CellNurish FIVE
CellNurish Health Awareness Campaign
FIVE Pillars of Health
CellNurish FIVE is my health awareness campaign, encouraging you to understand the health information you may already have access to, what it means for you as an individual, and how it relates to your overall health. The aim is to help you become more familiar with your own health information, ask questions where appropriate and make informed decisions about your health and wellbeing.
CellNurish FIVE campaign focuses on five important health measures: blood pressure, blood glucose (HbA1c), cholesterol, weight/BMI and kidney function (eGFR). Although these measures are often considered separately, they are closely connected. Changes in one can influence another, and together they provide a broader picture of your health. Blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol and weight are all recognised risk factors for declining kidney function, while kidney function is also influenced by, and can influence, other aspects of health. Understanding how these measures relate to one another can help build a more complete picture of your individual health.
This campaign complements the principles of the NHS Health Check by encouraging awareness of key health measures and highlighting kidney function (eGFR) as another important part of your health information.
How to use CellNurish FIVE
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Collect your health information – Find your blood pressure, HbA1c, cholesterol, weight (or BMI/waist measurement) and kidney function (eGFR) results, where available.
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Understand what they mean – Use the five pillars below to learn what each measurement represents, why it is important and how the measures work together to provide a broader picture of your health.
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Talk to your healthcare professional – If you have any questions or would like to understand your results in the context of your own health, discuss them with your GP or another appropriate healthcare professional.
By increasing awareness of these FIVE measures, the aim is to help you know your results, understand why they are important, and to have the awareness to seek further information or support if needed.
Remember: Your results should always be interpreted in the context of your overall health. Existing medical conditions, medications, age, sex, ethnic background and other individual factors can all influence how results are interpreted. If you already have a diagnosed health condition, some of your results may be expected and consistent with your diagnosis or treatment. Some tests may also have different reference ranges or clinical thresholds for different groups of people.
Blood Pressure
mmHg
What is it?
Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps blood around your body.
How is it measured?
It is measured using a blood pressure monitor and recorded as two numbers: systolic (when the heart contracts) and diastolic (when the heart relaxes).
Why is it important?
Blood pressure is essential for delivering oxygen and nutrients throughout the body. Blood pressure that is consistently too high or too low can affect how well your organs function.
How does it relate to disease and risk?
Persistently raised blood pressure is a recognised risk factor for cardiovascular disease and declining kidney function, while reduced kidney function can also contribute to changes in blood pressure.
Blood Glucose HbA1c
What is it?
HbA1c is a blood test that measures the amount of glucose attached to your haemoglobin (Hb), the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen around your body.
How is it measured?
As red blood cells are continually replaced over approximately three months, HbA1c provides an indication of your average blood glucose level over the previous two to three months.
Why is it important?
HbA1c is widely used in the diagnosis and monitoring of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. It provides valuable information about how your body has been managing blood glucose over time.
How does it relate to disease and risk?Persistently raised blood glucose can damage blood vessels and nerves throughout the body and increase the risk of developing diabetes and its associated complications, including kidney disease.
Cholesterol
mmol/L
What is it?
Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is made naturally by your body and is also obtained from some foods. It is essential for producing hormones, vitamin D, bile acids and maintaining healthy cell membranes.
How is it measured?
A blood test measures the amount of cholesterol circulating in your blood. Results may include total cholesterol, HDL (“good”) cholesterol, LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and triglycerides.
Why is it important?
Your body needs cholesterol to function normally, but maintaining healthy cholesterol levels is an important part of cardiovascular health.
How does it relate to disease and risk?
Raised cholesterol can contribute to the build-up of fatty deposits within blood vessels, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular health and kidney health are closely connected.
Weight/BMI
Waist:Height Ratio
What is it?
Weight, Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist-to-height ratio are simple measurements that provide information about body size and fat distribution.
How is it measured?
Weight is measured using scales. BMI is calculated from your height and weight, while waist-to-height ratio compares your waist measurement with your height.
Why is it important?
Together, these measurements help build a picture of your overall health. They should always be considered alongside your lifestyle, medical history and other health information.
How does it relate to disease and risk?
Carrying excess body fat, particularly around the waist, is associated with an increased risk of conditions including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and reduced kidney function.
Kidney Function
eGFR
What is it?
Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is a calculation that estimates how well your kidneys are filtering waste products from your blood.
How is it measured?
eGFR is calculated from a blood test measuring creatinine, together with factors such as your age and sex.
Why is it important?
Healthy kidneys remove waste products and excess fluid while helping to regulate blood pressure, maintain the balance of minerals and support many important functions throughout the body.
How does it relate to disease and risk?
Kidney function can be influenced by many factors, including blood pressure, blood glucose and some medicines. Persistently reduced kidney function below 60 ml/min may indicate chronic kidney disease, but eGFR should always be interpreted alongside your medical history and other test results.