22nd August 2026
The Highland Heart and Lung MOT: A Checklist You Can Do Yourself
The Scottish Government has just launched what it describes as a new “MOT” for the heart and lungs, designed to identify health risks earlier and give people the chance to do something about them before they become serious.
There is, however, a rather obvious problem for people living in the Highlands.
The new Healthy Heart and Lung Checks are initially being delivered in Tayside, Glasgow and Grampian. Highland is not included in the first phase. The Scottish Government says the programme will be developed and extended over five years, but for people living in Caithness there is no guarantee that the new service will arrive any time soon.
That does not mean Highland residents have to sit back and wait.
The official MOT includes blood pressure, BMI, heart rate, cholesterol, pulse and a lifestyle assessment. Most of those things can already be checked through existing health services, while some can be monitored yourself.
It is not a substitute for seeing your GP or another healthcare professional. But it can give you a much better picture of your own health and, importantly, provide information that you can take to your GP if something does not look right.
Here is a simple personal heart and lung MOT.
Your personal checklist
Know your blood pressure.
High blood pressure can exist without obvious symptoms and increases the risk of heart attack, stroke and other serious conditions. NHS Inform says some GP practices provide monitors for home use, while blood pressure can also be checked by a GP, practice nurse or pharmacist.
If you have a home monitor, do not rely on one isolated reading. Take readings properly and keep a record over several days.
If your readings are consistently high, discuss them with a healthcare professional rather than simply deciding that you have hypertension yourself.
Know your cholesterol.
High cholesterol normally produces no symptoms, which is precisely why it can be missed.
NHS Inform says cholesterol should be considered alongside other factors such as age, smoking, blood pressure and family history when assessing cardiovascular risk.
If you do not know your cholesterol level, ask your GP or healthcare professional whether you should have it checked.
Check your pulse.
Your pulse tells you how fast your heart is beating and whether it appears regular.
NHS Inform notes that checking the pulse is an important part of assessing heart health and that an irregular pulse can be a sign of a problem such as atrial fibrillation.
If your pulse repeatedly seems irregular, particularly if you also experience breathlessness, dizziness or palpitations, speak to a healthcare professional.
Know your weight and BMI.
Weight is only one part of the health picture, but it is worth knowing where you stand.
The Government's new MOT includes BMI because weight can form part of an assessment of cardiovascular risk. Do not become obsessed with a single number, however. Your overall health, fitness, diet, blood pressure and medical history are much more important than a number on the scales alone.
Be honest about smoking.
If you smoke, this is probably one of the most important questions in the entire MOT.
Smoking increases the risk of cardiovascular disease as well as respiratory disease. Stopping can make a substantial difference to future health.
If you have stopped smoking, record that too. Your previous smoking history remains relevant when discussing your health with a medical professional.
Think about your breathing.
Ask yourself some straightforward questions.
Are you more breathless than you used to be?
Do you become unusually short of breath walking uphill or climbing stairs?
Have you developed a persistent cough?
Are you wheezing?
Are you producing more phlegm than previously?
Has your exercise tolerance noticeably fallen?
None of these questions automatically means that you have lung disease. But a persistent or unexplained change should not simply be dismissed as getting older.
Look at your level of physical activity.
You do not need to become a marathon runner.
The useful question is whether you are moving regularly and whether your level of activity has changed.
A gradual reduction in walking, gardening, shopping or other everyday activity can sometimes go unnoticed until fitness has deteriorated considerably.
If you can safely increase your activity, even modestly, it can form part of reducing cardiovascular risk. NHS Inform identifies physical activity as one of the lifestyle factors that can influence cardiovascular disease risk.
Take a hard look at your diet.
This is not about going on a fashionable diet.
Look at what you actually eat during a normal week.
How much processed food do you consume?
How much salt?
How often do you eat fatty or processed meat?
How many fruit and vegetables do you eat?
Are you eating fish regularly?
NHS Inform notes that unsaturated fats can help reduce cholesterol, while saturated and trans fats can increase cholesterol and cardiovascular risk.
Small changes made consistently are likely to be more realistic than dramatic changes that last for two weeks.
Check how much alcohol you drink.
It is surprisingly easy to underestimate this.
If you regularly drink alcohol, work out how much you actually consume rather than relying on the number of glasses or bottles.
Alcohol consumption is one of the lifestyle factors associated with cardiovascular risk.
Consider your family history.
Did your parents, brothers or sisters develop heart disease, stroke or other cardiovascular problems at a relatively young age?
Do close relatives have high cholesterol?
Is there a history of heart rhythm problems?
Family history is something you cannot change, but it can be important information when your overall risk is being assessed.
Review your medicines.
If you take regular medication, know what you take and why.
If you are taking medication for blood pressure or cholesterol, do not stop taking it because you feel well. Conditions such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol often produce no obvious symptoms.
If you are unsure why you are taking a particular medicine, ask your pharmacist or GP.
Look at the trend, not just today's result.
This may be the most useful part of doing your own MOT.
Keep a simple record of your blood pressure, weight, pulse and any significant symptoms.
A single reading can be misleading. A trend over several months can tell you much more.
You may discover that your blood pressure has gradually risen, that your weight is creeping upwards or that you are becoming increasingly breathless when doing something that used to be easy.
That is information worth acting on.
And don't forget the lungs
The Government's new programme is deliberately called a heart and lung MOT.
