calculation of risk to health

[Nummy]

I had a health check today, which is designed to calculate my risk of heart disease/diabetes/etc.

They did the usual checks - blood pressure, urine, took blood for tests, measured height, weight and waist (to calculate BMI). Asked if i drink (if so how much) or smoke.

Then they asked about my parents. Now my mum died of a heart attack aged 65, and my dad died aged 81...he has a series of mini strokes which left him paralysed down one side. But he died basically of 'old age'.

Those details were taken down to contribute to the calculation of my risk factor - but both my parents were heavy smokers and my dad was also a very heavy drinker for many many years. I thought those facts would need to be taken into consideration. But apparently not.

Surely that would affect the calculation though?

[boxtops]

There are new coronary heart disease risk tables out - I'll see if I can find them - I'd have thought familial heart disease would have been more of a risk factor than only whether they drank or smoked.

[boxtops]

http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/40000133/

It needs to be done clinically, not in isolation, but yes - they don't want to know if your parents drank or smoked, only if they had cardiac problems - which you say they noted.

[seadogg]

Not very scientific I know but a risk is not a death sentence. Lead the healthiest life style you can and forget it. Both my parents died in their 40's which makes the medicos suck their teeth a bit. So what! 75 and keen fell walker.

[DTCwordfan]

fell walker definition - someone intoxicated walking northern hills who therefore has a tendency to fall over, especially down screes.

[seadogg]

frequently.

[Nummy]

Thank you for your explanations.

I thought the drinking/smoking thing would contribite to coronary disease and therefore should be taken into account. But fair enough.

And thanks seadogg...I do need to look after myself better, this could be the kick I need.

Long may you continue to fellwalk!

[Count-Kostaki]

No, the smoking and drinking would not be taken into the calculation. The reason being is that all the other things they added into your score (ie the heart attacks and strokes etc) can have a heridatory trait - ie they can "run in the family" - especially heart disease. Alcoholism and smoking does not run in the familial genes - there are no medical genes to make you an alcoholic or a smoker, as both of these activities are "learned behaviours" - ie you have to make a conscious choice to become a smoker or a drinker. Suffering from heart disease or a stroke can be greatly affected by family genes.