GP "Check-up"

[944fan]

Do GPs generally do a "Check up" if there is no obvious symptoms of anything? I have decided, rather inevitiablly at this time of year, to do something about my health. I need to loose a fair bit of weight. I went to the Cholesterol and Heart check at Lloyds pharmacy and they checked my Cholesterol level and blood pressure. My TC:HDL ratio was to high and my BP off the scale almost. They refered me to my GP.

I am not overly keen about going to the GP because I don't want to be offically diagnosed as having high BP. I am pretty confident I can get it under control with diet, exercise, and cutting down on booze. However, I am now a bit worried that there maybe other issues I need to do something about and wonder if I should have a full check. I know BUPA and the like do private ones but they are about £400. I'm 31, approx 4 stone overweight, BP: 159/96.

[LordGrover]

I had an MOT at my GP when I hit 40.
Basically all the run of the mill tests were done FOC including several blood and urine reports. That was ten years ago though so NHS may well have changed since then.

May as well ask at the surgery though, eh?

[BoRED S2upid]

Yes book yourself in its the NHS afterall your paying for the service, just say your worried about the Lloyds results you could well have more serious problems which they will check first before putting you on blood pressure drugs. A mate of mine has high cholestorol and the doc gave him 6 months to get it to come down through healthy eating and the like.

[turbolucie]

Is there a particular reason you don't want to be diagnosed by a GP? If you get them to check your BP then you can tell them you want to try and get it down with lifestyle changes, they will be all for that if that's what you want. At least then they can monitor you and help things along with medication if you can't bring it down with lifestyle changes. You don't want to be living with high BP

Better to get it under control under the guidance of a GP - and it's 'free'.

[944fan]

turbolucie said:

Is there a particular reason you don't want to be diagnosed by a GP? If you get them to check your BP then you can tell them you want to try and get it down with lifestyle changes, they will be all for that if that's what you want. At least then they can monitor you and help things along with medication if you can't bring it down with lifestyle changes. You don't want to be living with high BP

Better to get it under control under the guidance of a GP - and it's 'free'.

Yes I guess you are right. It was purely because whenever you apply for life assurance and the like it is one of the questions they ask. I didn't want to have to answer Yes. I have also had to provide access to medical records for jobs and again it is something I would rather not have on "record".

I certainly don't want to live with high BP and I am committed to lowering it. I'll make an appointment and see what they say.

[turbolucie]

Understandable. 159/96 isn't 'off the scale' so to speak, it's on the high side but in order for a diagnosis to be made then they will take several readings over a period of time, as it fluctuates a fair bit. But I definitely think it's worth getting to the GP, you don't want a heart attack or stroke on your health record in future

[Pickled Piper]

turbolucie said:

Understandable. 159/96 isn't 'off the scale' so to speak, it's on the high side but in order for a diagnosis to be made then they will take several readings over a period of time, as it fluctuates a fair bit. But I definitely think it's worth getting to the GP, you don't want a heart attack or stroke on your health record in future

As above. Your GP will not label you as hypertensive with that one reading, but will require several readings. They can also advise you on how to reduce it with diet exercise etc. Plus they will be able to check if there are any underlying issues.

pp

[944fan]

Appointment booked. Been going to the gym and not boozing and my BP is already down to 132/88.

[Trevelyan]

I've been wondering about this as well. I haven't had my blood pressure checked for years and have never been checked for cholesterol, diabetes of any of the other problems I may have (I used to be seriously overweight). I'd like to get a general MOT but am not really sure how to go about it. I was considering going down the BUPA route but the cost is eye watering.

Is this something that a GP would normally do or is it considered to be wasting their time? I suppose a cheap alternative would be to do one of the basic checks offered by Lloyds or Sainsburys pharmacies - are these fairly straightforward to arrange and of any use?

[944fan]

Trevelyan said:

I've been wondering about this as well. I haven't had my blood pressure checked for years and have never been checked for cholesterol, diabetes of any of the other problems I may have (I used to be seriously overweight). I'd like to get a general MOT but am not really sure how to go about it. I was considering going down the BUPA route but the cost is eye watering.

Is this something that a GP would normally do or is it considered to be wasting their time? I suppose a cheap alternative would be to do one of the basic checks offered by Lloyds or Sainsburys pharmacies - are these fairly straightforward to arrange and of any use?

The BUPA check ups are very comprehensive but cost a fortune. Try phoning your surgery and see if they do a Well Man clinic. Alternatively go to Lloyds pharmacy for a basic check, if there is anything of concern they will refer you to your GP.