It’s official – I have a ‘good heart’. Not because of any charitable or community spirited work I do but as a result of a health MOT I undertook.
Not only that, my heart has an age of 48. To me, this was no surprise as I am 48-years-old and I never got round to getting myself a new one but the medics were pleased as it means the risk of an attack or a stroke is low.
I found all this out when I visited the ‘cancer bus, arranged by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board, during it’s tour of the two areas where staff are encouraging people to get themselves checked out.
READ MORE: Unique bus initiative encouraging Birmingham and Solihull people to get tested for cancer
In some parts of Birmingham and Solihull, cancer screening rates are lower than the national average and the NHS wants to raise awareness in an effort to catch any issues people may have as soon as possible.
Nine months ago, I did something similar when the bus rocked up in Aston and was told my blood pressure was too high.
But after monitoring this for a week after that bombshell, I found my rate back to more acceptable levels and concluded I may have been suffering from ‘white coat syndrome’ which caused my blood pressure to rise.
This time, knowing what to expect and feeling relaxed, I chatted away with staff as the kind nurse Nasreen set up the monitor and started the test.
The result came in at 131/91 – the 90 being a little high. Nasreen said she would do two more tests to check and also advised blood pressure can rise when people are talking.
Local Democracy Reporter Gurdip Thandi undergoing an NHS health check.
This was polite and professional Nasreen politely telling me to quit my jibber jabber and do the other tests in silence – which I did.
The results of those were similar to the first so I was advised to go away and monitor my blood pressure for a week or so and to visit my GP if it persists.
As for the causes, I told them I’d cut down on salt and sugar and started walking again. But clearly I need to do more.
I was then offered the heart health check which would test my cholesterol levels and tell me how much at risk I was of a heart attack or stroke.
It involved them taking a small sample of my blood and doing an on-the-spot check which would deliver the result just minutes later.
As I’m not the most confident when it comes to needles, I asked if it would be painful.
Local Democracy Reporter Gurdip Thandi undergoing an NHS health check.
“Little prick.” Pardon? What happened to the kind and polite Nasreen from earlier?! “It’s just a little prick.” Oh, I see you what you mean…
She got to work and we waited with baited breath – only for the test to malfunction! So, we tried it again and this time it went according to plan.
Not only did I discover I have a heart age the same as my actual age, the results showed I have a four per cent risk of an attack or stroke.
My overall cholesterol level came in healthy too as did my BMI despite the fact the person who measured my height wrote it down as ‘131cm’ – which would have meant I was 4ft2 instead of the 5ft10 I actually am!
The whole test process took around 15 minutes and highlighted the importance of getting checked out sooner rather than later in order to address any issues hat may arise.
Plenty of others doing the tests seemed reassured by the advice given and glad they’d taken up the offer while out shopping.
I was certainly relieved, even if it means I need to make more changes to my lifestyle to bring that blood pressure down.
The cancer bus will return to Birmingham in September with more information available here: https://www.birminghamsolihull.icb.nhs.uk/health-information/cancer-diagnostics/cancer-screening