When Feeling Well Isn’t the Same as Being Well

How a routine workplace Health MOT helped identify a silent heart condition

As a Registered Nurse, one of the most common things I hear from clients before a Health MOT is:

“I feel absolutely fine.”

In most cases, that’s exactly what we find. The assessment provides reassurance, offers practical lifestyle advice and gives people a better understanding of their health.

Occasionally, however, a routine health check identifies something completely unexpected.

That was the case for one of our clients based within the OVIC Business Centre in Southampton.

The client booked a routine Health MOT simply to gain an overview of their health. They weren’t experiencing chest pain, palpitations, dizziness or any other symptoms that would suggest a heart problem. Like many busy professionals, they wanted to be proactive about their wellbeing.

As part of the assessment, we carried out blood pressure measurements, cholesterol and blood glucose testing, body composition analysis and a six-lead ECG.

While reviewing the ECG, I identified an abnormal heart rhythm that warranted further medical investigation.

Although the client felt perfectly well, I recommended that they arrange a GP referral, which led to a specialist cardiology assessment to investigate the findings further.

Following additional investigations, the cardiologist confirmed a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation (AF).

The client had been living with the condition without knowing it.

The importance of early detection

Atrial fibrillation is the most common sustained heart rhythm disorder in the UK, affecting more than 1.5 million people. It increases the risk of stroke because the irregular heartbeat can allow blood clots to form within the heart.

What makes AF particularly significant is that many people experience no symptoms at all.

Some people notice palpitations, breathlessness or fatigue, but many continue with everyday life completely unaware that they have an irregular heart rhythm.

Early identification allows people to receive specialist assessment and, where appropriate, treatment that can significantly reduce the risk of future complications.

The value of a Health MOT

This experience highlights why preventative healthcare is becoming increasingly important.

Health MOTs are not designed to diagnose disease or replace your GP. Their purpose is to identify potential health risks at an early stage, helping people make informed decisions about their health and, where appropriate, seek further medical advice.

Every week we assess individuals who discover previously unrecognised health risks such as:

• High blood pressure
• Raised cholesterol
• Increased cardiovascular risk
• Prediabetes or diabetes
• Irregular heart rhythms
• Weight and metabolic health concerns

These conditions often develop gradually and silently, with few or no warning signs.

Investing in your most valuable asset

Businesses routinely maintain their buildings, equipment and vehicles because prevention is less costly than dealing with failure.

The same principle applies to our health.

For business owners and employees alike, good health underpins productivity, resilience and quality of life. Taking time for a simple health assessment can provide reassurance when everything is well and occasionally identify an issue that warrants further investigation.

In this case, a client who felt completely healthy chose to have a routine Health MOT. That decision led to the identification of an underlying heart rhythm abnormality and ultimately a diagnosis that may otherwise have remained undetected.

It is a powerful reminder that feeling well isn’t always the same as being well.

Sometimes, the greatest benefit of a Health MOT is peace of mind.

Sometimes, it is an opportunity to identify a silent condition before it can cause more serious health problems.

By Anthony Bostock RN
Director, Anthony Bostock Wellness Ltd