A SIMPLE test done from the comfort of your own home can reveal if you're at risk of a deadly heart problem. The DIY checks, which will be rolled out for free on the NHS from next month, estimate the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke in the next ten years. It also gives patients a cholesterol reading, estimates their heart age, and calculates a body mass index (BMI) score.
People between the ages of 40 and 74 who are not currently on statins or blood pressure medication can order the tests for free from their GP. PocDoc, the kit's manufacturer, said taking the test and sending your results to the NHS can all be done within nine minutes. The test also provides access to follow-up treatment options where necessary.
It comes as experts warn that the number of Brits dying early from heart disease is at its highest level in a decade Some 39,000 people died from conditions like heart attacks before the age of 75 in England in 2022, according to the British Heart Foundation. They caused an average of more than 750 deaths a week — the highest total since 2008. The charity said a delay in diagnosis is one of the reasons behind the surge.
The government announced a digital health check programme last year, designed to deliver a million tests over four years, in addition to the face-to-face checks already being carried out. The NHS said each digital health check could save 20 minutes of doctors' time, freeing up thousands of GP appointments. The heart check kit is the first test .
