Middle Age health check from GP

[Boris Bajic]

I had a note asking me to come to my GP's surgery for a middle-age check-up. Intrigued, I went along and a nurse too some blood and weighed me and this and that and asked some questions.

I'm 50, which might be the trigger. Altogether, it was a good thing to do and gave me some food for thought. The nurse took just the right tone (not patronising or bossy) and explained things very well. I was glad I went.

I'd never had my cholestorol measured and was surprised that it is very low, despite my love of ice-cream, cheese, cake and everything fatty. The upshot was that there is sod-all chance of my being taken by any of the usual killers over the next decade or so. Whooppee!

But... I was surprised by one thing:

My alcohol consumption is three or four small glasses of wine a week, spread throughout the week. This has been so for decades and I do not recall the last time I was drunk.

On the advice sheet given to me, my alcohol consumption was shown as 5 (with no indication of what the measure was) and the ideal consumption was given as 'below 5'. The advice in my Health MOT print-out said that I had been told about alcohol consumption and chose not to alter my habits but understood the possible consequences. It wasn't an admonishment, but there was a suggestion of something unhealthy in my drinking.

My question is this: As I drink significantly less than almost every adult I know, how can my weedy consumption be in any way above that which is recommended?

Has anyone else had one of these mid-life health checks?

 

[HLaB]

The work is advertising free middle aged health check but I'm too young by a year and a half.

 

[lejogger]

I had a note asking me to come to my GP's surgery for a middle-age check-up. Intrigued, I went along and a nurse too some blood and weighed me and this and that and asked some questions.

I'm 50, which might be the trigger. Altogether, it was a good thing to do and gave me some food for thought. The nurse took just the right tone (not patronising or bossy) and explained things very well. I was glad I went.

I'd never had my cholestorol measured and was surprised that it is very low, despite my love of ice-cream, cheese, cake and everything fatty. The upshot was that there is sod-all chance of my being taken by any of the usual killers over the next decade or so. Whooppee!

But... I was surprised by one thing:

My alcohol consumption is three or four small glasses of wine a week, spread throughout the week. This has been so for decades and I do not recall the last time I was drunk.

On the advice sheet given to me, my alcohol consumption was shown as 5 (with no indication of what the measure was) and the ideal consumption was given as 'below 5'. The advice in my Health MOT print-out said that I had been told about alcohol consumption and chose not to alter my habits but understood the possible consequences. It wasn't an admonishment, but there was a suggestion of something unhealthy in my drinking.

My question is this: As I drink significantly less than almost every adult I know, how can my weedy consumption be in any way above that which is recommended?

Has anyone else had one of these mid-life health checks?

Are you sure you didn't tick 3-4 small glasses of wine a night?

I'm a little intrigued that they'd single out your alcohol consumption for what seems to me like a perfectly reasonable amount.

Perhaps they have a quota whereby they need to offer 'some' advice whether it be needed or not, and that was the weakest category they could find, albeit not a real area for concern.

If the ideal is zero units per week, then yes you're over that... But I wouldn't worry.

I drink comfortably more than your stated amount, but don't consider myself to drink excessively.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

They've probably got you down as a lying old soak and think it's more like 3 or 4 bottles.

 

[Durian]

You need to increase your alcohol consumption.

I hope this has helped. But fear it may not have.

 

[BSRU]

The government recommend no more than 24 units a week with no more than 4 units in on session.
So I do not know how 3 or 4 small glasses of wine a week can be considered of a warning.
Some studies recommend moderate consumption, as non-drinkers hearts are apparently more stressed than moderate drinkers.

 

[numbnuts]

 

[SquareDaff]

I had one about a year ago - I drink more than you in a week and there was no such warning for me.
Think I fell into the lower 10 percentile for risk so I'm happy with that.

Like you I had a low cholesterol score - I think it's the regular exercise that helps.

 

[Fnaar]

On the advice sheet given to me, my alcohol consumption was shown as 5 (with no indication of what the measure was) and the ideal consumption was given as 'below 5'. The advice in my Health MOT print-out said that I had been told about alcohol consumption and chose not to alter my habits but understood the possible consequences. It wasn't an admonishment, but there was a suggestion of something unhealthy in my drinking.

My question is this: As I drink significantly less than almost every adult I know, how can my weedy consumption be in any way above that which is recommended?

Some of it is unfortunately mere box ticking on their part, having to show that they've advised a certain number about alcohol. Doctors (and practice nurses) also make the immediate assumption that anything anyone tells them about alcohol or smoking is an under-estimation of the truth.

 

[Cycling Dan]

There is a simple reason why you cant remember when you were last drunk. You got so pissed you lost a day

 

[Goonerobes]

I was called in just after my 50th & had the same checks, ie blood pressure, cholesterol, blood test & health/living style questions.
When asked about my alcohol consumption I said around 20-24 units per week which was true although what I neglected to mention was that this was usually all on a football Saturday!!

 

[fossyant]

Obviously not drinking enough

 

[green1]

Doctors (and practice nurses) also make the immediate assumption that anything anyone tells them about alcohol or smoking is an under-estimation of the truth.

Yep, I had a discussion with my GP about that when I saw them tick 2 boxes above what I said on a form. I don't drink unless I'm out (and then I stop at the governments recommended 4 units per session, honest ). I still have an unopened crate of beer in my fridge from Christmas.

 

[smutchin]

This reminds me - I've just turned 40 and had a similar note through my door from the doctor. I haven't taken them up on it yet but I'm quite keen to.

I agree with everyone else - the alcohol advice sounds like a box-ticking thing rather than a suggestion that you have a drinking problem. Unless the advice is that someone as fit as you really ought to be drinking more...

 

[Markymark]

Despite what everyone says inlcuding those who don't understand the statistics, alcohol is a poison and any amount is 'bad for your body'. Small amounts will have no real affect but the concept of 'some being good for you' is false.

I say this as a person who drinks sometimes as I'm no purist but I dare say that someone who is solely looking at it medically form your body's point of view, then the amount that is good for you is very much lower than the 'recommended' allowance.