Is Your Health at Risk?
5 Screening Tests That Could Save Your Life
No one wants to spend time in a doctor’s office or hospital undergoing uncomfortable medical tests. But, taking a few minutes now to submit to screening tests could help you detect health problems early.
Early detection is the key to successfully treating many life-threatening diseases. And the money you spend on regular tests is little compared to the cost of treating a full-blown health crisis.
Here are five health screening tests you should schedule on your calendar.
1. Oral Exam
Every six months you should see a dentist to clean your teeth and check for cavities. But there’s more going on during the exam than you may know.
Dentists also look for abnormalities such as sores and growths that may indicate more severe health problems. The Oral Cancer Foundation reports that 75 percent of neck and head cancers begin in the mouth and throat.
Your dentist will also check for periodontal disease. Also known as gum disease, it’s a major cause of tooth loss but can be effectively treated if detected early.
2. Glaucoma Exam
Of course you want regular eye exams to make sure your prescriptions for contact lenses and glasses are correct.
But you should also be tested for glaucoma. The test measures the level of pressure in each of your eyes. High pressure may indicate glaucoma, which can ultimately lead to blindness if left untreated.
How often you should be tested depends on your age and background. The American Academy of Ophthalmology offers these recommendations:
- First test at age 20
- Two tests during your 30s
- An exam about every three years for people age 40 to 64
- An exam about every year or two for people age 65 or older
High risk populations should be tested annually for glaucoma. This includes:
- People who have high blood pressure, diabetes or a family history of glaucoma
- People who have had eye surgery or an eye injury
- African-Americans and people of East Asian ancestry
3. Lipid Profile
Cholesterol can be a killer. Elevated levels can lead to risks for stroke and heart disease.
That’s why the American Heart Association recommends that people begin getting lipid profiles at age 20. The test should be repeated every five years, more frequently if you suffer from diabetes or high blood pressure or if your family has a history of heart disease.
The blood test measures:
- Total cholesterol
- HDL (also known as good cholesterol)
- LDL (also known as bad cholesterol)
- Triglycerides (also known as fats)
4. Colonoscopy
The Colon Cancer Alliance reports that colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the third leading cause of cancer death in both men and women in the U.S.
Despite its high incidence, colorectal cancer is one of the most detectable and, if found early enough, most treatable forms of cancer. And more than 80 percent of all cases of colon cancer can be prevented with recommended screening.
Colorectal cancer usually starts from polyps in the colon or rectum. A polyp is a growth that shouldn’t be there. Over time, some polyps can turn into cancer. A colonoscopy can find polyps, so they can be removed before they turn into cancer.
The American Cancer Society recommends having a colonoscopy at age 50, then every 10 years.
5. Mammogram For Women Or Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Test For Men
Men should have a PSA blood test annually beginning at age 50. The test helps detect prostate cancer, which affects one in six men. Caught early, prostate cancer is highly treatable.
Women should have a mammogram every one to two years beginning at age 40 to test for the presence of cancer.
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