No Symptoms? Why Healthy People Get Health Checks

"I feel fine, so why would I need a health check?" It's a fair question. When you feel well, it's easy to assume everything is as it should be, especially if you're active, eat reasonably well and have no obvious concerns.

But some common health conditions can develop without noticeable symptoms. High blood pressure and high cholesterol, for example, can go unnoticed for years. Early kidney disease and fatty liver disease may also cause no symptoms at first.

A health check gives you a clearer picture of certain aspects of your health, even when nothing feels wrong. It can highlight results worth following up and give you a baseline to compare with future checks. It can't guarantee that you're healthy or replace medical advice, but knowing your numbers can help you make informed decisions.

Common Conditions That Don't Cause Symptoms

Feeling well is a good thing, but it doesn't tell you everything about your health. Here are six conditions that can develop without obvious signs and the markers a Health MOT can measure.

High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, puts extra strain on your blood vessels and heart. Over time, it can increase your risk of heart disease, stroke and other health problems.

High blood pressure doesn't usually cause any symptoms. The only way to find out if you have it is to have your blood pressure checked, so it's useful to understand how often to check your blood pressure.

Bluecrest measures blood pressure in all three Health MOTs. It's also an area where Bluecrest's own assessment data highlights the value of knowing your numbers: almost 40% of first-time customers had a red flag for blood pressure despite taking no medication for it.

This figure relates to customers who were not taking medication for their blood pressure, not necessarily people who had no symptoms.

High Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a fatty substance in your blood. Your body needs some cholesterol to function, but too much of certain types can contribute to fatty deposits building up in your arteries.

High cholesterol doesn't usually cause symptoms. A blood test is the way to find out whether your levels are raised.

Bluecrest includes a cholesterol test in all three Health MOTs. The Complete Health MOT also includes lipoprotein (a), another type of blood fat associated with cardiovascular risk.

Bluecrest data shows that 35.5% of first-time customers had a cholesterol flag, despite answering no to medication. This reflects findings among customers who reported not taking medication for cholesterol, rather than specifically those without symptoms.

A result outside the expected range doesn't automatically mean you need treatment. Your GP can consider it alongside your other results and personal risk factors.

Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes affects how the body uses insulin to control blood sugar. Prediabetes means blood sugar is higher than expected but below the level used to identify type 2 diabetes.

Neither necessarily causes noticeable symptoms in the early stages. Some people may feel well even when their blood sugar is above the recommended range.

Diabetes UK estimates that almost 1.3 million people in the UK could be living with type 2 diabetes without knowing it, while millions more are at increased risk.

Bluecrest includes an HbA1c test in all three Health MOTs. This blood test measures average blood sugar over roughly the previous two to three months and can indicate whether further medical assessment may be needed.

A raised result isn't a diagnosis on its own. Your GP can advise on any further tests or next steps.

Early Kidney Disease

Your kidneys filter waste and excess fluid from your blood, helping to keep your body working as it should. Kidney disease can develop gradually, sometimes as a result of diabetes, high blood pressure or other health conditions.

Early kidney disease often causes no noticeable symptoms. You may feel well while changes in kidney function are already present.

Bluecrest Health MOTs include kidney function testing, measuring creatinine and estimating kidney function using eGFR. These markers can help show how well your kidneys are working, although a result needs to be interpreted in context and may need further investigation.

If you have risk factors such as diabetes or high blood pressure, your GP can advise whether you need regular kidney checks.

Fatty Liver Disease

Fatty liver disease occurs when excess fat builds up in the liver. It's often associated with factors such as carrying excess weight, type 2 diabetes and raised blood fats, although there can be other causes.

Fatty liver disease doesn't usually cause any symptoms and is often found when tests are carried out for another reason.

Liver function markers are included in all three Bluecrest Health MOTs. They can show changes that may need further investigation, but they can't confirm the cause on their own. Some people with fatty liver disease may also have liver function results within the expected range.

Your GP can advise on further tests or changes that may help protect your liver health.

Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is a type of irregular heart rhythm. It can make your heart beat faster than usual or feel as though it's fluttering, but some people don't notice anything unusual.

Atrial fibrillation can sometimes have no symptoms and may be found during a routine check-up.

Bluecrest includes a six-lead ECG in all three Health MOTs. It records the heart's electrical activity and screens for rhythm problems that may need further assessment. If the result suggests a possible issue, your GP can arrange a full 12-lead ECG or other investigations where appropriate.

An ECG is one part of understanding your heart health, rather than a guarantee that every heart problem will be identified.

"I Felt Completely Fine": What Real Customers Found

Health checks can sometimes flag something that a person hadn't realised needed attention. These Bluecrest customers had no symptoms or no idea there was an issue before their results prompted further investigation.

Jody: An Unexpected Result Despite an Active Lifestyle

At 32, Jody was a fit cyclist and gym-goer who described having "absolutely no symptoms" before a health check. The results highlighted very high calcium levels, and further tests by Jody's GP pointed to a diagnosis of a rare calcium disorder.

