Regular medical examinations are an effective way to detect potential health disorders or diseases early on, even when there are no symptoms or signs present. Detecting a health condition in its infancy and getting the appropriate treatment helps prevent the problem from aggravating, giving patients better control over their health. If you have a family history of a condition, it could be likely that you will develop the particular disease sometime in your lifetime.
That renders it even more critical to conduct routine health checks to pick up early warning signs and make informed decisions regarding your health. Here is a glance over a series of crucial medical tests you must undergo to safeguard your health and live a healthy life free from medical woes.
Lipid Panel
A lipid panel measures cholesterol, a waxy, fat-like substance produced by our liver naturally and present in our blood. It is a vital substance as it helps our body build healthy cell membranes, make vitamins and other hormones. While the small amount of cholesterol produced naturally by our liver is critical for our body and not inherently bad, excess cholesterol created through foods high in saturated and trans fats poses a significant risk to our health.
A cholesterol blood test measures the amount of LDL (bad) and HDL (good) cholesterol in our blood. A high LDL cholesterol can put one at risk for heart disease and other serious diseases. It blocks the blood from normally flowing through your arteries. High blood cholesterol reduces the supply of oxygen-rich blood to several organs in your body, like your heart and brain. When blood flow to the heart gets blocked, it can cause a clot and lead to a heart attack, whereas blood supply blockage to the brain puts you at risk of having a stroke.
Those with high cholesterol levels usually do not exhibit any symptoms of the condition, putting them at a huge risk of cardiovascular disease. That makes it crucial to have your cholesterol tested from time to time so you can change your diet and lifestyle and bring cholesterol levels within the normal range.
Blood Sugar
High blood sugar levels can lead to diabetes, a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas cannot make enough insulin and use it effectively. Insulin helps the sugar we consume enter our cells, which is then used by our body for energy. When the body does not produce the insulin needed, it leads to the glucose staying in our blood and not reaching the cells.
Having excess blood sugar levels can cause several health problems. Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are the most common forms of the condition. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 34 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with diabetes.
If you have a family history of the disease, are overweight, or live a sedentary lifestyle, there is a significant risk of developing the condition. You may consider undergoing a complete metabolic panel, a group of 14 tests measuring various substances in your blood, including glucose levels. That way, you can catch the problem early on and effectively manage it.
If left untreated, diabetes can lead to several health complications, including but not limited to heart disease, stroke, kidney damage, and nerve damage.
Blood Pressure
Easy and painless, blood pressure tests are of paramount importance when it is about heart health. High blood pressure does not exhibit any symptoms, making it essential to monitor it to detect any abnormalities.
According to the American Heart Association, almost half of the adults in the United States have high blood pressure, equating to one in every three adults. Since persistently high and uncontrolled blood pressure is a major risk factor of potentially life-threatening conditions, it is imperative to get your blood pressure checked regularly, preferably every year if you are over 40.
Completed Blood Count (CBC)
The CBC is a series of tests that evaluate various essential components and features of the blood, including red blood cells, white blood cells, hemoglobin, platelets, and hematocrit. These results can give your doctor important information about your overall health and detect and wide range of diseases and disorders. These include anemia, infection, leukemia, autoimmune disorders, inflammation, and more.
Any abnormal fluctuations in cell counts in the results could indicate that you have an underlying medical condition that requires further evaluation.
Thyroid Function Tests
Thyroid function tests are a series of blood tests done to find how well the thyroid gland is working. The thyroid gland in the neck produces the hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) that are essential for all the cells in your body to function normally. They are vital in regulating the metabolism, growth, and development of our bodies.
You may check out the symptoms here to determine whether you need to get your thyroid levels checked.
Colorectal Cancer
For someone approaching or over 50, a colorectal or colon cancer screening is a must. As the name indicates, colon cancer affects the colon or rectum and is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Early detection significantly increases the chances of a cure as it responds well to treatment.
Getting a colon cancer screening can significantly reduce your risk of developing the disease, as it is one of the most preventable cancers. As most colon cancers originate from polyps, finding and removing these polyps before they turn into cancer can prevent colorectal cancer. While there are various methods to test for the disease, the most recommended and prevalent way is colonoscopy.
Mammogram
A mammogram is an x-ray screening test for breast cancer. Breast cancer is the second most commonly occurring cancer amongst women in America. All women over the age of 40 must undergo a mammogram every two years to detect the disease in its early stages and enhance the chances of successful treatment.
Breast cancer is highly treatable if detected early, and a mammogram can detect breast cancer for up to two years before the tumor becomes big enough to feel or cause any symptoms.
STI Test
You must get yourself tested for sexually transmitted diseases if you are sexually active. There has been an upswing in chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis in American, including cases in older adults.
According to CDC estimates, there are around 20 million new STD cases each year, with only a fraction reported. Chlamydia is a common infection that does not always show symptoms, making it difficult to catch early.
While the best way to protect yourself from STDs is with condoms, you also need to be screened for STDs every year, especially if you have any new partners.
Early detection of many diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers can result in better treatment and management of the conditions, reducing the risk of serious complications while increasing the chances of a better health outcome. While age is a major risk factor for numerous life-altering diseases and illnesses, early detection and treatment can provide the body with the best defense and prevent a chronic disorder from further developing.
Rather than get a colonoscopy every 5 years I opted for the cologuard the last time