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This free, quick and easy process prevents hundreds of premature deaths in the UK every year.
How does our Health Check prevent early deaths?
It helps to identify how at-risk you are from heart disease, kidney disease, type-2 diabetes and strokes. These four serious but preventable health problems are among the biggest causes of premature deaths.
Identifying the risks earlier means you can address them before they create significant and lasting problems. Small changes make a big difference, and our link workers will be able to provide personalised support and advice on how to reduce your risk.
This could involve adopting a healthier lifestyle with a better diet and more exercise, stopping smoking, or taking medicines for certain conditions.
What happens at the free Health Check?
Nothing unpleasant or intrusive happens at the Health Check. The health professional will ask you some questions about your lifestyle and family history, measure your height and weight, take your blood pressure and do a finger prick blood test.
Your blood test results can show your chances of getting heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and diabetes.
If you're over 65, you’ll also be told the signs and symptoms of dementia to look out for.
If appropriate, following your check we can refer you to our Healthy Lifestyles team who can help you set and achieve health and wellbeing goals.
Why is the Health Check important?
Our Health Check identifies if you’re at risk of developing major health problems before it’s too late.
Often, with health issues such as heart disease, kidney disease, strokes and type-2 diabetes, you may not notice the problem growing. If left unchecked and unnoticed, the problems can grow until they cause life-threatening emergencies such as a heart attack or stroke.
According to a 2022 study by the University College London, people in Luton live around one year less than the England average. And in some parts of Luton, it’s as much as eight years less.
The Health Check is a crucial part of Luton Borough Council’s efforts to address health inequalities and improve health and wellbeing for all Lutonians. This service is fully funded by the Council, so it’s free for people of Luton.
Prevention is most definitely better than the cure where these conditions are concerned, and the earlier you take action to lower the risk, the better.
Don’t leave it too late
If you’re a Luton Town fan, you may be aware that club legend Mick Harford is battling prostate cancer following his diagnosis in 2020. He was one of the toughest players of his generation, but he recognised the warning signs and got checked out straight away. Recently, he spoke to The Mirror and shared a powerful message - “Don’t be macho. Don’t leave it too late. Get tested.”
While he was referring to men getting checked for prostate cancer, his message can apply to everyone in Luton eligible for our Health Check.
You have nothing to lose by getting your health checked, and potentially a lot to gain.
How do I get a free health check?
You are eligible for our free Health Check if:
- you’re aged 40-74
- you live in Luton
- you haven’t had a health check in five years
- you don’t have any of the following conditions:
- heart disease
- chronic kidney disease
- diabetes
- high blood pressure (hypertension)
- atrial fibrillation
- transient ischaemic attack
- inherited high cholesterol (familial hypercholesterolemia)
- heart failure
- peripheral arterial disease
- stroke
- currently being prescribed statins to lower cholesterol
- previous checks have found that you have a 20% or higher risk of getting cardiovascular disease over the next 10 years
If you have any of these conditions, you should already be getting regular check-ups.
It’s possible that you may have already received an invitation to attend a health check. But if not, here’s how you can book yours and find out more:
- Text LTC to 60066
- Call us 0300 555 4152
- Email us [email protected]
- Visit our website totalwellbeingluton.org
You can also complete our online form, which will advise you if you need to book a free Health Check. Alternatively, you could speak to your GP about it.