I was interested to read an article by Dr Martin Scurr in The Mail, recently.
The great health screen rip-off: ‘When the Mail’s GP was offered a physical for £129, he signed up – but what he discovered will disturb you’…this was the title and it seems Martin was less than impressed by the treatment he received when he contacted a private company for health screening. It was from one of the many clinics across the UK that offer health screening checks to asses everything from liver and kidney function, heart disease and stroke though to diabetes, cholesterol and metabolism.
Presumably in the name of research he booked himself in, but found it was severely lacking for the high cost involved, not least the fact that they didn’t bother to find out anything at all about family history, the patient’s lifestyle or any historical indicators. Literally no medical history was taken!
He didn’t get his results until almost 6 weeks after the screening which might cause anxiety, and he was advised to see his GP about a few things that were flagged up.
As Martin says, in his opinion it’s far better to protect your health by taking regular cardiovascular exercise, eating good amounts of fruit and veg daily, cutting back on the usual culprits and seeing your GP if there are any symptoms. I’d add to that list…what you CAN do is take a simple, easy to use blood test at home. Men are typically a bit backwards at coming forwards when it comes to getting tested, even if they have worrying symptoms and rather than wait, or put unnecessary pressure on the NHS you can choose to do tests at home.
I persuaded my own husband to try the Medichecks blood test and it totally put his mind at rest. For me, it’s a bit like getting your car MOT’d, it just has to be done yearly and you just might spot anything potentially worrying.
The Medichecks service is brilliant, easy to use, yet state of the art blood testing, and they definitely DO take note of lifestyle factors, medical history et al and they provide comprehensive results (mine landed on the dashboard within a week) compiled by medical doctors who flag up problems, offer advice, and of course suggest you seek further medical guidance where needed.
It’s a great service, encouraging us all to take a bit more responsibility and relieve some of the burden on the NHS, who let’s face it can’t do ‘preventative’ blood tests constantly for everyone, interestingly the majority of Medicheck’s customers are men, whether for sports performance testing or wellness.
Guys put your mind at rest, and don’t bother to rock up to a clinic as Martin did, and gals persuade your guy – everyone can rest easy then!
www.medichecks.com
Here’s some great natural products & gifts for men…
Pure & Light Essential Face Cream Gentlemen
This complex formulation of 32 bio-active, balancing and natural therapeutics intelligently adapts to all skin types and conditions. Created specifically for men to bring out the skin’s natural glow, with a clean, light scent. Absolutely essential for the well-groomed man.
The Organic Protein Company – Organic Whey Protein
This whey protein is Vegetarian Society approved and has a creamy neutral taste and can be used in smoothies, protein balls and bars, pancakes and a myriad of different healthy option recipes. Many whey protein powders contain soy lecithin, a substance extracted from the soya bean that helps it mix more easily with water – this one doesn’t and still mixes really well in a blender without it.
Konjac Gentleman’s Shaving Sponge With Bamboo Charcoal
Offers an amazing cleansing and shaving experience. Experts have compared it to a badger brush, as it has the same results. The antioxidant ingredient, bamboo charcoal ensures a deep cleanse, eliminating blackheads and dirt by absorbing excess oil that often gets trapped around hair follicles. This sponge sits neatly in the hand and shaving bowl.
TIANA Fair Trade Exquisite Organic Omega 3 Spreadable
TIANA Fair Trade Exquisite Organic Omega 3 Spreadable has no artificial additives, preservatives or colourings. It is unsalted and is deliciously creamy. It tastes as good as the best dairy butter. Excellent for sandwiches, on toast or over cooked vegetables, pasta, rice or potatoes.
Green 8 evolution – Mobile/Smartphone
Is your man frequently close to his phone and computer? This helps neutralise electromagnetic radiation and allows for stress-free phone use, without discomfort such as fatigue, burning ears, headaches, stress, tension and sleep disorders, specially designed to be used in all Smartphones (like iPhones and Androids…), mobile phones, on digital cordless DECT phones, and provides a reliable protection on tablet computers like iPads.
Weleda Men’s Shaving Cream
This rich lathering shave cream uses almond extract, goats’ milk and pansy extract to give your skin the best conditions for a gentle, close shave. Carefully selected high quality natural ingredients make it subtly fragrant, with a creamy lather that leaves your skin smooth and healthy-looking. Suitable for vegetarians.
CHOC Chick Blissful Blends Cacao and Cinnamon
A unique combination of single origin Nacional Arriba variety raw cacao powder with natural spices to make divine hot chocolate, smoothies and shakes. Dairy, gluten and sugar free for the chocolate loving guy!
