Men over 40 urged to have vital health check

Medics have issued an urgent reminder for men aged over 40 to have a health M.O.T.

All males over the age of 40 and living in Swindon and Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset, are being urged to take up the offer of the free NHS Health Check.

Coming forward when invited is important as the check can help to identify and diagnose conditions that could be quietly developing but not yet producing any noticeable signs or symptoms, many of which are more common in men.

This call to action, along with the plea for more men to start thinking about their overall wellbeing, coincides with the annual Men’s Health Week, which runs between Monday 9 and Sunday 15 June.

High blood pressure and high cholesterol, both of which are often described as silent killers due to neither having any distinct symptoms, are just two of the conditions that are looked for during the NHS Health Check.

Dr Barry Coakley, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board, said: “This free check-up is a great way for men of a particular age, who may assume they are in good health, to get an accurate sense of the sort of shape they are really in.

“Many of the conditions that are more common in middle-aged men only produce symptoms once it’s too late, and these can often take the form of something quite radical, such as a heart attack or mini stroke.

“Acting early, finding out if anything is wrong and then doing something about it could help thousands of men across our region to not only extend their lives but also ensure their later years are lived more healthily and happily.”

Invitations to the free NHS Health Check are sent automatically to both men and women as soon as they reach their 40th birthday, with follow-up invites then arriving in five-year increments. Height, weight, blood pressure and cholesterol are recorded during the test, with the metrics then used to determine a person’s overall health, and whether any interventions, such as medication or lifestyle changes, are required.

While most health checks take place within a GP surgery, some are available at local pharmacies. High blood pressure, often referred to as hypertension, is a contributing factor to both strokes and heart attacks, and tackling the condition is now a key priority for the NHS in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire.

Free blood pressure checks were held at a number of community events, including rugby matches and music festivals, last summer as part of wider efforts to raise awareness among people most at risk.

As with the NHS Health Check, standalone blood pressure tests are available for free for all people aged 40 and over. Find out more about issues relating to men’s health, as well as further details on how to get tested for high blood pressure, at www.bswtogether.org.uk/yourhealth.