Kurnos Health Check Info

Contents Con Temperature 2 Cholesterol 3 Blood Sugar 6 Blood Pressure (BP) 12 Heart Rate 14 Body Mass Index (BMI) 15 Peak Flow 17 Temperature There’s a very complex set of processes within our bodies that work constantly to keep our body temperature within the normal range (usually considered to be 36.8ºC (although it can vary by a degree either side of this). That is why when we are too hot, we flush and sweat, but we shiver when we are cold. The body needs to be kept in the normal temperature range so that all the other processes it goes through can take place effectively. Being too hot or too cold affects the body’s ability to work prop- erly. And, of course, as anyone who has had a fever will tell you, a raised body temperature is one of the main signs of infection. All the results will be given at the time of the check and you will be advised if it is necessary to seek further medical advice. 2 Cholesterol Cholesterol is a type of fat found in your blood. Your liver makes cholesterol for your body, but you can also get cholesterol from the foods you eat, such as, meat, fish, eggs, butter, cheese, and milk. They all have cholesterol in them. The body makes all the cholesterol it needs, using it to make hormones, vitamin D and substances that help to digest food. What types of Cholesterol are there? There are two types of lipo- proteins that carry cholesterol throughout the body: • LDL (low-density lipoprotein), sometimes called “bad” cho lesterol, makes up most of your body’s cholesterol. … • HDL (high-density lipoprotein), or “good” cholesterol, absorbs cholesterol and carries it back to the liver. LDL is the main source of cholesterol build up in the arteries. The higher your LDL, the greater chance there is of developing heart disease. HDL the “good” cholesterol transports cholesterol from the other parts of the body, back to the liver. It helps to keep cholesterol from building up in the arteries, lowering the risk of developing heart disease. 3 The average cholesterol level for people in the UK varies accord- ing to gender, age, and other factors out of your control. But, if you’re interested in lowering cholesterol and keeping it at healthy levels, what are the figures you should be aiming for? The NHS as a general guide recommends that total cholesterol levels should be 5mmol/L or less for healthy adults, and 4mmol/L or less for those at high risk of heart and circulatory diseases. As a guide, levels of ‘good’ HDL cholesterol should be at least 1mmol/L and levels of ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol should be below 3mmol/L for healthy adults, and 2mmol/L or less for those at high risk. Your doctor may talk to you about your level of ‘non-HDL’ cholesterol. This is now sometimes used as a measurement instead of LDL, and includes your LDL cholesterol and other forms of ‘bad’ cholesterol. In 2011, a health survey data suggested that average cholesterol levels in the UK were 5.1mmol/L in men and 5.2mmol/L in women. If you’re wondering about how common elevated cholesterol is for someone in your age group or of your gender, the 2017 Health Survey for England has reported on adults (including those taking lipid lowering medication) with high total cholesterol (greater than or equal to 5mmol/L) as follows: • In the 35 – 44 age group, 63% of men and 40% of women had high cholesterol. • In the 45 – 54 age group, 63% of men and 69% of women had high cholesterol. • In the 55 – 64 age group, high cholesterol was prevalent in 58% of men and 76% of women. 4 The risk factors for High Blood Cholesterol are as follows: • Cigarette Smoking • High Blood Pressure (140/90 mmHg or higher) • Low HDL Cholesterol • Family history of heart disease in a Father or Brother before the age of 55. Heart disease in a Mother or Sister before the age of 65 • Age (Men 45 years or older, Women 55 years or older) To Reduce the risks: • Quit smoking • Reduce your weight if you are overweight • Exercise • Consume a diet rich in fruit and whole grains, but low in satu- rated fats • Reduce intake of sugary foods • Increase intake of Omega 3 5 Blood Sugar For the ‘majority’ of healthy individuals, normal blood sugar levels are as follows: Between 4.0 to 5.4 mmol/L (72 to 99 mg/dL) when fasting. Up to 7.8 mmol/L (140 mg/dL) 2 hours after eating. What does that mean and what should they be? Your blood sugar level is in constant flux, depending on what you’ve eaten, when you ate it, and what you did afterwards. A finger-prick blood test can ascertain your level at any moment in the day – it’s a crucial