NHS Health Check - Your Results

If you have recently attended an NHS health check at the practice, you may be signposted to this page for further guidance and support.

The nurse completing your review will advise you on which sections below apply to you, based on the results of your health check.

If you're aged 40 to 74, do not have a pre-existing health condition and would like to complete an NHS health check, please contact the practice to enquire about booking.

 

Alcohol

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Breaking Free Online (UK) | Recovery Program for Alcohol & Drugs

 

Dementia

What is dementia?

Dementia affects the way the brain normally works. This makes it difficult to do every-day activities. For example, people who have dementia often forget things or get confused.

There are different types of dementia. All of them interfere with daily life. And all of them get worse over time. Alzheimer’s disease is one type of dementia.

Dementia affects about 850,000 people in the UK. This is as much as the entire population of Liverpool and Manchester.

Most older people do not get dementia. But those people who are affected are usually over 65. It cannot be cured but you can reduce your chances of getting dementia. Even if someone has dementia, they can take action to lessen the symptoms. 

The symptoms of dementia

  • Forgetfulness. For example, trouble remembering what has happened recently or recognising familiar people and places.
  • Problems planning and doing tasks you used to do easily. For example, dealing with money, following a cooking recipe or writing a letter.
  • Feeling confused even in a familiar place.
  • Finding it hard to follow conversations and losing the thread of what you were saying.
  • Trouble controlling your mood or behaviour. For example, feeling depressed, agitated or irritable.

If you have these symptoms it may not mean that you have dementia. Other things can cause the same symptoms. Whatever the cause, it is best to speak to a professional. Make an appointment with your doctor or contact the Alzheimer’s Society for more information (contact details at the end of this leaflet).

Reducing your risk of dementia

Your memory and your ability to think and communicate all depend on your brain. By keeping a healthy brain you can reduce your chance of getting dementia. The recommendations below will help to keep your brain active and healthy

Be physically active

Being physically active will help reduce your risk of dementia. It will improve how well you feel. And it will help to keep your heart, bones and muscles healthy. Aim to be active every day for 10 minutes or more. Try not to sit for long periods.

Eat healthily and maintain a healthy weight

A healthy diet will help reduce some forms of dementia. Unhealthy eating and being overweight can affect the blood supply to your brain. And this can affect your thinking.

Don’t drink too much alcohol

There are no safe levels for drinking alcohol. Drinking alcohol can harm your brain. Drinking at high levels over time can also cause alcohol-related brain damage.

Give up smoking

Smoking almost doubles your chance of getting dementia. Smoking is very harmful to the heart, lungs and circulation of your blood. This can  affect the blood vessels in the brain.  By giving up smoking you can reduce the risk of dementia.

Connect with people around you

Staying mentally and socially active will improve your personal wellbeing. It could also help to improve your chances of delaying or avoiding dementia. 

Managing your health

Some people may already have a  health condition such as high blood pressure or diabetes. To reduce your chance of developing dementia it is really important to manage your  health by taking the medicines you’ve been prescribed. 

Find out more

Alzheimer’s Society

You can also find out more about reducing the risk of dementia from Alzheimer’s Research UK in the ‘Reducing your risk of dementia’ booklet at: www.alzheimersresearchuk.org

 

Diabetes/Hyperglycaemia

The following is some information surrounding non-diabetic hyperglycaemia (pre-diabetes) and type-2 diabetes. 

If you were advised at your NHS Health Check that you are at risk of developing pre-diabetes or type-2 diabetes, it would be helpful for you to read up on the following.

 

Hypertension

What is high blood pressure?

High blood pressure is a blood pressure that is:

  • 140/90 mm Hg or higher when taken at a GP surgery, pharmacy, or clinic, or;
  • 135/85 mm Hg or higher when taken at home.

Blood pressure normally goes up and down throughout the day, depending on what someone is doing. It's also normal for blood pressure to go up for a short time if someone is feeling stressed, anxious, or in pain.

So, a single raised blood pressure reading is not enough to say that someone has high blood pressure. But if your blood pressure readings are checked again at different times, and are raised most, or all, of the time, it shows that you have high blood pressure.

As a rough guide, the ideal blood pressure for adults is between 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg.

High blood pressure symptoms

High blood pressure usually doesn't cause any symptoms at all, and so the only way to know if your blood pressure is high is to get it checked.

Usually, high blood pressure is only picked up if blood pressure is checked routinely, or as part of checks for another medical problem.

Rarely, very high blood pressure can cause symptoms such as:

  • Headaches.
  • Dizziness.
  • Blurred vision.
  • Chest pain.
  • Feeling short of breath.

Risks of having high blood pressure

High blood pressure over a long period of time (years) increases the risk of developing serious health problems.

High blood pressure causes damage to blood vessels, making them weaker or narrower, and increases strain on the heart. In general, the higher the blood pressure, the greater the risk of serious problems.

Untreated high blood pressure can lead to:

  • Heart attack
  • Stroke
  • Angina
  • Transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
  • Peripheral arterial disease
  • Kidney failure
  • Heart failure
  • Vascular dementia
  • Visual loss and blindness

What causes high blood pressure?

It isn't always clear what might be causing high blood pressure. However, the risk of developing high blood pressure is increased if a person:

  • Has diabetes. This is the case for type 1 diabetes, but it is even more common in those with type 2 diabetes.
  • Is from a Black or South Asian ethnic background.
  • Has a family history of high blood pressure.
  • Has certain lifestyle factors. That is, those who:
    • Are overweight or obese.
    • Eat a lot of salt.
    • Aren't physically active.
    • Drink a lot of alcohol.
    • Have a lot of stress.

For more information, please follow this link. High Blood Pressure (Hypertension): Symptoms and Causes

 

Smoking

Self-Care Resources

 

Weight Management

Beezee Adults Academy

Six months of free access to the online learning platform, the ‘Academy’, where people can learn at their own pace.

Eligibility:

  • Available for Bristol residents over 18 years.

Referral: 

Gutless - Men’s Online Course

A free online weight loss programme just for men. Support includes:

  • Online group sessions for one hour every week for 10 weeks.
  • Support from a nutritionist who will check in throughout the programme.
  • A casual, fun, laid-back atmosphere.

Eligibility:

  • BMI ≥25-40 (adjusted to 23 if of Black African, African-Caribbean and Asian origin).

Exclusions:

  • Having a significant health condition or illness (co-morbidity) in the same individual which has a substantial impact on the patient's health and their ability to take part in the programme. This would mean the Tier 2 intervention is unsuitable.
  • Having a complex need which requires an elevated level of support or may rely on other services due to a significant health condition, disability or broader life circumstances. This may involve challenges around mental health, communication, behaviour, sensory input or cognitive ability. As the programme is designed for Tier 2, the individuals need to be able to have autonomy over their participation.
  • Having a diagnosed eating disorder
  • Having had bariatric surgery in the last two years
  • Pregnancy

Referral:

Self or Health Professional Referral via website:

Or email:

  • hellobristol@maximusuk.co.uk providing as much detail as possible including name, DOB, gender, home address (including post code), and BMI. A contact phone number for the patient/parent/carer is required as this is the key contact method. Consent is needed for us to contact them with this.

Beezee Families

If the adult is part of a family with young children aged between 4-15 years old they can also learn at their own pace on the Families Academy by signing up to the online learning platform.

Community Resources and Activities

Explore free resources for adult, children and families on mental health and getting active in their area. Community resources and activities - Free Healthy Lifestyle Services | Bristol