Those who are aged 40 to 74 can book an appointment for a free 40-minute NHS Health Check. You will be eligible for a free health check if you are between 40 and 74 years old, registered to a Derby GP practice, have not had a health check in the past 5 years and you are not already diagnosed with heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, or kidney disease. February is also National Heart Month so is the perfect time to get a check up on how your heart is doing.
The health check will test your BMI, blood pressure, heart age and cholesterol. These tests are made to spot early signs of heart disease, kidney disease, type 2 diabetes, dementia, or stroke. The results of the 40-minute appointment will be given to you at the end of your appointment by Livewell experts who will also be able to give lifestyle tips and advice on how to lower your risk of developing health problems.
The Livewell team has shared a few ways to lower and maintain healthy blood pressure and cholesterol:
- Keep to a healthy weight – carrying extra weight especially around our middles puts us at greater risk of having higher blood pressure and/or cholesterol. Livewell offers a free 12-month weight management programmeOpens in new tab for eligible adults or try the NHS 12-week Weight Loss PlanOpens in new tab.
- Eat a healthy balanced diet, low in saturated fat and salt but high in fibre. The NHS Eatwell GuideOpens in new tab shows how much of what we eat should come from five main food groups. You can find heart-healthy recipes at Heart UKOpens in new tab, The British Dietetic Association, and The British Heart Foundation.
- Be active - any physical activity counts. Focus on how you can increase your day-to-day activity such as walking briskly, taking the stairs and gardening. If you can’t get out, you can still get moving with Livewell’s indoor workoutsOpens in new tab.
- Stop smoking - smoking increases your risk of heart attacks and stroke. Quitting is the best thing you can do for your health and Livewell can help you succeed with free support and nicotine replacement products. Find out more and book your phone appointment at the Livewell websiteOpens in new tab.
- Cutting down on alcohol can help your liver to work better at removing bad cholesterol and may help you to lose weight and lower your blood pressure. Try to stick to under 14 units a week with several alcohol-free days.
Councillor Roy Webb, Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Housing, said:
I would strongly encourage those who are eligible for the free NHS health check to book their appointment as soon as possible. There are lots of things that we can do to live a healthy life and reduce health problems. However, if there is a problem, these free 40-minute appointments are a quick and easy way to check.
The Livewell team are extremely helpful and the advice they offer could help reduce your risk of developing a health problem and promote a healthy lifestyle that’s suitable for you.”
Robyn Dewis, Director for Public Health at Derby City Council, said:
In our busy lives keeping ourselves healthy can sometimes get pushed to the bottom of our list. A Health Check is a great way to understand our risk of developing health problems, but also help us to see what small actions we can take to reduce this risk. If you are eligible, then please do book in for a check.”
To book your free health check appointment, please visit the NHS health check Livewell page. You can also learn more about Livewells other services such as help with weight loss, quitting smoking, and liveability.