Brits take an average of eight months to seek help for health issues, poll reveals

Female doctor examining patient s neck in clinic examination room
Britons take an average of eight months to seek help with medical issues, a survey has revealed (Picture: Getty)

Brits take an average of eight months to seek help when it comes to health issues, a new poll has revealed.

The study of 2,000 Britons revealed that a quarter admit they are currently putting off a trip to their GP, with a fifth regretting the length of time they delayed much-needed appointments.

Nearly a third let their health suffer because because daily inconveniences mean they procrastinate, rather than fix the problem and of those a quarter (26%) believe they’ve left a visit to the GP for so long they feel embarrassed to deal with it.

The survey, conducted by OnePoll.com, was commissioned by Acuvue and also revealed that nearly half of those putting off a medical visit are procrastinating over attending about regular eye tests at the opticians, with 14% thinking they can wait for their vision problems to become more serious before they book their test.

The research found that nearly a third of Brits aged 45 years and older confessed their sight issue is down to procrastinating when it comes to important life admin.

A study of 2,000 Brits revealed a fifth of the nation regret the length of time they have spent putting off much needed appointments (Picture: SWNS)
A study of 2,000 Brits revealed a fifth of the nation regret the length of time they have spent putting off much needed appointments (Picture: SWNS)

One in ten (11%) admitted choosing to ignore problems amid fears they might be a sign of something bigger, while 18% think their health problem is small enough that they can ignore it.

Four in ten (42%) of respondents also admitted avoiding a check-up at the dentist despite feeling they need to go.

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The survey comes after Acuvue’s previous research with Eurostat Data revealed 83% of UK adults aged 40 and over experience presbyopia - also known as “Long-Arm syndrome” - which means holding phones and other items away from your face in order to be able to read them.

Johnson & Johnson Vision’s Dr Kamlesh Chauhan, director of professional education, Northern Europe said: “Health check-ups might be an inconvenience, but they are necessary for managing smaller issues before they become big ones.

“Presbyopia is a visual impairment which affects billions of people, but the early symptoms are subtle – a minor frustration to begin with that can be easily put off.”

THE TOP 5 HEALTH CHECK UPS BRITS ARE PUTTING OFF
1. Dentist check-up
2. Eye Tests (glasses and non-glasses wearers)
3. Visiting the GP
4. Blood pressure check-up
5. Blood test