Concerns over number of 40-somethings in Sheffield who are not having health checks
Sheffield’s public health department has raised concerns about the number of people who are ‘unaware they are at risk’ from serious ill health - and the 40-somethings who are not having check-ups.
For the past few years, GPs have offered health checks to people aged 40 to 74 which can pick up on the early signs of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease.
The aim is to check people early on so if there are any potential problems, they can change their lifestyle with smoking, diet and exercise and ward off serious illness.
In the past three years, 16,000 checks were offered to people aged 40-44 but only 4,000 had one.
Karen Hanson, of public health, told a scrutiny meeting: “The heath checks are risk assessments and management to prevent or delay cardiovascular disease.
“People may not realise they are high risk with their BMI or blood pressure. These people are walking around unaware they are quite high risk.
“We sent a letter to people aged 40 to 45 and only a very small proportion attended. This could be people are working so it’s difficult to attend or they don’t see their risk as being as high.
“Letters inviting people are being sent out but that has not always turned into health checks.”
Ms Hanson added: “People from certain ethnic backgrounds are high risk and also if they live in the most deprived communities. People with severe mental illness or with learning disabilities are also more likely to have cardiovascular disease.”