Health checks advised for over 60s

The outlook for over 60s is very bright healthwise as 79 per cent of over 60s report being in good health. According to new figures from MGM Advantage 79 per cent of over 60s say they feel young and healthy with only 14 per cent who report feeling their age. Some over 60s even say their health is better than the average 18 to 24-year-old!

However, Craig Fazzini-Jones who is director at the company recommends that people approaching retirement should nevertheless make sure they have a health check.

Mr Fazzini-Jones said: "It's always worth getting a health check when approaching retirement. Often people feel healthy but may suffer from minor ailments such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure."

Here are a few health checks available on the NHS for useful information:

Cholesterol

Cholesterol whilst being a useful substance can reach too high a level raising the chance of developing heart disease. Heart UK recommends that all adults over 40 are tested, especially those with history of heart disease who are obese or have high blood pressure.

Eyesight

All over 60s can have free eye checks so make sure you take advantage of this.

Bowel screening

All over 65s are offered free bowel cancer screening. This is in the form of a faecal occult blood testing (FOBT) kit in the post every two years until the age of 70. It seems strange this is for only five years - thereafter the offer expires but you can still request the screening kit.

AAA screening

All men over 65 will be offered the AAA screening programme which is currently being introduced nationwide in order to reduce deaths from abdominal aortic aneurisms (AAAs or triple As). Early detection is vital. As people get older sometimes the wall of the aorta in the abdomen can weaken to form an abdominalaortic aneurism. The check is pain free and simple involving only an ultrasound scan of the abdoment to measure the width of the aorta.

If you are over 60 or 65 and feel healthy then you probably are, but it is always wise to take advantage of screening offers!

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