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27th January 2026
11:44am GMT
A doctor has revealed the five things everyone should know about their health - but most don’t.
Dr Luke Powles, associate clinical director at Bupa Health Clinics, said all adults should be familiar with their weight, blood pressure, cholesterol level, heart health and diabetes risk.
Not knowing this information could mean you miss important clues that something is amiss with your health.
Being aware of your heart health and any pre-existing conditions, along with your diabetes risk, should also be medical information people are comfortable relaying.
This is particularly important for those at increased risk, which includes the over 40s, people who are overweight, or those who smoke and drink excessively.
But millions could be missing out on key early warning signs of health issues by not being aware of this basic health information.
Research of 2,000 adults by Bupa found just 35 per cent know what a normal blood pressure reading is for them.
While 29 per cent couldn’t even tell you how much they weigh.
Just seven per cent know their heart health score, with only 12 per cent being aware of their typical maximum heart rate.
Dr Luke Powles, from Bupa Health Clinics, which offers health assessments to inform people about their health and how to support it, said: "Knowing your key health markers can help you take control of your health and wellbeing.
“Whether that’s putting your mind at rest about a health worry, finding out where you could make lifestyle changes for the better, or even detecting a serious health issue early.
“When it comes to your health, knowledge is power.
"Checking in on key areas of your health to identify areas that might need attention as well as giving you peace of mind about the things you don’t need to worry about are both equally important.”
The study also found 51 per cent of adults feel they don’t have a great awareness of their health, with nearly a quarter (23 per cent) admitting they don’t even know how tall they are.
Around half (51 per cent) couldn’t tell you their current prescription medications and 59 per cent don’t know their blood type.
Despite this, 56 per cent said being healthy is ‘very important’ to them, with 76 per cent claiming to take it seriously.
More than seven in 10 (71 per cent) track some element of their health, with step count (30 per cent), exercise minutes (26 per cent) and blood pressure (26 per cent) being the most common.
But while 82 per cent believe knowledge is power when it comes to their health, only 50 per cent have had a proactive blood pressure check, and just 29 per cent have had a cholesterol check.
However, of those who have had an unpromoted medical check-up, 30 per cent said it had gone on to highlight an issue they weren’t previously aware of, including anaemia, diabetes, high cholesterol, and even cancer that may otherwise have gone undetected, leading to delayed treatment.
The research, carried out via OnePoll, also revealed nearly one in four (23 per cent) often or always feel anxious about their health, with Gen Z being the most concerned generation.
With four in 10 of those born after 1996 feeling they suffer from health anxiety, compared to just 13 per cent of Boomers.
As a result of their worries, 38 per cent of Gen Z adults have self-diagnosed by searching symptoms on the internet, while only 25 per cent booked an appointment with a doctor.
Others have asked friends or family for advice (21 per cent), used a health app or wearable to reassure them (15 per cent) or even consulted AI about their symptoms (21 per cent).
Dr Luke Powles, From Bupa Health Clinics, added: “Knowing your numbers and what is going on inside your body is often helpful in picking up on changes to your health and early warning signs, which could prevent them from becoming bigger problems.
“Prevention is key when it comes to our health, so understanding and having proactive health checks can make a real difference to staying fit and well.
"If you do notice a change or something out of the ordinary, please do make sure you speak to a healthcare professional.”
Blood pressure
Why it’s important
High blood pressure (hypertension) is sometimes called a “silent killer” because it usually has no warning signs, yet it can lead to life-threatening conditions like a heart attack or stroke.
Monitoring your blood pressure helps to detect any issues early, allowing you to take preventative steps before serious health problems arise. It is especially important if you are in the higher risk groups, including ages 40+ or from black and South Asian heritage.
Early diagnosis and simple lifestyle changes can prevent or treat high blood pressure.
On the other hand, low blood pressure (hypotension) isn’t often a concern but can cause symptoms such as dizziness and fainting and may need treatment in some cases.
A blood pressure reading of around 120/80mmHg is seen as healthy.
How to check
It’s always best to have your blood pressure checked for the first time by a professional. It’s possible to check your blood pressure at home with your own machine but it’s important you know how to do this correctly, otherwise the reading may not be accurate.
Weight
Why it’s important
Being overweight or obese raises the risk of a range of health conditions, including certain types of cancer and diabetes. In addition, excess weight also puts added strain on your joints.
How to check
Regularly weighing yourself, whether at home, the gym or a pharmacy, can help you to track changes in your weight.
Heart health and conditions
Why it’s important
Your heart health influences your overall wellbeing and getting in the habit of keeping your heart healthy should be a priority for everyone, at any age.
Lifestyle factors have the biggest impact on heart health, what you eat and how much you exercise are key, not smoking and controlling your cholesterol through diet can significantly impact heart health positively as well.
Poor heart health can cause both short and long-term conditions, such as heart failure, dangerous irregular heart rhythms or heart attacks.
How to check
You can undergo a heart rhythm screening to detect irregular heartbeats, such as atrial fibrillation, which increases the risk of a stroke.
Health Assessments also enable people aged 25 and over to learn their QRisk3 heart health score which estimates your risk of developing heart disease.
Cholesterol level
Why it’s important
Cholesterol is a type of fat that’s made by your body and is found in some foods. Your body needs cholesterol to work properly, however too much of some types of cholesterol can harm your health.
High cholesterol often doesn’t cause any symptoms by itself. But if you have high cholesterol, it can lead to serious problems that affect your heart and blood circulation – for example, heart attack and stroke.
You may start to develop symptoms of heart disease – for example, chest pain that comes on during, or is worsened by, exertion and is relieved by rest.
How to check
A blood test will assess your cholesterol level and provides a full breakdown of both High-density lipoproteins (good Cholesterol) and of Low-Density Lipoprotein (bad Cholesterol) to give a comprehensive overview of your cholesterol profile and determine if it is within the desired guidelines.
If your cholesterol is deemed too high, it is important to discuss the lifestyle changes with a medical professional to make a plan on what you can do to help reduce it.
Diabetes risk
Why it’s important
A person can have Type 2 diabetes without knowing it, as it can often present no specific symptoms in the early stages. This type of diabetes can greatly increase the risk of other conditions such as strokes and heart attacks.
By improving your understanding of the factors that could increase your risk of developing diabetes, you can prevent or delay the onset of Type 2 diabetes.
How to check
A blood test can assess your blood sugar levels, directly screening for diabetes. In addition, the Qdiabetes score can help identify your future risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
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