Routine Tests, Part 1

It's a new year once again - a good time to stop bad habits and start the year with good healthy ones. It's advisable to have your routine tests as well, after all the parties and eating during the holiday season.

Having your routine tests is important to be able to monitor your health. But first, let us discuss what the routine tests are for:

Blood pressure test. This checks two kinds of pressure within the blood vessels.  The higher number (systolic blood pressure) gauges the pressure when your heart is pumping.  The lower number (diastolic blood pressure) represents the pressure between heartbeats.  High blood pressure is a symptomless disease that can lead to heart attack and/or stroke.

Vision and Hearing.  Checks for marked changes or degeneration of eye and ear functioning.

Pap smear. Used to detect the early signs of cervical cancer.

Mammography. X-ray to detect early signs of breast cancer.

Professional breast exam.  A physician examines for early signs of breast abnormalities.

Pelvic exam. Checks for early signs of uterine abnormalities and cancer.

Rectal exam. Checks for early signs of colorectal abnormalities and cancer.

Stool blood test. Checks for early signs of colorectal abnormalities and cancer.

Sigmoidoscopy. Checks for early signs of colorectal abnormalities and cancer.

Electrocardiogram (EKG). Evaluates how well the heart is functioning and if any damage to the heart muscle has occurred.

Blood sugar test. Checks for glucose or sugar in the blood. A reading of between 60 to 115 millligrams per 100 milliliters of blood is considered normal after a period of fasting.

Glaucoma screening. Checks for increased pressure within the eye. Glaucoma can result in blindness.

Cholesterol blood test. Checks the levels of fatty cholesterol circulating the blood. High cholesterol levels – above 200 milligrams per deciliter – are linked to heart disease.

Next week we shall discuss guidelines for routine tests. - J.P.

Used with permission from A Year of Health Hints by Don R Powell, PHD and the American Institute for Preventive Medicine, copyright 2010. www.healthylife.com