General Medicine

Your body controls your blood pressure in many ways, how hard and fast the heart pumps, how much your blood vessels tighten and through your kidneys. The pressure will vary at different times of the day and in different circumstances. Once sitting down in a quiet environment, your resting blood pressure should be below 140mmHg / 90mmHg. If you have specific medical conditions such as diabetes, stroke, heart disease or kidney disease, this reading should be even lower.

The only way most people know if their blood pressure is high is to measure it with a properly calibrated blood pressure machine called a digital sphigmomanometer (or manual version). Blood pressure should be checked regularly if you have a condition that increases your risk of cardiovascular disease. If you are healthy and well, it’s best to have your blood pressure checked opportunistically each year.

It is recommended that healthy adults without cardiovascular risk factors have their cholesterol checked every 5 years. Those with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease should discuss having a cholesterol check anywhere between 3-12 monthly.

Patients who have risk factors that increase their chance of developing diabetes should see their doctor and perform a health assessment at least once every three years. Modifiable risk factors include whether one smokes, eats fruit and vegetables, exercises regularly and control ones weight.
Check your own risk using the official calculator by clicking this link: https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/the-australian-type-2-diabetes-risk-assessment-tool-ausdrisk.pdf

Involves an assessment of risk factors that increase ones chance of developing a serious long term health condition. Patients are eligible for a medicare subsidised consultation with the practice nurse and your doctor.

Cardiovascular check up with your GP for those over the age of 30 involving assessment of specific risk factors that are known damage to your heart and blood vessels.

Bowel cancer screening using a take home stool kit is recommended to start between age 40 to 50 years depending on one’s risk as well as their family history. In general it is recommended that the average risk population start screening from 50 years of age every two years until 74 years of age with repeated negative findings.