tool for diabetes sufferers, as they need to manage their body’s insulin response. In people with diabetes, the blood glucose levels are raised both before and after a meal. 6 In a healthy individual without diabetes, the body produces the correct amount of insulin from the pancreas to normalise the blood glucose level. But in diabetes, the pancreas does not pro- duce enough insulin and/or the body is not able to use the glucose effectively due to lack of responsiveness to insulin action (known as insulin resistance). So the blood glucose level rises to abnormally high levels, which puts pressure on the body’s organs and nerves, potentially caus- ing permanent damage. What is blood sugar and glucose? Sugar is a carbohydrate found naturally in food. There are differ- ent types of sugars: glucose belongs to a type of sugar called mono saccharides or simple sugar. It is the primary source of energy and the body tissues need glucose to function normally, especially the brain. The terms blood sugar and blood glucose are often used interchangeably and refer to the amount of glucose carried in the blood. What is a normal Blood Sugar level? Understanding what is a normal blood sugar level is vital to diabetes prevention or management. Blood sugar level refers to the amount of glucose in the blood, sometimes known as blood glucose level; the concentration of glucose in the blood is ex- pressed in mmol/l. In healthy people without diabetes, your blood glucose level should measure between 4.0-5.5 mmol/l before a meal and should be less than 8.0 mmol/l two hours after a meal. The blood glucose level is also measured by glycated haemoglo- bin, HbA1c, which gives information on the average blood glucose level over the last 2-3 months. A healthy person without diabetes should have HbA1c less than 42 mmol/mol. 7 Diabetes is diagnosed when the fasting blood glucose is greater than 7.0 mmol/l, random blood glucose greater than 11.1 mmol/l, or HbA1c greater than 48 mmol/mol. A fasting blood glucose level between 5.5 and 6.9 mmol/l or HbA1c between 42 and 47 mmol/mol may indicate increased risk for type 2 diabetes, particularly those with obesity, family history of diabetes or from certain ethnic groups. What are low blood sugar symptoms? Low blood glucose is also known as hypoglycaemia. It is defined by blood glucose below 4 mmol/l. 8 In the early stages of hypoglycaemia, the body will react by releasing hormones such as adrenaline to warn that the blood glucose is going low so that actions can be taken to reverse the hypoglycaemia. This causes symptoms include palpitations, hunger, feeling warm or flushed, tremulous and sweaty. If the blood glucose falls lower, brain function will be affected result- ing in confusion, irritability, aggressive behaviour, seizure and coma. Since the brain is highly dependent on glucose to function, frequent hypoglycaemia can cause cognitive impairment. Some people with diabetes may have hypoglycaemia unaware- ness where the warning symptoms are weak, especially during the early stages of hypoglycaemia. This usually occurs in those with long duration of diabetes, tight diabetes control or frequent hypoglycaemia. This condition is potentially dangerous as the patient is unaware the blood glucose is going low and therefore, not able to correct the low blood glucose at an early stage until it is too late when the brain function is affected. If untreated, prolonged severe hypoglycaemia can cause permanent brain damage. People can experience hypoglycaemia at night when they’re asleep. Low blood glucose level can wake the person up or lead to headaches, tiredness and sweat-soaked sheets in the morn- ing. What are the symptoms of high blood sugar? The symptoms of high blood sugar level occur when diabetes is uncontrolled, regardless of the type of diabetes. Typically, the patient experiences thirst, dry mouth, frequent urination, blurred vision and tiredness. In more extreme cases, weight loss can occur. 9 Occasional mild periods of high blood sugar level are non-threatening. They can require treatment or return to normal levels on their own. But frequent or severe episodes can be dangerous and can lead to coma. What can happen if I don’t control my blood sugar? Poorly controlled blood glucose levels can lead to health compli- cations. High glucose levels over a prolonged period, usually over several years, can damage the blood vessels in the eyes, kidneys, nerves and legs (peripheral vascular disease and gan- grene). It can cause a heart attack or stroke.

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