When you're busy and don't have much spare time on your hands, getting your cholesterol checked may be the last thing on your mind. The sort of thing that you will put times aside for when you draw your pension perhaps? In the case of cholesterol however, 40 is the new 65.
The NHS is already struggling, you say - surely they don't want perfectly healthy looking people turning up at busy surgeries and taking up valuable doctors' time? That's where you're wrong. Between heart attacks, strokes, and supplying and monitoring people on Statins, the effects of cholesterol do not come cheap. By getting organised and heading down to your local GP, we can ease this pressure and possibly take action before it's too late!
The NHS is already struggling, you say - surely they don't want perfectly healthy looking people turning up at busy surgeries and taking up valuable doctors' time? That's where you're wrong. Between heart attacks, strokes, and supplying and monitoring people on Statins, the effects of cholesterol do not come cheap. By getting organised and heading down to your local GP, we can ease this pressure and possibly take action before it's too late!
Under 40 years old? Relax unless:
- You don't take regular exercise
- You're overweight
- You can't stop smoking
- You have high blood pressure
- You have a family history of heart related problems
At Cowan House we can really help you with these first three, which in turn should help reduce your blood pressure too!
Over 40 years old?
Check in with your GP. The doctor will want to see you - they may want to check other levels at the same time (which is cheaper for the NHS too!). You will then have a follow up appointment with a nurse for a blood test. If a fear of needles is all that's putting you off, then see our GP Hypnotherapist Dr Birkett.
If all is well, a phone call to discuss results could be all you need and they may not want to see you again for a while. Alternatively they might want to chat through the preventative measures to avoid taking Statins or having further treatment. Once you start taking Statins, it's quite likely that you will be on them for life - so do both yourself and the NHS a huge favour and get yourself sorted before you have to go down that road. There is plenty that you can do to help!
If all is well, a phone call to discuss results could be all you need and they may not want to see you again for a while. Alternatively they might want to chat through the preventative measures to avoid taking Statins or having further treatment. Once you start taking Statins, it's quite likely that you will be on them for life - so do both yourself and the NHS a huge favour and get yourself sorted before you have to go down that road. There is plenty that you can do to help!
Inspiration for today's post?
Two people we know have just turned 50, and to their (and their friends!) surprise, have high cholesterol. They eat nutritious food, have their weight spot on, so not smoke and take moderate exercise. High cholesterol is not obvious and there are no outward signs, so you won't know whether you have it or not without being tested.