You probably know when your next holiday is. Your next work deadline, too. But when did you last look at your blood pressure or ask whether your cholesterol had changed?
Autumn offers a natural moment to revisit your health. Summer routines have shifted, and diaries are filling up. A useful wellness reset begins with understanding where you are now. Your health numbers can help, especially when considered alongside previous results, your medical history and how you feel.
At Sur Wellness, we believe that understanding should come before action. Here are the measurements worth discussing, and how to make them useful over time.
1. Start with your own health history
A single result is a snapshot. Earlier readings help a clinician assess whether something is stable, changing or needs further investigation.
Bring previous reports, dates, medication details and any advice you received to your consultation. Mention relevant family history and symptoms, including changes you have been putting down to a busy schedule.
Your age, medical history and personal circumstances help determine which checks are appropriate. You do not need every test on a list. You need to understand which ones could inform your care.
2. Blood pressure and the value of repeated readings
High blood pressure often causes no obvious symptoms, so feeling well does not reliably tell you whether it is raised. [1]
Blood pressure is measured using two numbers: pressure as your heart pumps and as it relaxes. A clinic reading of 140/90 mmHg or above usually needs further assessment. A home average of 135/85 mmHg or above is also considered raised. Either number can matter. These are assessment thresholds, not individual treatment targets. [1, 2]
One reading does not usually establish a diagnosis. If home monitoring is recommended, use a validated monitor with a suitable cuff and follow your clinician’s instructions. Sit quietly with your arm supported and record readings consistently. [2]
Keep the higher readings as well as the reassuring ones. Ask when to review the record and what should prompt earlier advice.
3. Cholesterol needs a wider conversation
A cholesterol result makes more sense when you know which measurement you are looking at. Total cholesterol, HDL and non-HDL cholesterol provide different information.
NHS guidance gives total cholesterol below 5 mmol/L and non-HDL cholesterol below 4 mmol/L as general guides for healthy adults. Your targets may differ according to your cardiovascular risk and medical history. [3]
Your clinician considers the result alongside factors such as age, blood pressure and existing conditions. Two people with the same cholesterol figure may receive different advice. [3]
Bring earlier results and ask whether anything has changed enough to affect your care. If treatment is recommended, make sure you understand how its effect will be reviewed.
4. Blood sugar and what HbA1c can show
HbA1c reflects average blood glucose over roughly the previous two to three months. It provides a broader picture than a reading taken at one moment, although it does not show every daily fluctuation. [4]
For adults being assessed for type 2 diabetes risk, an HbA1c of 42 to 47 mmol/mol indicates a high-risk range. A result of 48 mmol/mol or above may indicate diabetes and requires clinical assessment. Without symptoms, a second test is generally needed to confirm the diagnosis. [5]
These assessment thresholds are not automatically the same as treatment targets for someone already living with diabetes.
If you are identified as being at high risk, ask about support and review timing. NICE recommends at least annual blood testing for this group, with care tailored to the individual. [5]
5. Waist measurement and weight in context
Weight can contribute to a health assessment, but it cannot explain your health on its own.
For adults with a BMI below 35, NICE recommends using waist to height ratio alongside BMI to help assess risks associated with fat around the abdomen. The general advice is to keep your waist below half your height. For someone who is 170 cm tall, that means below 85 cm. [6]
This is a screening guide, not an aesthetic target. If monitoring is appropriate, ask how to measure consistently and how often it will help. Mention unexplained changes and tell your clinician if tracking weight causes distress. Your wellbeing belongs in the conversation, too.
6. Sleep and the pattern behind your energy
Most adults need around seven to nine hours of sleep, although individual needs vary. How you feel during the day matters alongside the hours recorded. [7]
For a week or two, try noting your bedtime, waking time, interruptions and whether you feel rested. A simple diary can help you describe patterns without chasing a perfect score on your watch.
Are late working nights becoming routine? Are you waking frequently despite allowing enough time for sleep?
If poor sleep persists or affects daily life, speak to a clinician. You do not need months of tracking before asking for help. [7]
7. Activity minutes that fit real life
For adults aged 19 to 64, NHS guidance recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate activity a week, or 75 minutes of vigorous activity, plus strengthening activities on at least two days. Moderate activity makes you breathe faster while still allowing you to talk. [8]
Five 30 minute sessions are one way to reach 150 minutes. Shorter periods also contribute. Walking, cycling and dancing can all fit into an ordinary week. [8]
Track active minutes and strength sessions if that helps you stay consistent. Plan an indoor option for days when Glasgow weather has other ideas.
If you have been inactive or have medical concerns, seek advice before increasing intensity. Choose a routine that fits your health and abilities. [8]
8. Blood tests should answer a clinical question
Persistent tiredness deserves attention. Depending on your symptoms and history, a clinician may consider tests for causes such as anaemia, diabetes or thyroid problems. [9]
Explain what has changed, when it started and how it affects daily life. Is it sleepiness, reduced stamina or difficulty concentrating? Mention medicines and supplements as well.
Ask what each proposed test is investigating and how the result could change your care. If the initial results do not explain your symptoms, ask what happens next. An unexplained symptom deserves a plan, even when a report looks reassuring.
9. Vitamin D deserves a seasonal mention
In Scotland, NHS inform advises considering a daily vitamin D supplement containing 10 micrograms, equivalent to 400 IU, particularly during autumn and winter. Some people need supplementation throughout the year. [10]
This advice does not mean everyone needs a seasonal vitamin blood test. Ask whether testing would be useful in your circumstances.
Check what your existing supplements contain. People with certain medical conditions may need individual advice about whether the standard dose is suitable. More is not automatically better. [10]
Agree what happens next
You do not need to track every measurement here. Agree which ones matter with your clinician, then keep a simple record of the date, result, units and next step.
Review intervals differ. Some checks may need attention sooner than an annual appointment; others may be appropriate less often. More frequent testing is not automatically more useful. [2, 5]
Before leaving a consultation, ask three questions: what does this mean, what should I do next, and when should we review it?
New symptoms should not wait for a scheduled check. If you currently have heart palpitations with chest pain, shortness of breath, or feeling faint or fainting, call 999. [11]
Make your autumn reset personal
Start by finding your latest results. Is there advice you have not followed up, a figure you never understood or a change you want to discuss?
At Sur Wellness, the starting point is a conversation about your concerns, your history and what you want to understand. Ask which assessments may be appropriate and what a sensible next step could look like.
This autumn, give your health numbers some context and yourself a clearer plan.
Talk to our Specialists.
Clinical references
These references support the numbered citations in the blog. The blog is general information for adults; individual testing and treatment decisions require clinical assessment.
[1] NHS. High blood pressure.
[2] NICE. Hypertension in adults: diagnosis and management, NG136.
[3] NHS. High cholesterol: cholesterol levels.
[4] NHS Scotland, My Diabetes My Way. HbA1c explained.
[5] NICE. Type 2 diabetes: prevention in people at high risk, PH38.
[6] NICE. Overweight and obesity management, NG246: identifying and assessing overweight, obesity and central adiposity.
[7] NHS inform. Insomnia.
[8] NHS. Physical activity guidelines for adults aged 19 to 64.
[9] NHS. Tiredness and fatigue.
[10] NHS inform. Vitamin D.
[11] NHS. Heart palpitations.