Dr C: “Having a simple test could save your life”
A large number of people aren’t going to a free health check designed to spot problems like dementia early. Dr C says fear is stopping us
ho wants to know if they’re likely W to get dementia? It’s a scary thought, and as stats show people are now more scared of dementia than cancer, it’s pretty obvious that’s why we’re avoiding a test that promises to detect the illness early – we’d rather not find out.
CATCH IT EARLY
The NHS Health Check, available for people aged 40 to 75 who don’t have pre-existing conditions, can spot early signs not just of dementia, but also of a stroke, Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. That’s why people need to go; if you catch these diseases early, you have a better chance of survival. Heart disease is the biggest killer of women in the UK and it’s easy to miss symptoms like nausea, swollen ankles and stomach pain.
GET INFORMED
When people have seen dementia in a relative, they’re likely to already be worried. If that sounds like you, there’s plenty of information on Alzheimers. org.uk that describes the difference between normal ageing versus dementia. Here are some examples: it’s normal to occasionally forget names and appointments, but forgetting names of close family members and what you did yesterday is a possible change due to dementia. We all worry; a doctor friend recently told me he was going to see a psychologist because he kept forgetting things. I asked how busy he’d been and he told me he’d had a nightmare few months, was incredibly stressed and working long hours. Because his grandad had dementia, he was worried he might have it, too – when he simply needed a break!
ADAPT YOUR LIFESTYLE
The NHS Health Check involves discussing your lifestyle and family history, checking your height and weight and blood pressure and having a fingerprick blood test to spot red flags. If you’re at risk, you’re likely to be told to quit smoking, cut down on alcohol, improve your diet, exercise, get quality sleep and find stress-management techniques. People may think, “I know I need to stop smoking, so what’s the point in going?” but your doctor can also suggest how to make those changes.
UNDER 40? GO ONLINE
If you get a letter inviting you, go. If you haven’t had one yet, you will within the next five years – speak to your GP if you are worried. If you’re under 40, Nhs.uk has a Heart Age Test, BMI healthy weight calculator and a How Are You? quiz to see how you’re doing. It takes just 20 minutes, but it really could save your life.