Services
Wellpoint LifeCheck Kiosk
Page Contents
Overview
Using the Wellpoint LifeCheck Kiosk
What do My LifeCheck Results Mean?
General Advice about your Heart
'Know Your Numbers' with the Wellpoint LifeCheck Kiosk at P&S Chemist. Wellpoint is the leader in the provision of state-of-the-art, touch-screen health kiosks, providing readily available and easy-to-access health and lifestyle services including QRISK2, your 10-year risk assessment for cardiovascular disease, and an extensive range of other health and lifestyle-related questionnaires.
5 minutes is all you need to track your Weight and BMI, Body Fat, Blood Pressure, and Heart Rate. You can then print, email or text your results. Alternatively, sign up for the Well.Me website - a free online service from the Wellpoint Group that enables you to set a 'better health' goal, saving and tracking your progress as you work towards your target.
Using the Wellpoint LifeCheck Kiosk
Like many of us, if you are not naturally technologically savvy, do not worry. Our pharmacy team are trained to use the Wellpoint LifeCheck Kiosk and are well versed in the many services, tools, and questionnaires this health kiosk can provide. Simply ask for assistance.
What do My LifeCheck Results Mean?
Depending on the test you wish to undertake, 5 minutes is all you need to track your Weight and BMI, Body Fat, Blood Pressure, and Heart Rate. You can then print, email or text your results, so you can 'know your numbers'. But what do these numbers mean? Below, we have compiled a brief breakdown of each of the above tests, what it is measuring, what those numbers really mean, and the health implications associated with them.
Weight and BMI
In its simplest form, the Wellpoint LifeCheck Kiosk is a state-of-the-art machine that can measure your weight, just more accurately than your weighing scales at home. Whilst your Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure of your weight, measured against your height. Helping to determine whether someone is underweight, ideal weight, or overweight. Both low and high BMI are dangerous for an individual's health and keeping a healthy weight is important in reducing the risk of many diseases. Depending upon the reading from the LifeCheck Kiosk, you can determine which of the categories applies to you.
| BMI Chart | |
| BMI below 18.0 | Underweight |
| BMI between 18.0 and 22.9 | Healthy Weight |
| BMI between 23.0 and 24.9 | Overweight |
| BMI of 25 and above | Obese |
If you fall into the overweight or obese criteria, a high BMI is linked to many diseases, including Diabetes, Stroke, Heart Attack, Cancer, and Depression. By taking regular exercise as well as eating a healthy balanced diet are the best methods of keeping a healthy BMI. Support groups are available for those struggling to lose weight and your doctor or our pharmacy team are also a good source of help and information regarding keeping a healthy BMI.
Body Fat
Body fat exists in two forms, 'subcutaneous' and 'visceral'. Subcutaneous fat is the fat that is outwardly visible and is less concerning to health. Visceral fat is fat that surrounds organs. Although some visceral fat is essential, excess visceral fat is dangerous. As visceral fat is not visible and it can only be measured using equipment such as the LifeCheck Kiosk.
A healthy body fat reading depends on both an individual's age and gender. The table below demonstrates the various values regarding body fat.
| Body Fat Chart | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age | Gender | Normal | Above Average | High |
| 20-39 | Male | 19% or less | 19.01% - 25% | Over 25% |
| Female | 33% or less | 33.01% - 40% | Over 39% | |
| 40-59 | Male | 22% or less | 22.01% - 28% | Over 28% |
| Female | 35% or less | 35.01% - 40% | Over 40% | |
| 60-79 | Male | 25% or less | 25.01% - 30% | Over 30% |
| Female | 36% or less | 36.01% - 42% | Over 42% | |
Keeping a healthy percentage of body fat is achieved in the same way as keeping a healthy BMI - healthy eating, particularly avoiding foods with high-fat content as well as taking regular exercise. The risks of having high body fat, especially visceral fat, are largely the same as having a high BMI.
Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is the pressure of blood flowing around your body in your arteries. High blood pressure (hypertension) can lead to heart attacks and strokes, as well as many other diseases. For most people, the ideal blood pressure is below 140/90mmHg. Although, it is important to remember that your blood pressure changes constantly, so a slightly high reading should be repeated, as a diagnosis of high blood pressure cannot be made on one reading alone.
What if My Blood Pressure is High?
It is sensible to seek the advice of our pharmacist or your doctor should your blood pressure be raised, although you can take simple measures that have been proven to be effective at lowering your blood pressure, these include:
- Reducing your salt intake.
- Cutting down on foods high in saturated fat.
- Taking regular exercise.
- Losing weight.
- Reducing caffeine intake - this includes tea, coffee, and many soft drinks.
- Reducing stress.
What are the Risks of High Blood Pressure?
The main risks of high blood pressure include heart disease and strokes. As high blood pressure rarely shows any symptoms it is important to regularly check your blood pressure. If you require more information about your blood pressure, please click here.
Heart Rate (Pulse Rate)
Your heart rate also known as your pulse rate, is the number of times your heart beats per minute (BPM). Despite there being a 'normal' resting heart rate, this is a broad figure, as everybody's heart rate varies, often changing over time, due to age and a person's health.
What is a Normal Heart Rate?
A normal heart rate is between 60 and 100 bpm whilst resting. Your heart rate can change quickly and what is normal can be different for everyone. This is due to an individual's lifestyle, whether you smoke, exercise regularly, how much alcohol you consume, your age and general health all affect your heart rate.
An arrhythmia is when your heart beats too slowly, or too quickly. or has an irregular rhythm. An arrhythmia can be dangerous, due to your blood not being pumped around the body correctly, this can cause dizziness, fainting, and shortness of breath; it could also increase your risk of a stroke. Despite the scary nature of an arrhythmia, it is estimated that over 2 million people in the United Kingdom experience heart rhythm issues, and most of them lead normal lives.
A resting heart rate above 100 bpm is too fast for some people. A fast heart rate is known as tachycardia and can be caused by a pre-existing health condition, particularly infections, anaemia (lack of red blood cells), and an overactive thyroid, in which too many hormones are being produced by the body. Symptoms of tachycardia include:
- Fainting
- Feeling very tired
- Dizziness
- Palpitations, when your heartbeat feels like it is fluttering, or pounding
If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms or have recently felt you have a fast-resting heart rate, you should make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible.
A resting heart rate below 60 bpm while resting is too slow for most people. A slow heart rate, also known as bradycardia, is often quite normal for athletes who are extremely fit. For the rest of us, if you are experiencing a slow heart rate and are feeling faint or constantly tired, you should also make an appointment with your GP as soon as possible.
General Advice about Your Heart
Your heart, like any other muscle in your body, needs physical exercise to keep it healthy. Regular activity improves your overall health and goes a long way to help manage many of the risks of heart and circulatory diseases, like diabetes. By undertaking regular exercise, you can also boost your energy and mood, also helping to improve your sleeping.
It is normal for your heart rate to increase whilst exercising. If you are just starting to take your physical health more seriously, go for a walk and build up your activity levels from this humble beginning. Your heart will start to grow stronger as your activity levels grow.
The 'talk test' is a good measure whilst exercising, if you can talk whilst being active, and are breathing a little more heavily, with a warm sensation throughout your body, you are generally moving at the right pace.
If you have a heart condition, we advise you to speak to your doctor or heart specialist about safe levels of exercise before you start, as this will help you to stay safe whilst building your level of activity.
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Page last reviewed: 10/02/2022
Next review date: 10/02/2024