What’s your metabolic age?

I wept with absolute frustration on the phone to someone covering for my lovely clinical pharmacist at my surgery about a year ago and got a call from someone else to check I wasn't suicidal!
I expect that's on my notes!

I hasten to add that I'm a natural weeper - happy or sad I'm the first to cry.
Maybe I have tiny tear ducts??
I did warn them... but 🤷‍♂️

I filled in a heart age questionnaire and to my surprise it said my heart age was a little aolder than my actual age. I then redid the the questionnaire changing the only answer that was not originally at the healthiest/ luckiest level ( the diet one - I had originally admitted occasional lapses in healthy diet). It came out with my chronological age. So it’s not possible to get a younger heart age than actual age on this questionnaire!

Having recovered from sepsis post hernia op - I don’t want to know at the moment !

I had another reminder of the incompetence of my local hospital today.

I have a small benign tumour in my brain, called a menengioma. It seems lots of us have them. It was found in a scan for something else and the doctor who commissioned the survey said the results would be passed to the neurological department and I would get called in for a precautionary scan now and again.

Today an article in the newspaper about these benign tumours said that the usual monitoring was an annual scan. Well it is three years since mine was found. Have I had an annual scan? Have I had any scan? You must be joking.

I cannot wait to complete our move to another hospital region, where, hopefully with a new GP I can try and get my health care on a proper working basis, clean all the erroneous information off and make sure I get monitoring when I should be having it.

Think also about the implications of an incorrect or 'unknown' comment in your medical records, with respect to claiming travel insurance. If you (hopefully not ever) have to make a serious claim, especially when out of the country, I have heard that the insurance company check your medical records, and challenge any undeclared 'ailments/conditions', with a view to the invalidation of your policy.

Those Algorithms may well be out of date by now. GPs and even consultants do seem to put a lot of faith in these things. Its been proven that the old BMI algorithms are out of date and should be adjusted,

I juts did an on-line questioannire related to a Diet plan. Its says mine is 81-- I'm 72 OMG!

Seakay

Spinnaker

Just out of curiosity, what's VO2 ?

The V in VO2 max stands for volume, while O2 stands for oxygen. As such, VO2 max measures how much oxygen your body consumes while exercising. Typically, VO2 max is measured as ml/kg/minute (milliliters of oxygen consumed per kilogram of body weight per minute of exercise).

Thank you Seakay

Feel strongly on your sides Whiff and MOnica. You have to be careful what you say to some of these medics. They can be very literal.
Eg I was concerned by lack of interest and information after being diagnosed with an ascending aneurysm of critical size . The cardiologist seemed so unbothered. I mentioned that the stress of its discovery had had some effect, and made me wary of long distance travel by myself for example, so he booked me in with a therapist! This therapist knew nothing of the condition and was a complete waste of time as I mercifully don’t suffer from anxiety or depression. Basically I was asking for more information and interest in the condition. I’ve used self methods to cope and now am used to the detached, yearly phone call asking me if I’m ok. This psychological help will be noted on my records. And may well influence in the future. They would hardly say ‘irritated by lack of information because no consultant with that speciality available’ would they?

Spinnaker

Just out of curiosity, what's VO2 ?

The V in VO2 max stands for volume, while O2 stands for oxygen. As such, VO2 max measures how much oxygen your body consumes while exercising. Typically, VO2 max is measured as ml/kg/minute (milliliters of oxygen consumed per kilogram of body weight per minute of exercise).

Thank you for all your comments, everyone.
For the record, I paid privately for a full health review. I didn’t ask for the metabolic age test, it was just presented to me, along with results of other tests.

My heart age always comes out 7 years older than my actual age because I have type 2 diabetes. It annoys me because they never ask about exercise (2-3 personal training sessions with weights and cardio), diet etc. I am rarely ill, have loads of energy, no previous heart issues, well controlled blood sugar, low blood pressure and at 69 think I seem fit and well. These measures just seem designed to make you give up.

Do make sure they haven't mixed your records up with another patient's.

My surgery did this and it wasn't until one GP mentioned a condition I didn't have, which was on my notes, that I found out that her medications, two operations, births and diagnosed illnesses were on my records.

