Don’t put off your health screening – early detection can save your life
Good health underpins our ability to enjoy life and live well. Making time for a health screening is therefore important. Not only will it assess your overall wellbeing, a screening can detect any disease or health risks before they happen. The most effective health screenings are those tailored to your needs, where tests are recommended based on your doctor’s assessment after taking into consideration factors such as your age, gender, lifestyle habits, pre-existing diseases and current symptoms.
At Thomson Wellth Clinic at Paragon Medical Centre, health screening packages can be customised to your needs. While the types of tests can vary, there are some standard ones.
Blood tests
Checks for:
- Levels of cholesterol, sugar and uric acid
- Levels of key nutrients in our bodies like vitamins D3 and B12, folate and iron. These are important if conditions like osteoporosis or anaemia are detected.
- Organ functions like the kidney, liver and thyroid. Important for diabetics as diabetes often affects the kidney, and those who consume alcohol, which affects the liver.
- Immunity against common infections like hepatitis A and B, as well as rubella. Depending on your risks, your doctor can advise whether you will need to
be immunised.
- Infections like syphilis, HIV and also H. pylori (a stomach infection associated with stomach ulcers and even cancer).
- Possibility of cancer through cancer markers. However, these run a chance of false positive results.
Urine and stool tests
These detect the presence of microscopic or occult blood, which suggests the possibility of bleeding in that particular urinary or gastrointestinal system. If the tests are positive but the cause is unclear, further tests would be ordered.
Radiological Investigations
Ultrasounds, X-rays and mammograms check for structural abnormalities as well as the presence of tumours and stones. However, to avoid significant radiation exposure, CT scans are advised only after consultation with the patient. What can radiological investigations detect?
- An ultrasound and mammogram help detect breast cancer in women over 40.
- Ultrasounds often detect ovarian cysts and uterine fibroids in older women, as well as other common cancers in the area.
- Scans can detect liver cirrhosis and cancer for those at risk, such as hepatitis B carriers and alcohol drinkers.
Based on a patient’s presenting symptoms, scans for thyroid, gallbladder, kidney and bladder will be advised.
Treadmill ECG
An ideal test for those at risk of heart diseases, as well as a sedentary person planning to embark on strenuous exercise.
It’s never too late to take charge of your wellbeing. As the saying goes, health is wealth.