Stopping smoking is the single best thing you can do for your health, and the risk of heart disease and many cancers falls steadily in the years after you stop. Some of that risk remains for a long time, particularly for the lungs and heart. A screen designed around your smoking history checks the right things, and makes sure you do not miss national programmes you may now be eligible for.
Reviewed by the medical team at The Wellness. Last updated 14 November 2026.
Arrange your screening on WhatsApp
Key points
Risk falls after stopping smoking, but some of it remains for years.
Your smoking history, in years and amount, shapes which tests are useful.
The NHS offers lung checks to some former smokers aged 55 to 74.
Men are offered a one-off aortic aneurysm scan in the year they turn 65.
A GP consultation is £150, with blood panels from £650.
Does it matter how long ago I stopped?
Yes. The risk of heart disease falls quickly, and within a few years of stopping it is much closer to that of someone who never smoked. Lung cancer risk falls more slowly, over many years. How much you smoked and for how long also matter, so your doctor will ask about both.
What is worth checking?
Heart and circulation. Blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and a heart risk estimate.
Lungs. Symptoms such as a cough, breathlessness or chest infections, and a breathing test called spirometry where it would help.
National lung checks. The NHS invites some current and former smokers aged 55 to 74 to a lung health check, which may include a low dose CT scan.
Aortic aneurysm. Men are invited for a one-off ultrasound scan of the aorta in the year they turn 65, and smoking raises the risk.
Bladder, mouth and throat. Blood in the urine, a persistent hoarse voice or a mouth ulcer that does not heal should always be checked.
Should I have a CT scan of my lungs?
A low dose CT scan can find early lung cancer in people at high risk, which is why the NHS offers it through its lung health checks. For people at lower risk, a scan may find small harmless spots that lead to repeat scans and worry. Your doctor will look at your age and smoking history and advise whether a scan is likely to help you, and whether you can access it through the NHS programme.
What symptoms should not wait?
A cough lasting more than three weeks, or a change in a long-standing cough
Coughing up blood
Unexplained weight loss or loss of appetite
Breathlessness that is new or getting worse
A hoarse voice lasting more than three weeks
See a doctor promptly if you have any of these, rather than waiting for a screening appointment.
What happens afterwards?
You receive a written summary and a plan. Where a test or referral is needed, our team arranges it and keeps you updated until it is done.
What does it cost?
Most people begin with a GP consultation, which is £150, where the doctor takes your history and agrees which tests are worth doing. Blood panels include Advanced Health at £650 and Longevity+ at £1,395. Scans, heart tests and specialist opinions are added only when your doctor recommends them, and every fee is confirmed with you before anything is booked.
How do I arrange an appointment?
Send us a message on WhatsApp with a few words about what you would like help with, and we will offer you the earliest time with one of our doctors. Appointments run from 7am to 9pm every day by video, and in person at our clinics in Marylebone and Belgravia. You do not need a referral, and you do not need to be registered with an NHS GP.
After your appointment you receive a written summary of what was discussed. Our team then arranges any tests, prescriptions or referrals your doctor recommends, and keeps you updated at each step, so nothing is left for you to chase.
Frequently asked questions
I stopped 20 years ago. Is my risk back to normal?
Heart risk will be much lower, but some lung risk may remain. Your doctor will advise based on your history.
Can I have a lung scan privately?
It is possible, and your doctor will advise whether it is likely to help you or whether the NHS programme is open to you.
Does vaping count?
Tell your doctor if you vape. The long term effects are still being studied, and it is part of your history.
Will a chest X-ray find lung cancer early?
A chest X-ray is not a screening test and can miss early cancers. Your doctor will explain the options.
How much does it cost?
A GP consultation is £150. Blood panels include Advanced Health at £650 and Longevity+ at £1,395.
The Online GP is part of The Wellness, a doctor-led private healthcare group with clinics at 10 Portman Square, Marylebone, and 9 Eccleston Street, Belgravia. All doctors are GMC-registered. Prescriptions are issued only after a consultation and clinical assessment, when the doctor judges them appropriate. In an emergency call 999. This article is general information and not a substitute for medical advice about your own health.
Message us on WhatsApp on +44 7961 280835 (ref OGP-executive-screening-for-former-smokers) and we will arrange your appointment.
Sources
NICE NG238, cardiovascular disease risk assessment and reduction
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