Goodness, even the births! Another patient’s stroke clinic results made their way to my records recently, mentioning an urgent referral to Neurology, medications I needed, and scan results that needed further investigation. None of it was mine, thank goodness. And when DH had a scan lately, his notes stated in bold type that he’d had a stroke and high blood pressure - wrong on both counts!

I wasn’t offered a metabolic age test at my latest MOT, Stoker48 (perhaps just as well). Well done you! I have some body composition scales for home use, but wouldn’t take their word for anything - I’ve had very different results from mine and my AC’s. I like to believe the ones that take years off me.

MissChateline

I have a set of scales that gives me my metabolic age. Mine is currently 52 and I am 70. My daughter asked me what my VO2 was. I had no idea but my iPhone health app tells me that it is 31. Goodness she said, that would excellent for a female aged 50 to 59. So feeling quite chuffed and thinking that it is worth having a personal trainer and doing regular circuit training. Also chuffed that I dead lifted 32kg this week. My motto, use it or lose it.

I've very much lost it.

I’m not convinced of their accuracy. I once fainted and ended up lying on the floor.
I swim, go to the gym and walk the dog.
I have a frailty index score.
DH has had several falls including medical treatment. His walking is impaired.
According to his NHS record he has no frailty index score.
???

Allsorts

How can you assess anyone in five minutes, many things come into play.

Both DH and I were asked to do an 'instant' cognitive test, when we were, separately, taken to A&E. It seemed to be standard for anyone over about 70. Its purpose was to identify anyone who might be having cognitive problems, permanent, or caused by their health problem.

In each case the doctor was a bit apologetic because in both our cases it was clear that we were mental OK. It was quite simple we were asked the day of the week, month, year, date, approximate time, who the Prime Minister and monarch were. We were given an address (42, West Street, if anyone cares to prime themselves in advance), asked a couple more simple questions and then asked to repeat the address. The test took nly minutes

Not a test sufficient to diagnose dementia, but enough for the staff dealing with the patient to know how much they were likely to be understanding what was said to them and a context for assessing anything they said and, if there was concern refer them onward for further assessment.

For a GP in their surgery, using this quick test would be enough to decide to refer someone to a memory clinic for a more extensive assessment.

How can you assess anyone in five minutes, many things come into play.

M0nica

The problem is Whiff, that all these items are written on my patient record, the TIA, the diabetes and the anxiety and I will take them with me when I move and join a new practice and these records will be seen as recording medical problems I actually have had, when I haven't and this will inform the treatment of any future medical problems I have.

This has already happened with my medication for osteoporosis. I was due to go on a better medication, one side effect of which was slightly raising the chances of me having a stroke. I was not given it because, my record erroneously said I had had a TIA.

Do make sure they haven't mixed your records up with another patient's.

My surgery did this and it wasn't until one GP mentioned a condition I didn't have, which was on my notes, that I found out that her medications, two operations, births and diagnosed illnesses were on my records.

nanna8

Probably about 120. No, I have never heard of it. Interesting though.

I was thinking about 106 so I have a few years on you!

Whiff

Did they do the computer generated fragility score? Went mad when I found 2 blood tests ago the nurse filled it in without asking my permission or telling me. I always check the NHS app and read my medical records after appointments to see what is written . Result severe fragility.
Went nuts and had it removed from my records . When I went again for a blood test told the nurse straight away she was not to fill in the form and explained yet again why I will not be labelled that.

Found my GP during our phone appointment last week she had done it again severe fragility on my health records.

See my GP end of the month and it's coming off my records . And making sure it's not done again.

I was born disabled . Disability doesn't mean you have severe fragility or that you are incapable. I am 67 . I have experience when I was 29 when being labelled by hospital drs what harm it can do and how it stopped my GP getting me to see consultants.

Thankfully my hospital records here don't have severe fragility on them.

I know some with think it's silly but see how you like it you get labelled something you are not.

I am disabled but that doesn't stop me living a full and happy life. Infact I think disabled people are very inventive if we can't do what we what the so called normal way we find ways to do the same thing but our way.

