knowing the results.

Rather than a private health check, it would be more sensible for an elderly patient to visit their GP for a chat about risk factors for heart disease and stroke. A doctor will give valuable advice about how to reduce such risks or make sure they’re properly monitored.

This would involve blood tests and also a pulse, diabetes and blood pressure check.

Screening is available free of charge for bowel cancer (BowelScreen.ie) and breast cancer (BreastCheck.ie) and your GP can also perform a Digital Rectal Examination (DRE) for men who have prostate concerns.

A GP practice can also advise about vaccinations, such as for shingles, Covid, pneumonia and flu — this is a simple way to protect your health.

I AM a 92-year-old man who is mostly in good health. But recently I’ve struggled with needing to pass urine more than usual — particularly at night when I would rather be asleep. My GP has prescribed a number of tablets but none of them have worked. Can you help?

ANY symptom that disturbs sleep is deeply distressing and should be dealt with properly.

Not getting a good night’s sleep leads to irritability and feeling fragile during the day. It is also a big risk factor for night-time falls in elderly people, as some struggle to find the bathroom in the dark. One important step to take is to ensure the journey between the bed and the bathroom is as safe and simple as possible to avoid accidents.

In men over 90 the most common cause of bladder issues is prostate trouble.

This includes an enlarged prostate gland, which stops the bladder emptying properly, as well as prostate cancer.

Other reasons why you might be going to the loo more often include medication, diabetes or even a simple infection.

A GP would explore potential underlying problems before choosing what to prescribe.

It is worth taking a urine test for infection and diabetes, as well as a blood test to check kidney function and prostate issues.

There are various medications for prostate problems and the chosen treatment may depend on other medical issues. Common medicines include tamsulosin, finasteride and tolterodine. Some other drugs are less suitable for the elderly or frail.

Lifestyle measures may be helpful, too. It is worth reducing caffeine, alcohol and fizzy drinks, which all irritate the bladder. Often people don’t realise that constipation can worsen bladder issues, so dealing with bowel problems is also a good idea.

MY 50-year-old daughter was recently told she has cirrhosis of the liver and hasn’t long left to live. We’re devastated — is it true that you can never recover?

CIRRHOSIS is the scarring of the liver, and means the organ is severely damaged. Patients usually reach this point having lived with liver disease for a long time.

Sadly, the condition is not reversible. It is a very significant and serious diagnosis.

Cirrhosis usually develops after there have been other stages of liver damage which may be treatable. Most commonly, the condition is caused by heavy alcohol use or hepatitis infections.

It can also result from fatty liver disease, which is triggered by obesity and type 2 diabetes.

But there are also other less common causes, including genetic and autoimmune liver diseases, which usually affect women. Although cirrhosis is not treatable, you can slow it down in some cases. For example, if somebody has cirrhosis from hepatitis C or autoimmune conditions, medication can be used to prevent further damage.

People with liver disease are vulnerable and need regular health checks for other issues including high blood pressure. If alcohol is an underlying factor, getting help to quit as soon as possible is vital.