Calcium is included among the bone health markers in all three Bluecrest Health MOTs. Jody's experience shows how a result can raise a question that wasn't prompted by how someone felt day to day. The diagnosis came through further medical follow-up, rather than the health check alone.

Peter: An Unexpected Heart Rhythm Finding

Peter had no idea he had atrial fibrillation until his Bluecrest results flagged a possible heart rhythm problem. As he put it: "I had no idea!"

Peter contacted the Bluecrest Wellness GP and was advised to see his own GP. Peter's experience is a useful example of what happens when a check flags something that needs further attention: the result is a starting point for medical follow-up, not the final answer.

Atrial fibrillation can sometimes cause no obvious symptoms, which is one reason an ECG may provide information that a person wouldn't otherwise have.

Julie: Raised Iron Levels With No Symptoms

Julie said "I had no symptoms at all" before a raised iron result led to a diagnosis of hereditary haemochromatosis. This inherited condition causes the body to absorb and store too much iron, which can damage organs if it isn't managed.

Iron is measured in all three Bluecrest Health MOTs. A raised result doesn't automatically mean someone has haemochromatosis, but it can prompt further investigation where needed.

Julie's experience highlights the difference between a health check and a diagnosis: the result raised a concern, and further medical assessment established the cause.

What a Health Check Can and Can't Tell You

A health check is a way to find out more about selected aspects of your health, even when you feel well. It isn't a complete picture of everything happening in your body.

A health check can:

• Give you a baseline for key markers such as blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and kidney function.
• Flag results as red, amber or green to help show which findings may need attention.
• Help you compare results over time if you return for another assessment.
• Prompt a conversation with your GP about whether further tests or changes to your lifestyle may be appropriate.

A health check can't:

• Diagnose a condition. Your GP may need to assess your medical history, symptoms and other test results.
• Guarantee that everything is fine if your results are within the expected ranges.
• Replace NHS screening programmes or tests arranged by your GP for a particular concern.

Bluecrest communicates critical results to customers straight away. Other red flags and amber flags may also need follow-up, depending on the result and your circumstances.

Knowing about a health flag can help you decide what to do next. Bluecrest data shows that 84% of customers who know about a health flag take action, whether that means speaking to their GP or making changes to their lifestyle.

The NHS Health Check and Private Checks

In England, the NHS Health Check is offered to eligible adults aged 40 to 74 who don't already have certain conditions. It's generally offered every five years and looks at factors including blood pressure, cholesterol and, where appropriate, blood sugar. It also estimates the risk of heart and circulation problems.

A private health check is a separate option for people who want to look at additional markers, or who don't fall within the NHS Health Check's age or eligibility criteria. The right choice depends on your circumstances and what information you're looking for.

Private testing isn't a replacement for NHS care. If you're eligible for an NHS Health Check, you can ask your GP surgery or local authority about availability.

If You Do Have Symptoms

This article is for people who feel well and want to understand their health markers. If you have symptoms that concern you, speak to your GP rather than waiting for a health check. A GP can assess your symptoms and decide whether you need specific tests or treatment.

Choosing a Check When You Feel Well

If you decide a health check would be useful, choosing the right one depends on how many markers you'd like to look at.

• Active Health MOT: includes 24 blood readings plus seven non-blood tests.
• Core Health MOT: includes 36 blood readings, adding full blood count markers.
• Complete Health MOT: includes 37 blood readings, adding lipoprotein (a) and a Private GP Consultation.

All three Bluecrest Health MOTs are available to adults aged 18 and over, don't require fasting and include access to a 24/7 GP helpline. A GP consultation is included with the Complete Health MOT.

Your age may also influence what you'd like to focus on, whether you're considering health checks in your 40s, 50s or 60s. How often to have a health check will depend on your individual circumstances.

The aim isn't to find something wrong at every check. It's to give you useful information about selected aspects of your health, so you can decide what to do with it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it worth having a health check if I feel fine?

It can be worth having a Health MOT even if you feel fine, because some common conditions, including high blood pressure and high cholesterol, don't usually cause symptoms. A health check gives you information about selected health markers, although it can't guarantee that everything is fine.

Which health problems can have no symptoms?

High blood pressure, high cholesterol, prediabetes, early kidney disease, fatty liver disease and atrial fibrillation can all develop without obvious symptoms. A health check can measure certain markers linked to these conditions, but further assessment may be needed to understand an abnormal result.

How often should a healthy adult have a check?

There isn't one schedule that suits everyone. How often to have a health check depends on your age, medical history, risk factors and the type of check. Your GP can advise on any checks you need.

What happens if something is flagged?

Results are marked red, amber or green to help indicate whether a result may need attention. Bluecrest communicates critical results straight away. Depending on the finding, you may be advised to speak to your GP or have further tests. A red flag doesn't automatically mean you have a condition.

Can a health check find cancer?

Bluecrest Health MOTs aren't cancer tests and can't rule cancer out. Some results may indicate that further medical assessment is needed, but they aren't designed to identify every cancer. Follow NHS screening recommendations where you're eligible, and speak to your GP if you have symptoms or concerns.