MOT your body

MOT your body this January and start your new year to an awesome health upgrade

If you want to bounce back from December excess and start the new year with a bang, a health MOT is the first place to start. Taking some simple health checks will ensure that your body is functioning as it should, while spurring you on to live a healthy lifestyle. ‘Psychologically speaking, a new year can represent a new start and a new you. A complete MOT for the body is a fantastic way of knowing what areas you need to focus on to lead a healthier life,’ advises registered pharmacist and personal trainer Gemma Fromage. Here’s our list of the top five tests to do this January.

1. Blood pressure

When was the last time you took a trip to your GP to get your blood pressure checked? Blood pressure is an important reading to show how hard your heart is having to work to efficiently pump blood around your body. ‘For the average person a blood pressure of 120/80 is normal. The higher the reading the higher the risk of health problems such as stroke,’ reveals Gemma.

2. Full blood count

Most of us feel worse for wear come January but if you can’t seem to shake off that sluggish feeling it might be time to ask your GP for a full blood count. ‘A full blood count measures your red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets to identify problems such as anaemia along with any infections that might be present,’ says Gemma.

3. Diabetes type 2

Diabetes type 2 is rapidly on the rise and to find out if you’re susceptible to this chronic disease, head to your GP to get your blood sugar levels checked. ‘Diabetes affects your ability to produce the hormone insulin and use it efficiently. Testing blood sugar levels is important because if pre-diabetes is caught in advance, appropriate lifestyle changes can be made to prevent the progression to the disease,’ advises Gemma.

4. Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a special type of fat created by our bodies and needed to carry out a whole range of functions. However in excess, cholesterol can lead to cardiovascular problems such as blood clots, stroke and heart attacks. ‘Tests recommended include total cholesterol, LDL (bad fats), HDL (good fats) and triglycerides,‘ notes Gemma.

5. Self-examination

It’s important to check your body regularly in order to identify any unusual changes. ‘It’s a good idea to have your doctor check your breasts and show you the correct technique and what to look out for. This will help you self-examine yourself in the future and may enable early detection of any lumps or abnormalities,’ believes Gemma.

6. Fitness test

Muscle mass plays a crucial role in supporting wellbeing as we age so it’s essential to include resistance training into your fitness routine. Resistance training increases lean muscle mass which will speed up your metabolism and help to prevent joint problems like osteoporosis. ‘Try the press-up test to see how strong you really are. Complete as many bodyweight press-ups – from a modified position on your knees if necessary – as you can in one minute, only counting reps where your nose is two inches off the floor or lower and the bottom of the move. As a general rule 16-30 is average, 31-40 is good, 41 plus is excellent and 1-20 requires attention,’ explains fitness director of Fox Fit Bootcamp, Russell Fox.