1 in 5 Britons are refusing to take a health check because of the fear of 'bad news.'
1 In 5 Britons Refuse Health Checks
Waiting for test results or receiving bad health news is a nervous time for everyone, but now it seems that many Britons are taking matters into their own hands.
A new survey by HeartAge has revealed that 1 in 5 of us will refuse a health check for fear of receiving the news that we all dread. In fact, 19% of those questioned say that concern over possible test results was the major reason for them not having a health check.
Holly Whelan, Co-founder of HeartAge says: "This research is really interesting and confirmed what we suspected, that emotional factors prevent people from having a health check.
"People are more likely to refuse a health check because they are scared about the results or embarrassed by the process, rather than simply not having the time to be checked over or finding it an inconvenience.
"It is really important to tackle these fears, as knowing your numbers is an important step when starting to make lifestyle changes for better health."
However, while a large number are continuing to fret about what might be, 73% of those that took the survey said that these tests were important for the early detection for some diseases. Heart disease and strokes are two of the most common health problems in this country, but, if caught early, could be controlled or prevented altogether.
And while 80% of people would have their health check at their local doctor's surgery, it appears that pharmacists are playing a greater role when it comes to our health.
Some of those surveyed revealed that they would prefer to be checked out by their pharmacists as they believed them to be more helpful (53% vs 45%), less judgemental (4% vs 15%) and less stressed (5% vs 21%) than doctors.
Alison Freemantle, pharmacist at LloydsPharmacy explains: "There is often a misconception that pharmacy is just for dispensing medication, however our teams can provide advice and health checks to support you in a private and comfortable environment.
"Knowing your cholesterol levels and blood pressure is crucial as it can identify whether you are at risk of developing heart disease or stroke. When these numbers are presented in the form of a HeartAge, it can really help people better understand what these numbers mean."
www.ukheartage.com