It is recommended that all people see their family doctor routinely for check ups and screening for chronic health problems. With so much information in the news about obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes it can be scary for a patient to go to the doctor and potentially face hearing a diagnosis like this. The good news is that if you start early in life and try to stick to health eating and exercise habits you decrease your risk of being diagnosed with a chronic health condition. In addition, having the right screening tests are also important to detecting potential problems early.
Read on to learn more about common screening tests and consider asking your doctor if you need any of these tests done!
1. Fasting blood sugar: This test is done when you have not had anything to eat to screen for diabetes. Your doctor is looking for a fasting level that is higher than 126 mg/dl. This value confirms diabetes. If your results are between 100 and 125 mg/dl, it is termed prediabetes. This means that your sugars must be watched more closely because you are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
2. Complete Blood Count: This common test is used to screen for anemia and infections. It can also give clues about certain types of cancers. This test should be done in young women periodically to screen for iron deficiency anemia that is usually related to menstruation.
3. Comprehensive Metabolic Test: This is another common blood test that screens your electrolytes, kidney function and liver function. Abnormalities in this test can give clues to a variety of conditions including chronic kidney disease and liver problems from infections like hepatitis or from overuse of alcohol.
4. Urine Analysis: This easy and inexpensive test screens for a variety of problems including cancer, diabetes, kidney failure and liver problems. If abnormal, the urine can often be sent for further evaluation to look for abnormal cells or for bacteria.
5. EKG: An EKG is a quick way to check the heart as part of a routine office visit. It is not uncommon for patients to have baseline screenings for heart problems starting at age 50. This may begin sooner if you smoke or have diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension or a family history of heart disease.
6. Cardiac Stress Test: The EKG has its limitations, so in cases where the EKG is abnormal or you are at particularly high risk for heart disease, your doctor may send you for a cardiac stress test to evaluate your heart for signs of blockage.
7. Cholesterol Panel: Starting at age 20, sometimes even earlier, patients should have a fasting cholesterol test at least every 5 years to screen for high cholesterol levels.
8. Hemoglobin A1c blood test: This test measures blood glucose levels over several months and can be used in addition to a fasting glucose test to support a diabetes diagnosis and to monitor treatment.
9. PSA blood test: PSA testing is offered to men only because it is used to screen the prostate for cancer. This test can be started at age 40 depending on risk factors.
10. STD testing: Although it may feel embarrassing to ask, if you are at risk for STDs it is important to get tested!
11. HIV testing: The CDC recommends that all patients get tested for HIV at least once in their lifetime.
12. Abdominal Ultrasound: If you are male, over the age of 60 and have ever smoked, this test should be done once to check for an abdominal aneursym.
14. Mammogram: Starting at age 40, women should have annual mammograms to screen for breast cancer.
15. Colonoscopy: Screening for colon cancer usually begins at age 50 unless you have a family history of colon cancer or other risk factors.
16. Pap Smear: All women over the age of 21 should have routine pap smears to screen for cervical cancer. This testing should start earlier if the patient has been sexually active prior to age 21.
This is not an all inclusive list of potential testing but it covers the most commonly requested screening tests. Many of these test are performed routinely based on age. Be sure to ask your doctor which screenings you should have and when this testing should begin!