These days, we tend to be a bit more health focused with our approach to life. For those of us that think we are healthy, just how fit are we really?

A Health MOT is the best way to get a full picture of your overall wellbeing, knowing your body and its’ crucial health numbers can be instrumental in preventing illness and disease.

What numbers do we need to know?

1. Body Mass Index (BMI) – We’ve heard this term over and over in the media but do you really know what it means? BMI is a simple index of weight-for-height that is commonly used to classify underweight, overweight and obesity in adults. It is your weight divided by the square of your height in meters.
2. Resting heart rate – Resting Heart Rate is an indicator of your basic fitness level and a strong predictor of cardiovascular health.
3. Waist to hip ratio – Spare body fat can often be stored around the tummy and the abdomen’s organs. Research has shown that this kind of fat has health consequences which can contribute to heart disease, obesity and diabetes.
4. Cholesterol – Did you know that over half of all UK adults have raised cholesterol and a cholesterol test is the only way you will know if you are affected? High cholesterol can lead to heart disease, a common killer in the UK.
5. Blood pressure – Having high blood pressure means that you are putting extra strain on your arteries and your heart. This strain can cause the arteries to clog up which can lead to a heart attack, stroke, kidney disease or dementia. All can be prevented with a quick simple test.
6. Blood sugars – Knowing your blood sugar levels can detect if you are diabetic or importantly if you are at risk of becoming diabetic. This is very important not only to monitor and effectively manage diabetes, but if it is type 2 adult onset that is caused by lifestyle, you may be able to make dietary changes to avoid medication and actually prevent the disease.
7. Bone density – Bone density testing is used to assess the strength of your bones. It can be used to identify if you are at risk of osteoporosis. The test, referred to as bone densitometry or bone mineral density scan (BMD), is a simple, non-invasive procedure that can be finished in just minutes.
8. Mammogram/prostate check – Depending on your age, your GP will advise whether to have one of these checks which can help detect early signs of tumours or cancerous cells.

If you want to find out your health numbers, you can book a full body medical or GP appointment online.