It is easy to concentrate on blood pressure and cholesterol because they produce numbers that can be written down.
Lung problems are often different.
Pay attention to persistent coughing, unexplained breathlessness, wheezing, repeated chest infections, changes in your ability to exercise and any other persistent change in your normal breathing.
If you have a history of smoking or significant occupational exposure to dust, fumes or other respiratory hazards, make sure your GP knows about it.
What should you do if something concerns you?
Don't diagnose yourself from this checklist.
The purpose is to notice something that deserves attention.
If your blood pressure is repeatedly abnormal, your pulse is irregular, your cholesterol is high, your breathing has changed or you have another persistent concern, contact your GP, pharmacist or appropriate NHS service.
NHS Inform points out that cardiovascular risk is not determined by one measurement. Blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking, weight, exercise, diet, family history and other factors all form part of the picture.
And there is an important distinction between prevention and diagnosis.
This checklist is about prevention and awareness. It is not a diagnostic test.
Anyone experiencing potentially serious or rapidly worsening symptoms should seek appropriate medical attention rather than waiting to complete a personal MOT.
Why this matters in the Highlands
There is a wider issue here.
The Scottish Government has recognised that taking preventative healthcare into communities can identify problems earlier and potentially reduce the pressure on hospitals later. The new programme is specifically intended to reach people who may otherwise be less likely to use traditional health services.
That makes it particularly interesting for rural Scotland.
If someone in Caithness has to wait for a new national programme to arrive before taking an interest in their cardiovascular and respiratory health, an opportunity is being lost.
People cannot control where the Government chooses to establish its pilot schemes.
They can, however, take greater control of the information they have about their own health.
Knowing your blood pressure, understanding your cholesterol, being aware of your pulse, recognising changes in your breathing, keeping active, watching your diet and knowing your family history will not prevent every illness.
But it may help identify a problem earlier.
And sometimes knowing that something has changed is the most important part of the MOT.
The Scottish Govrnment Release
First Minister launches heart and lung MOTs
Health checks to enable earlier treatment and improve life chances.
People will be empowered to make better, more informed choices about their health with access to heart and lung MOT-style checks, First Minister John Swinney has announced.
Fulfilling one of the commitments made for the Scottish Government’s first 100 days, the Healthy Heart and Lung Checks are part of wider action to identify those most at risk of cardiovascular and respiratory disease, helping to prevent illness and support earlier intervention where needed.
Delivered by Chest Heart and Stroke (CHSS) and supported by local NHS services, the scheme will see people take part in a range of health tests, including blood pressure and BMI measurements, heart rate, cholesterol and pulse checks and a lifestyle assessment. People will receive advice and support based on their individual needs, allowing them to take control of their heart and lung health in a way that is relevant, achievable, and sustainable.
Initially available to people in Tayside, Glasgow and Grampian, the Scottish Government and CHSS will work together over five years to develop and extend the model. The programme will prioritise people and communities that are more likely to experience poorer health outcomes and less likely to access traditional health services, helping to reduce health inequalities and improve early diagnosis.
The First Minister will visit the CHSS Health Defence Hub in Dundee to mark the beginning of the strategic partnership today (Thursday 20 August). He said:
“We know illnesses related to heart and lung issues affect too many families in Scotland. As our population ages and our healthcare system faces growing pressure, proactive measures to keep people healthier are more important than ever.
“These Healthy Heart and Lung Checks will not only help identify people at risk of cardiovascular and respiratory conditions at an earlier stage but will also empower people to make better, more informed decisions about their health in a way which works for them.
“They will also help reach people who might not otherwise come forward, particularly in more disadvantaged communities where the burden of ill health is greatest.
“Alongside existing interventions, our new GP walk-in clinics, and additional investment in planned care, my government is delivering a strengthened NHS by reducing pressure on acute services and enabling people to get the care they need, when and where they need it.”
Chief Executive from CHSS Jane-Claire Judson said:
“Around one in five people in Scotland are living with a chest, heart or stroke condition, and we know that too many opportunities to prevent serious illness are missed because risks are identified too late.
"Our CHSS Health Defence Hubs are designed to take prevention directly into communities, helping people understand their health, identify risks earlier and access the support they need before life-changing conditions develop or worsen.
"We know that people experiencing the greatest barriers to good health are often the least likely to access traditional services. That is why this five-year partnership, with indicative funding of £3 million investment, will focus on reaching communities that experience poorer health outcomes, helping to tackle health inequalities that continue to affect too many people across Scotland.
"By working in partnership with the Scottish Government, the NHS and local communities over the next five years, we have an opportunity to prevent avoidable illness, improve health and give more people a fairer chance of living longer, healthier lives. Together, we can help create the conditions for a healthier Scotland, now and for the future.”
Background
Further information on Healthy Heart and Lung Checks can be found on Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland’s website.
The programme will be delivered through a new five-year strategic partnership and Scottish Government investment with Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS) and supported by local NHS services, building on the charity's existing Health Defence Hub model.
Latest population data relating to heart or lung conditions can be found in the 2024 Scottish Health Survey.
Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS) are Scotland’s largest health charity supporting people living with chest, heart and stroke conditions, as well as Long Covid. CHSS provides rehabilitation, self-management support, advocacy, information services and policy influencing. It estimates that one in five people in Scotland live with one of the conditions it represents.