The paradox of health education

Abstract

A while ago, my receptionist came through to say that a patient had phoned our rooms in a panic and asked to see me as an emergency. I was very booked up, but said that I would fit her in just before lunch. She arrived early and was obviously anxious. It turned out that she had gone to the chemist and had had a cholesterol test. The result was 6 mmol and the chemist had told her it was “too high” and “above normal”. She thought that she was going to have a stroke immediately and had come in for a check-up.