60 - Second DIY Tests

Take a Few Moments to Assess the State of Your Health.

- Mark Brook

Test your breathing

Poorly controlled asthma, age-related respiratory troubles or repeated exposure to harmful irritants, such as cigarette smoke, can all result in poor lung health, which could cause breathlessness during everyday activities.

Dr Magdalena Simonis says going for a walk is an easy way to gauge your breathing ability.

HOW TO It couldn’t be simpler. Briskly walk up two flights of stairs or around the block while talking to a friend. “The aim is to do it without having to stop to catch your breath,” she explains.

WHAT IT MEANS This test indicates the ability of the lungs to provide oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. If you are breathless or wheezing, or your breathing becomes uncomfortable, see your GP for a check-up.

“While difficulty breathing is often due to a decline in lung function, it can also be related to an underlying heart condition,” says Dr Simonis.

Test your brain

A simple sketch, such as the clock-drawing test, can be a useful predictor of cognitive impairment in people who are at risk of dementia, according to research published in Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders Extra.

HOW TO Draw a clock face on a piece of paper and mark in the hours. Next, add the hands to indicate a time, for example, quarter to two or 10 past 11.