It is a truism that when a man has a cold the whole world knows about it, but when the ailment is potentially more serious he will avoid the doctor . . . like the plague. This is a problem the government hopes to tackle with its recent announcement of comprehensive health MoTs targeted at groups such as middle-aged men.

The tests will reportedly be available through GPs’ surgeries and will include screenings to detect early stages of heart problems, stroke or kidney disease.

For many health professionals these tests – if they materialise – will be long overdue, joining the established health screening programmes for breast and cervical cancer in women and prostate and testicular cancer in men.

Your GP may already offer a free “well-man” (or well-woman) health screening service. While not as comprehensive as the promised new checks, the screenings assess blood pressure and weight, and include blood and urine tests. They can pick up signs of diabetes and kidney or liver infections.

Most well-man screenings also include a check for testicular cancer, and possibly for other cancers if you fall within an at-risk age bracket or if your family history determines a need. But not all GPs offer this service, and an NHS doctor is unlikely to book you in for more thorough tests on your heart – such as electrocardiograms or echocardiograms – unless a specific problem is diagnosed.

However, there are checks you can carry out by yourself for problems such as high blood pressure, which is often caused by bad diet, smoking and lack of exercise. It’s important to keep an eye on blood pressure as it can be a main contributor to cardiovascular disease, the world’s biggest killer.

Also, for those aged 60-69, the NHS bowel-cancer screening programme, launched last year and now being rolled out across the UK, offers regular screening to both men and women every two years.

If you want a really thorough MoT you’ll have to go private. Bupa’s health and fitness assessment (www.bupa.com ) includes a cardio-respiratory exercise to test heart and lung function. It lasts up to two hours and costs £480 for men. BMI Healthcare (www.bmihealthcare.co.uk ) offers similar male health screening at its national network of hospitals, costing between £366.50 and £530.

TAKING IT FURTHER

www.bpassoc.org.uk The website of the Blood Pressure Association gives excellent advice on how to detect and treat high blood pressure

www.malehealth.co.uk A resource provided by the Men’s Health Forum where men can find out about potentially embarrassing medical conditions

www.netdoctor.co.uk A respected source of health information that gives explanations of the diagnostic tests you are likely to receive from a doctor

Home health-screening Measuring blood pressure yourself can be done with a simple self-inflating monitor (see kit bag) but do ensure the cuff fits and is used correctly. Most people should aim to get a reading of below 140/85mmHg and preferably below 130/80mmHg. If it is consistently higher than this over a two-week period, consult your GP The best place to check your own pulse is on the wrist. Always use your index and second finger rather than a thumb as it has its own pulse, which can confuse matters. The rhythm should be regular and adults should have a resting heart rate of between 60 and 90 beats per minute

KIT BAG

Essential gear for a health MOT

Microlife home blood-pressure monitor – £35 from www.bpassoc.org.uk

High blood pressure is an important indicator of potential cardiovascular problems; this easy-use, pump-operated kit could help you to detect it early.

Home total and HDL cholesterol test – £18 from www.simplicityhealth.co.uk

This straightforward home test measures the level of “good” cholesterol (high density lipoprotein – HDL) present in your blood, and the total cholesterol, so indicating the level of “bad” cholesterol.

Omron Pro StepTrack pedometer – £30 from www.totallyfitness.co.uk

Think you do enough walking? Find out the truth with this nifty pedometer gadget that counts your exact number of steps, the distance walked and calories burnt.

Visual glucose testing kit – £6.50 from www.valuemed.co.uk

This home finger-prick test enables you to screen yourself for possible diabetes symptoms. The kit contains contains two test strips, lancets, and full instructions for self-testing and interpreting the result. The test is apparently easy to carry out, and takes only one minute.