Quote:
Originally Posted by churchman phil
I'm 40 this year and I have an annual MOT at the doc's every April. BP, Blood Test, etc.
I don't smoke at all or drink heavily (maybe 6 units a week, tops!!), eat good wholesome food and get regular exercise.
Can't see anything wrong in getting it done as when you get told you're fit as a fiddle when the results come through that more than makes up for it.
If anything is found to be wrong (touch wood it isn't) chances are it would be in the early stages and can be more readily treated.
|
If you feel that the MOT's for the over 40's are a good thing then I am not about to change your mind.
Personally it isn't for me.
I have a healthy lifestyle too, I do not smoke and I never have done.
I drink so little alcohol that i could be considered teetotal........I take two half hour walks every weekday amounting to over 7500 paces......I eat healthily and in spite of this I have put on some weight since I have got that bit older.
When i have had the need to visit the GP and they have checked my BP, it
has been found to be raised( a common phenomenon known as 'white coat
syndrome') yet when I check my BP at home, it is always within acceptable levels.
I feel that it is going to be a worrying situation for some people......they will go into the appointment as a fit and healthy 40yr old and will come out with perhaps hypertension and high cholesterol.........making them a 'patient' for the rest of their lives........being given medications for the rest of their lives.......medications that are not without side effects.......medications that will cost them more than £7 per item........they will worry about their health from that day forward......worry makes you ill.(doesn't it?)
All this so that this government can be seen to be doing 'something'.......so that GP's can tick boxes and meet targets.
If the government really wanted to be doing something useful they could make sure that all patients diagnosed with early Alzheimers were given effective treatment.......they could make sure that all cancer sufferers were given the very best medications(not just the ones sanctioned by NICE)....they could make sure that ill people weren't penalised when going for treatment at hospital by having to pay parking charges(which incidentally are no longer levied in Wales and Scotland).
They could abolish prescription charges( again these are free in Scotland, I'm not sure about Wales.
They could make it so that you could see your OWN GP in a timely fashion, like when you are actually ill....rather than having to wait a week or 10 days(by which time you are better).
They could make sure that alternative therapies are freely available for all who would like a 'gentler' kind of treatment.(I know that these are available in some practices....but not all)
So until they become compulsory, I won't be attending.