A peculiar occurrence takes place once you enter your sixties. While you’ve managed to maintain relatively good health throughout your life, you start noticing that your once healthy friends are starting to deteriorate – and you’re not looking as well either. Stories of friends battling breast cancer again, surviving heart attacks with the aid of stents, and being diagnosed with prostate cancer (fortunately caught early) become all too familiar. The rise in hip and knee surgeries and the prevalence of obesity among your peers also strike you. Thankfully, a weight-loss drug called Wegovy has provided some relief for a few. The reality is that as we age, attending funerals of our peers becomes more frequent than attending their weddings. Just last month, I received devastating news that a former dear colleague suffered a fatal heart attack while playing football with his sons. He was only 60 years old. Such incidents start haunting you, leading you to question whether you’re taking enough measures to care for your own health. And if I’m honest, my biggest mid-life issue has been the persistent bloating I’ve experienced in the past year. Although I have gained some weight around my once flat stomach due to middle age, the sudden expansion that occurs within hours of eating makes me look as if I’m pregnant with twins. Worries of ovarian cancer immediately surface as bloating is one of the few symptoms associated with the disease. Concerns about my lungs, given my on-and-off smoking habits, and the state of my liver, fueled by my love for Chablis wine, compound my fears. It’s strange how we rarely think about these things when we’re young. But as we enter our sixties, we wake up one day to realize the potential damage we may have inflicted on our bodies throughout the decades. A quiet fear begins to grow, suggesting the existence of some dreadful silent illness unnoticed until it’s too late.
If you are above the age of 50, there are certain health checks available through the NHS. For an overall health “MOT,” the closest option is the NHS health check, offered to individuals between the ages of 40 and 74 who do not exhibit any symptoms. This check involves answering questions about family history and lifestyle, as well as undergoing measurements of weight, waist, blood pressure, and pulse. Additionally, a blood test assesses cholesterol levels, and in some cases, a fingerprick test is conducted to evaluate blood sugar levels. The results contribute to determining one’s risk of developing conditions such as heart disease, kidney disease, and type 2 diabetes. Authorities or GP practices generally send out invitations for these checks every five years. Moreover, screening programs for specific diseases are also available:
1. Bowel cancer screening: In England, individuals between the ages of 60 and 74 receive a screening test every two years. This program is being extended to include people aged 50 to 59 and involves a home-based test called the faecal immunochemical test (FIT). With the FIT, a small stool sample is collected using a provided tube with a stick attached to the lid. The sample undergoes analysis to detect traces of blood that may indicate polyps or cancer. If blood is discovered, further tests and checks will be arranged. Scotland offers screening to those aged 50 to 74, Northern Ireland to those aged 60 to 74, and Wales to individuals aged 51 to 74.
2. Breast cancer screening: Women in the UK receive their first mammogram between the ages of 50 and 53 and are invited for subsequent screenings every three years until the age of 71. Individuals at higher risk may undergo earlier or more frequent screening. Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales offer mammograms to those aged 50 to 70.
3. Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening: Men are offered screening for AAA at the age of 65. AAA refers to a balloon-like bulge in the aorta, the main blood vessel responsible for carrying blood from the heart to the rest of the body. If detected early and the aneurysm is small, lifestyle advice may be provided to prevent further growth. Regular check-ups assess any changes. Approximately 0.1% of screened men are found to have a large aneurysm (5.5cm or more), and surgical intervention may be recommended in such cases.
4. Cervical cancer screening: A smear test, or screening mammogram, examines the cervix for human papillomavirus, a virus that can lead to cervical changes that may ultimately develop into cancer. The screening is offered every three years between the ages of 25 and 49, and every five years from the age of 50 to 64. If the presence of HPV is detected, a colposcopy may be performed to further investigate the cervix.
5. Diabetic retinopathy screening: This screening is conducted on individuals with diabetes from the age of 12. The test involves applying drops to the eye, followed by capturing images of the retina – the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye. Diabetic retinopathy results from long-term damage to the blood vessels in the retina due to high blood sugar levels. Without treatment, it may lead to vision loss and blindness.
6. Cataracts and glaucoma: Free NHS eye tests are available for individuals aged 60 and over, recommended on a two-year basis. These tests assess vision and screen for cataracts (clouding of the lens) and glaucoma (damage to the optic nerve).
This year, instead of spending a significant amount on a holiday in Majorca, I decided to invest that money in a comprehensive health MOT in my own country. I had already undergone mammograms regularly and received a negative result on my recent NHS home-delivered fecal test. While a free NHS health check is available for individuals between the ages of 40 and 74, it doesn’t quite constitute a full health MOT. Consulting with an NHS GP friend confirmed that visiting my local practice would be futile as I presented no specific symptoms and would only waste their valuable time and mine. Hence, I reached out to Dr. Daniel Wright, a private doctor, who checked my blood pressure and drew blood samples for testing.
And that’s where my journey begins…
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