By being labelled severe fragility bet my score would be aged 90+ 🤣

So what, labels don’t matter, it’s how you feel and what you do that is important. Personally if that is what you are noted down as on your medical records I think it should stay in case of a medical emergency. You say yourself you are disabled in sone way, then surely your medical records should record this, however well and living happily you are? I was labelled a Prima Gravida ( old for childbirth) with my son’s birth, but I was happy I got a little more extra care due to that label, and had a healthy son…eventually! Then another son some 3 years later.
As another person said ‘ severe fragility’ probably means something different in medical parlance to what it means normally. Do you really want your MEDICAL records to indicate something that is incorrect…. Could cause great difficulty with erroneous medical records one day? I am 80 next year and have various ills including chronic kidney disease, but live a reasonably full life, but if that, and my other ills were not on my records, for the sake of VANITY, and I was hospitalised for any reason …all sorts of errors could occur! Don’t be so stupid. It actually helps to “ play the poor old lady card” sometimes too! 😁

With you on that one Whiff - ie "you know your own body better than anyone". As I put it - "I'm the one living in this body and have been for x years now - so I ought to know what it's usually like and what it's like at the moment".

Think I'll just settle for the fact that I suspect there's a rough rule of thumb of "How old do you look?" and that's probably how old your body is healthwise (which may or may not be the same age as you look).

Some of the most ill people I know have looked a lot older than their age. On the other hand there's ones who look younger.

I've got it on reliable authority that I look and my voice sounds like someone around 60 - which I suppose isn't bad considering that I'm 72. I'm aiming for younger-looking....but aware that virtually no-one, it seems, looks like themselves (ie recognisable as from what they were like when younger) as from some point in their 60's onwards. So I guess darn nearly everyone has health issues from somewhere in their 60's onwards - if they hadn't got them before then.

MOnica you have the right to have the wrong things written on your records removed. Talk to your now or further GP . Plus I don't know if PALS only apply to hospitals as well GP surgeries but it is worth contacting them and they will help you get the things you haven't got removed from your records . And then you will get the treatment you need. But you have to fight for your rights . It's not easy but none of us would stand for being treated this way in other aspects of our lives.

When my son left home and joined a new GP practice it said he had asthma. He asked me why he didn't have an inhaler. I told him because he never had asthma and have no idea why it was on his records. When a young baby until his teens every time he has a cold it always turned into a chest infection. He was born at 36.5 weeks and the paediatrician told us he would be vulnerable to chest infections which he should grow out of as his lungs got stronger and he did out grow them. Can't remember if I had to write to his GP or get a letter from his old GP and get his records amended that way it was in 2006.

This is why I say everyone should read your medical records as things could stop you getting treatment you need.

My husband was livid when I had to see the psychiatrist because of those hospital doctors . He was fuming when she had him in and would only answer yes or no . She said N you don't want to be here and he said C does need to be here . She said I totally agree and she has had symptoms her whole life and it's physical not mental health problems.

Problem I have found my whole life has been unless doctors can tick the boxes and stick labels on you they don't want to know.

I suffered for years unnecessarily. But it hasn't made me bitter just angry . But so glad I moved here and have the brilliant healthcare and help I need . But when I did get my diagnosis's I emailed my old neurologist and the one I saw at St George's hospital London what my neurological condition was and said if you don't know what's wrong with a patient do not dismiss them but have there blood taken and their whole genome genetically tested.

Wish now I had emailed my old GP about them never sending me to see a cardiologist and not to dismiss patients and admit they don't know and try to help them .

But my experience with where I used to live doctors don't like to admit they don't know .

Hopefully medical students are being taught to admit if they don't know what's wrong with a patient. Don't dismiss them and listen to what they are saying . You know your own body better than anyone and you know when something is wrong . 🌹

The problem is Whiff, that all these items are written on my patient record, the TIA, the diabetes and the anxiety and I will take them with me when I move and join a new practice and these records will be seen as recording medical problems I actually have had, when I haven't and this will inform the treatment of any future medical problems I have.

This has already happened with my medication for osteoporosis. I was due to go on a better medication, one side effect of which was slightly raising the chances of me having a stroke. I was not given it because, my record erroneously said I had had a TIA.

MOnica sorry this happened to you. It feels horrible doesn't it and so unnecessary. All drs have to do is listen to what patients say and believe them and help them .

Metabolic age came from the fitness industry.

Does the medical world use this at all?