Every September, the charity Blood Pressure UK promotes the importance of knowing your numbers when it comes to your blood pressure, as one in two strokes and heart attacks are caused by high blood pressure.

One in three UK adults have high blood pressure, yet half of those do not know it or aren’t receiving treatment. These figures are alarming, so what are the essential health metrics that we should all be aware of to prevent the development of serious health conditions?

It’s a numbers game

Certain numbers add up to good health, and unlike your family history, gender, or age, they are metrics that can be modified by your choices. Knowing what your numbers are and whether they are in a healthy range is critical, as the first stages of high blood pressure or cholesterol, for example, are often symptom-free.

The 6 essential health metrics

1. Your blood pressure

Your target: 120/80 mm Hg or less

Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against your artery walls. If it is consistently too high, known as hypertension, your heart has to work harder, and your arteries become damaged. Often known as the ‘silent killer’ due to its lack of symptoms, hypertension can lead to heart attacks and strokes.

2. Your cholesterol levels

Your target: Total blood cholesterol should be 5mmol/l or less

Cholesterol is a fatty substance, or lipid, in your blood that the body requires for many essential functions. However, too much cholesterol can build up and combine with other substances to form plaque or fatty deposits. These cause your arteries to harden and narrow, creating blockages that can lead to strokes or heart attacks.

Plaque build-up typically produces no symptoms, often until too late, so checking cholesterol levels with a blood test is essential. This will check for levels of HDL (‘good’ cholesterol) or LDL (‘bad’ cholesterol), but overall, your total should be below 200.

3. Your Body Mass Index

Your target: Between 18.5 and 24.9

Your Body Mass Index, or BMI, is a calculation of your weight and height, which can determine whether you are overweight or obese. It’s vital as excess body fat increases your risk of many serious health problems, from diabetes to sleep apnoea.

As a single measure, it is not a perfect test of metabolic health as it does not assess the amount of fat or how it is distributed or measure your frame, so it can be thrown off by high muscle mass.

4. Your waist-to-hip ratio

Your target: 0.85 or less for women and 0.9 or less for men

According to a recent study, your waist-to-hip ratio might be better than BMI in predicting future health problems. It measures fat distribution around the abdominal area as fat stored in this region contributes to cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.

5. Your resting heart rate

Your target: An average resting heart rate for adults is between 60 and 100 beats per minute (bpm)

Measuring your resting heart rate and other markers, such as your blood pressure and cholesterol, can help gauge your current heart health. A high resting heart rate can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease.

6. Your blood sugars

Your target: For most people without diabetes, normal blood sugar levels are between 4 and to 6 mmol/L before meals and less than 8 mmol/L two hours after eating

High blood sugar is when there is too much glucose or sugar in your blood, usually because your body isn’t producing insulin in the case of type 1 diabetes or if the body doesn’t use insulin properly to control blood sugar levels, leading to type 2 diabetes. If blood sugar levels are too high for too long, it can damage your heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves.

At GP London W1, we use the latest health testing technology during our Comprehensive Medicals to identify health risks or issues, such as diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure, so you can take proactive charge of your health and well-being.

Is continuity of care between GPs and their patients essential? A recent study has highlighted the widespread threat to GP continuity of care in the UK, a core principle of our practice. Researchers at the University of Leicester analysed data from over 6,000 general practices in England. They found that a decline in continuity has been exacerbated by the Covid pandemic and fewer GP appointments being available.

Defining continuity of care

The Royal College of General Practitioners defines continuity of care as “the extent to which a person experiences an ongoing relationship with a clinician… Both doctor and patient contribute to its creation and maintenance.”

At GP London W1, we offer patients access to their own dedicated GP with the added benefit of smaller waiting lists, allowing us to spend more time with each patient. If your doctor is on annual leave or unwell, you can be assured of the same level of care from one of our other doctors.

“We are a very close-knit team which can only benefit our patients,” Dr Caroline Wall explains. “Our approach to medicine is the same, and we constantly share ideas or ask each other for advice. Our patients know that they will receive the same level of care whoever they see.”

The benefits of continuity of care

Published in the Annals of Family Medicine, the University of Leicester study follows up on work done earlier this year by the same academics on the benefits that continuity of care brings for patients.

Continuity of care has been proven to reduce the need for out-of-hours care and emergency hospitalisations and to extend life expectancy.

The impact on mortality rates is believed to be because continuity of care means patients are more likely to follow important medical advice and adhere to long-term medical regimes. They are also more likely to embrace preventative measures such as immunisations or health screening.

Continuity is essential to certain patient groups. Those living with multiple long-term conditions, the elderly and those with mental health difficulties greatly benefit from continuity of care. Diabetic patients, for example, gain a better understanding of their illness and better quality of diabetes management.

By building trust and honesty over time, patients are more likely to give their doctor relevant information or discuss concerns. This means we can tailor our advice and management plans more effectively. As doctors, we learn what is typical for patients and are better placed to spot anything that needs investigating further.

Call us on  +44 (0)20 4580 1152 or email us on [email protected] to arrange a private GP appointment.

