health and fitness, personal

Being born in Italy, and having lived in France for six years, I used to have an overly medicalised view of health. People in Italy go to the doctor as soon as the smallest thing appears to be ever so slightly wrong with their body. Doctors in France shower you in medication as the universal solution from any condition, from ingrown toenails to lethargy.

In both these countries, my GPs prescribed free yearly checkups (blood scan, ophtalmologist, dermatologist) because of my family history and genetic disposition for diabetes, skin cancer and thyroid condition (my dad) – and glaucoma and blood pressure problems (my mother).

Once I moved to the UK, I was surprised not to be receving the same sort of attention but soon realised that if you have no symptoms, you don't get to be checked. I used to fret and worry about it, but I have recently started accepting it and playing by the rules, which means no symptoms equals no need to take unnecessary tests.

My approach is now to try and find a balanced way of taking care of myself, looking for symptoms without worrying, and taking the initiative to use the free services I can benefit from.

• I try and eat well at least 80% of the time
• I exercise at least three times a week. As a rule, I try not to let more than two days pass without some form of exercise (usually weights training or running, but at my age a very brisk 45-minute walk at lunchtime counts as exercise too)
• I monitor my weight and take action if it goes up
• I go for an eye test every year (free if you are over forty and a close relative has glaucoma, but also free if you work as I do with VDUs)
• I have not done so yet as I have just found out, but I am planning to book a diabetes test at Lloyds pharmacy (again, free if like me you are considered to be at risk)

Considering my ill luck at the gene lottery draw, I owe it to myself to be a little more careful than the average bloke.