Medical Tests That Could Save Your Life
There comes a time in everyone’s life when health starts to take precedence over a big Saturday night, or buying a new outfit to wear to your next event. Too often, many people will ignore any underlying health issues and dismiss them as something else. Although most people correlate health tests with poor health, there are a lot of tests available to help people stay on top of their good health. Many of these tests can help with avoiding future illnesses or diseases or assist you in keeping on track with your dietary needs. Have a look at some of the most important tests you can get done to ensure you are on top of your future and ease the pressure of staying on top of your health before it is too late.
Gene Testing
A lot of diseases and illnesses can be hereditary. For this reason genetic testing is becoming more and more common in the United States. Genetic testing looks at the DNA inherited from your parents and can be used to identify any risks of future health problems. If you are aware of any major health issues in your family, it would be a good idea to consider having genetic testing taken out. You can always get more information at www.poseida.com/. Gene testing can also give you the opportunity to be provided advice on what treatments to choose from and assesses responses to certain treatments according to your genetics. If you have any concerns whilst pregnant, there is also the option of having prenatal genetic testing carried out.
Heart Test
Getting your heart tested doesn’t just mean getting a chest x-ray or blood test. Nowadays there are a lot more alternatives to checking the function of your heart. One way of checking if you are at risk of a future heart attack or heart disease is through a cardiac calcium score. A CT scan will check your heart’s arteries while you are attached to electrodes that monitor your heartbeat. The test usually takes around 30 minutes and the cost can range anywhere between $100 and $400. This test is highly recommended to anyone who has a history of heart disease in their family, or aged over the age of 50 and self referrals can be made through places such as http://carlsbadimaging.com/.
Cholesterol Test
Although many doctors use different guidelines on when to get your cholesterol checked, The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests even children should have this important test carried out. If you feel like that may be too extreme, others suggest anyone who has a risk of heart diseases, or are aged over 40 should definitely get this test done at least once every 12 months.
Prostate and Cervical Tests
Looking after your sexual health can be intimidating and frightening. Having a doctor check the downstairs area can be overwhelming, yet it is of utmost importance. Getting a GP to check your prostate or cervix can be a predeterminer for whether you are at risk of developing cancer in that delicate area. They also provide an insight into other sexually transmitted diseases you may have, and allow for treatment to be allocated. Although it may cause embarrassment of having to have this testing done, it is all worthwhile to prevent any future issues.
Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is the biggest killer in women, but did you know women were not the only ones at risk of this cancer? As this type of cancer grows in the breast tissue, men are still at risk of the same types of cancers as women. It is recommended to do a self examination of your breast regularly, and in the case of finding any lumps it is best to go straight to your doctor. From there, your doctor will check both breasts, your lymph nodes and feel for any other abnormalities. The next step is to get either an ultrasound or a mammogram, and then a fine needle test to check whether the lump is benign or malignant. If you are worried, or have recently found a lump in your breast tissue, The American Cancer Society provides a lot more information at https://www.cancer.org/.
Eye Test
Most people have never sat an eye exam in their lives. Why would you if you can see perfectly well? Well, the truth is an eye test can actually tell you a lot more about your health than just whether you can see clearly or not, and simply put, some of the things that can be discovered through an eye test may even save your life. Although not all eye doctors can determine whether you have a life threatening disease from looking into your eyes, they may discover a symptom and recommend you to get it checked out further. High blood pressure, cataracts, brain tumours, cancer and glaucoma are just a few of the conditions that an eye test may be able to detect. Places such as http://californiastreetoptometry.com specialise in not only eye tests, but checking for the symptoms of some of the mentioned diseases.
Hearing Test
Much like an eye test, a hearing test can be a predeterminer to much bigger issues with your health. A hearing test allows a specialist to see any missed lesions or moles that may be a missed skin cancer, and will provide you with a lot more peace of mind by having your ears checked. Additionally, research has found that people who suffer hearing loss increase their risk of alzheimer’s, essentially because the struggle of not being able to hear properly can take a toll on the working part of your brain. Hearing loss can also be a symptom of a heart attack or stroke, as the smallest change in blood flow in your arteries can create hearing loss. So if you feel like you’re struggling to hear what’s being said on the television without it being turned up too loud, it is best to get a hearing test than leave it for something else to develop later.
Liver Test
Having a liver profile test checks the function of your liver and checks for any infections that may be present. The liver is in charge of many parts of the body, including the removal of contaminants, ensuring against blood clots and the removal of bacteria from a person’s blood. One of the biggest risks of liver infection is hepatitis, and many people who contract this disease may not even know they have it. By having a liver test, you are checking for all the mentioned symptoms, while ensuring your liver is functioning in perfect order. Alcohol consumption also has a huge affect on the function of your liver, so if you are a heavy drinker, ensure you have your liver checked regularly, as alcohol can cause diseases such as cirrhosis of the liver, which is something you definitely do not need or want.
Sleep Apnea
Have trouble sleeping? Or been told you snore loudly when you finally do get to sleep? You could be suffering from sleep apnea. Although sleep apnea is a sleep condition that is heard of quite often, it is actually quite rare. However, for those who suffer from this condition the effects on the body can be quite dangerous. Sleep apnea is a condition that causes breathing irregularities when sleeping, and at worst it can cause death. Obviously this is the most extreme case, however, drops in oxygen levels caused by irregular breathing can cause seizures in some people. If you are concerned you or a loved one may suffer from sleep apnea, it is best to get tested. Sleep apnea tests can be undertaken in a special sleep centre, and despite being a discomfort having to stay somewhere other than your own bed, doctors are able to monitor your sleep habits overnight and come up with a diagnosis and treatment to ensure a good night’s sleep in the future. Alternatively, services such as http://www.novasom.com provide home sleep kits to help you get on top of your sleep habits and will tell you whether you need to see a professional or not.
Blood Pressure
High or Low Blood pressure is a condition that people of all ages may suffer from. With symptoms that overlap with many other conditions, it can often be hard to determine whether you are experiencing this condition. A blood pressure test can easily be performed by your GP and will give you immediate results. If you are feeling light headed, nauseous, have blurred vision or have been experiencing headaches, it would be a good idea to get your doctor to check your blood pressure next time you are at the doctors. If you have a history of diabetes in your family, your chance of developing high blood pressure is higher, therefore best to check it out. If yo have previously been diagnosed with high or low blood pressure, you may also want to consider purchasing a home blood pressure testing kit.
So there are a lot of conditions out there that can cause disease or further sicknesses which you have tried hard to avoid. Hopefully you never experience any of the conditions on this list, it never hurts to be careful and aware of what your body is trying to tell you. If you or a loved one does present any symptoms of illness it is best to check with a professional in the medical industry. Hopefully you found some of this information useful.