DIY TESTS that could save your life

We service our cars and our boilers to keep them running smoothly, so why not our bodies?

Cervical cancer

Every year, more than 3,000 women in the UK are diagnosed with cervical cancer but, despite this, more than a million skip their screenings. An at-home HPV test doesn't replace the need for one, but could help if you're worried you may have this common sexually transmitted infection - women with high-risk strains of the HPV virus are more likely to develop cervical cancer. An HPV test only requires you to collect a sample from your vagina, which is then sent back to the lab for analysis.

EYE TEST

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) can cause you to lose central vision. Cover one eye, then the other - looking at a door frame. If there are gaps or kinks when it should be straight, see a GP or optometrist.

Healthy arteries

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD), is where the arteries that supply the leg muscles become furred up and can cause high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes. To see if you're at risk, lie on your back on a bed and elevate both (bare) legs to a 45-degree angle on cushions. Hold them there for one minute, then quickly hang your legs down over the side of the bed at 90 degrees. If one or both of your feet or legs become very pale when elevated but take several minutes to return to their normal colour, or become bright red when hanging, you could have blocked arteries and need to see your GP.