It’s no secret that we Brits live by our weather! You could call it part of our national identity. So it’s no surprise that we also see some very strong seasonal trends in healthcare.

Firstly and most obviously in terms of the concerns people have – respiratory infections and flu dominate in the winter months, whilst allergies, tick bites and weight management are more often raised as concerns in the summer months.

But it’s not just the symptoms and concerns that vary by season. Our overall approach to health management seems to change also. In the winter months, there’s a definite sense of people having their noses to the grindstone, only dealing with things that stop them in their tracks. So a raging sore throat or hacking cough will send us to the doctor, but few of us want to think about our cholesterol levels when the Christmas menu is being passed around. Conversely in the summer, we tend to feel more generally well – and we think this is the ideal time to come and see us for more of a holistic check, or Wellness Screen.

Wellness Screening combines extensive blood tests and investigations with extended doctor time to give you a detailed overview of your wellbeing.

It might sound counterintuitive to visit the doctor when you are feeling generally well in the summer months - but there are several reasons why it’s the perfect opportunity, so go with us on this one:

There’s less ‘noise’ in the numbers If you test when you are feeling well, you can be more confident that any out-of-range numbers are a true abnormality, rather than just a blip. For example, if your cholesterol is raised in January, this could be a long term thing, or simply the aftermath of an indulgent Christmas. Similar story if your liver score looks a little wonky. In fact, we tend to discourage patients from the New Year Wellness screen for exactly this reason – because who needs a blood test to tell them that they really like pigs in blankets!
You’re better placed to take the feedback! A suboptimal result shouldn’t be a trigger for self-recrimination! No one is perfect (including your doctor, by the way ;-)) But if you’re feeling ground down in other ways, you are more likely to slip in to that negative mindset. It’s far preferable if you can come in to the wellness screening process ready to see any out-of-range results as the great opportunity that they are. An opportunity to catch a potential concern early, feel even better, and ultimately get more out of life! In health, as in so many things, a stitch in time saves nine!
It’s an easier time to implement change. Say there is room for improvement – often the changes necessary will involve exercise and dietary changes. When is better than summer to try some new dietary habits, or take up a new, ideally outdoor based, activity?

To summarise, the more relaxed summer months are the ideal time to foster a holistic and proactive approach to your wellbeing. If you do, the great news is that you’re far more likely to fend off those winter health challenges also!

For more info on our wellness screening offering, check out our website here, OR give our friendly team a call on 01962 776010 and we can talk you through the process. You could also book a free discovery call with our co-founder and practice manager Gemma to chat through the options in more detail.