Every June, the focus is on men’s health, and this year’s campaign was on P for Prostate, emphasising the importance of men sharing their stories. When King Charles gave his health update earlier this year, the NHS website’s ‘enlarged prostate’ page received 16,140 visits compared to 1,141 visits the previous day. Prostate Cancer UK had almost double the number of users for its online risk checker.

The Men’s Health Forum has been working hard to shed light on three common conditions affecting men: prostate enlargement, prostatitis, and prostate cancer. The symptoms of these three conditions can be very similar, so seeking medical advice and organising a prostate check as soon as possible is critical.

Prostate enlargement

This is a widespread condition, typically associated with ageing, as research suggests more than one in three men over the age of 50 will have some symptoms related to prostate enlargement. Symptoms include changes to urination patterns, such as needing to pee more frequently or suddenly.

It isn’t caused by cancer, and the medical term is benign prostatic enlargement (BPE). Another term is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which means an increase in the number of cells, causing the prostate to become enlarged.

Prostatitis

Prostatitis is an infection or inflammation of the prostate gland, another non-cancerous condition affecting the prostate. It can develop in men of all ages. There are four main types:

• chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS)
• acute bacterial prostatitis
• chronic bacterial prostatitis
• asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis

CPPS is the most common type of prostatitis – around 19 out of every 20 men with prostatitis have it. The definitive cause is unknown as it’s not caused by a bacterial infection unlike the other forms of prostatitis. Potential causes include urine getting into the prostate or problems with the pelvic floor muscles, and it might also be linked to other conditions such as IBS. As a result, it can be challenging to diagnose and treat.

Prostate cancer

Here in the UK, prostate cancer is the most common cancer affecting men, with approximately 30,000 new diagnoses a year. Risk factors are age, family history and also ethnicity, with black men much more likely to get prostate cancer.

There’s no single, definitive test for prostate cancer. Your GP may examine your prostate by performing a digital rectal examination, taking a urine sample to check for infection, and testing for prostate-specific antigen, known as a PSA test. An MRI scan of the prostate may then be carried out and a biopsy performed if a problem is discovered.

Until now, there has been no national screening programme for prostate cancer, but Prostate Cancer UK has launched a ‘ground-breaking’ trial known as Transform, which will compare the efficacy of various screening methods.

Previous trials found that PSA tests and biopsies to screen for the disease prevented between 8% and 20% of deaths, depending on screening regularity. Prostate Cancer UK hopes that Transform has the potential to reduce deaths by 40%.

The first phase will involve about 12,500 men and will compare current NHS diagnostic methods with PSA tests, genetic testing and a faster version of the MRI scan – known as a Prostagram – against

The second stage, involving up to 300,000 men, will focus on the most promising methods discovered in stage one. Initial results are expected in three years.

To arrange your prostate check, call +44 (0)20 4580 1152 or email [email protected] to organise a consultation.

Concerns have been raised about the potential number of people in the UK who are at risk of experiencing a stroke, with figures set to increase by more than 50% by 2035. The impact on the NHS and the economy regarding healthcare costs and lost productivity is predicted to be £75bn a year.

This stark prognosis from the Stroke Association is based on trends of worsening physical health, rising obesity levels, and an ageing population. They warn that the impact on our healthcare system and the country’s financial well-being would be ‘unsustainable’ in a decade.

May is Action on Stroke Month, which aims to raise awareness of stroke in terms of prevention and management.

The Stroke Association is calling on the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to publish a funded stroke prevention plan to support people of all ages to reduce their risk of stroke. A DHSC spokesperson commented: “We’re committed to improving stroke prevention, treatment, and recovery for all. We are also taking action to encourage better lifestyle choices, including creating a smoke-free generation and reducing salt intake through food to help prevent the risk of strokes.”

5 steps to prevent stroke

Public Health England estimates about 80% of strokes in people under 75 could be prevented. Age is a factor, as does a family history of stroke. You can’t reverse the years or escape your genes, but there are positive steps you can take to reduce your risk of stroke.

1. Lower blood pressure

High blood pressure remains the most significant stroke risk factor, so monitoring and treating hypertension is one of the most important changes you can make. Steps you can take include reducing salt in your diet and exercising more.

2. Lose weight

Obesity greatly raises your odds of having a stroke. Exercise contributes to weight loss and helps you manage complications such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

3. Eat a healthy diet

Nutrition goes beyond just weight loss; some diets have been shown to decrease the risk of stroke. The Mediterranean diet focuses on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish and nuts while cutting back on foods high in saturated fats and trans fats, which helps to lower cholesterol.

3. Quit smoking

Smoking raises your stroke risk in several and quitting is one of the most powerful lifestyle changes you can make to reduce this risk. It is important to remember that most smokers require several goes at quitting – see each attempt as bringing you closer to success.

4. Reduce alcohol consumption

Even more than two drinks per day increases your stroke risk significantly so drink in moderation. If you do want a tipple, reach for the red wine, as recent research that analysed health data from 32 different countries found evidence that drinking red wine in moderate amounts could be associated with a reduced risk of having a stroke.

For more advice and support on making these important lifestyle changes, get in touch to arrange a private GP appointment with one of our team. Call +44 (0)20 4580 1152.