THESE visits help you to stay health aware and if you do have specific risk factors, such as a family history of a certain disease, then regular check-ups may help your doctor pick up early warning signs. For example, high blood pressure may be an early warning sign of cardiovascular disease. For a lot of blokes this visit can be a bit daunting and at times a confusing process.

First and fore-most there are a lot of benefits in having a regular GP and practice that you visit. It gives you the opportunity to build a relationship over time, to the point where you are more comfortable talking openly about things. Your GP gets to know you and will have a better understanding of your health needs and concerns. Your medical history also stays under the one roof making it easier to keep things up to date.

and your concerns and most of all, don’t worry too much about being embarrassed. Doctors are usually difficult people to shock and more than likely have seen or heard it all before.

We all need to take responsibility for our own health and wellbeing. A lot of guys have no idea of what their blood pressure is normally or what it means for that matter. You need to get to know your normal parameters and other things like cholesterol and Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood tests so you can engage in conversation with your GP about them. It often helps to keep your own record of results and a list of any medications you may be on and what they are for.

Usually for two or more health issues you will need to book a longer consultation time. Be prepared.

For a general health check, your doctor will want to talk to you about a range of stuff including your medical history, your family’s history, your lifestyle, diet, weight and how much you exercise. Be honest about your health

As we get older, we inevitably encounter the increased risk of developing health concerns such as prostate issues (over 40 years). Most GPs are pretty good at prompting us when needed but we still need to be an active participant. Don’t feel intimidated, you have the right to request certain tests and question things the doctor suggests. After all, this is about you and your GP working together.

We recommend that under the age of 50 you should have a routine service visit at least every two years and for those over 50 at least once a year.

When visiting your GP, be prepared (take your own checklist) and be involved, it’s your health, you are the expert on you. WAG