Pelvic ultrasound? Blood test for no apparent reason? Survive the recession and use your medical expenses money correctly.
There are medical tests that we need and others not. Pelvic ultrasound? Sounds ultra-suspicious. Blood test for no apparent reason? Only if it includes exorcism.It is difficult to know which of all is really essential, especially if they come packaged with a dozen other tests and labeled “executive package.” Even so, thousands of men request this type of services with the idea that some of the tests will reveal a hidden disease. Of course, the expense may be worth it if the tests really provide a benefit. But according to a study by the Round Corporation, patients with more exams in the past five years were no healthier than those receiving less medical attention. This does not mean that medical exams are a fraud. They can be very valuable (if you know which of all the procedures are really worth it). We ask our experts to prepare a menu for you to show to your general practitioner.
Coronary angiography by computed tomography
Colorful third-dimensional images allow radiologists to calculate one of the most important indicators: total calcium in your coronary artery, a measure that shows how much plaque you accumulate in it. A study by the scientific journal Atherosclerosis reported that the mineral’s high rates were calcium could show the risk of a heart attack, while a 2003 study states that it is also associated with an increase – more than smoking or being diabetic – of suffering a heart disease The test has a significant flaw: according to a study by the Journal of the American Medical AssociationThe radiation exposure of an average cardiac tomography is equivalent to 600 chest X-rays, which in turn generates a 1 in 5,000 chance of developing cancer.
Who needs it Men who show some risk factors for heart disease, which are reason enough for doctors to suggest treatment. “In these cases of medium risk, cardiac CT scans and calcium results may provide extra information that may be necessary,” says Dr. Gerald Fletcher, a professor of cardiology at the Mayo Clinic in the United States. The less calcium, the less risk. If you reach 112, your doctor may prescribe aspirin or statins permanently.
Bone Density Exam
Do you think osteoporosis only affects ladies? The truth is that men begin to lose bone mass from the age of 30. That’s why you have to evaluate your skeleton with a dual x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), which uses light radiation to identify bone mineral density (it also measures the percentage of body fat) . “The DEXA tests allow us to detect people with high fracture risks and thus begin treatment on time,” says Dr. Murray J. Favus, of the University of Chicago, in the United States. Your doctor may recommend strength training and supplement your daily diet with up to one gram of calcium and up to 400 IU of vitamin D.
Who needs it Anyone with osteoporosis risk factors: inactivity, smoking or family history.
Oxygen consumption
In this test you get on a treadmill or stationary bike. You do your best while wearing a mask that captures every breath. With this analysis you determine the efficiency of your body to extract and use oxygen from the air. This is done by the fitness standard par excellence, as well as a strong indicator of strength in general. “Blood pressure, cholesterol, we call these remote indicators . The best predictor of your longevity will be your physical conditioning, ”says Dr. Walter Bortz, a researcher at Stanford University in the United States.
Who needs it Who wants their blood to continue pumping. If your result is less than 18 ml / kg / min, discuss with your doctors if you should increase your exercises.
Virtual colonoscopy
By definition, something “virtual” does not compare with the real. But with a virtual colonoscopy, you avoid the two disadvantages of a real colonoscopy (sedation and possible colon perforation) without leaving aside its great advantage: reliable results. “Virtual colonoscopies have the same sensitivity to detect large polyps, which are the previous states of colon cancer,” says Dr. Judy Yee, from the University of San Francisco, in the United States. Although the tomographic technology of a virtual colonoscopy may ignore some small polyps, a study from the University of Wisconsin found that these are usually benign. “Do not worry about radiation; you will receive five to eight millisieverts, ”says Dr. Yee.
Who needs it People over 50 years of age and older, especially those taking medications that thin the blood, as an excess can cause internal bleeding. Exceptions: If your family has a history of colon cancer, “you should have an exam 10 years before the age at which your family member received the first diagnosis,” Dr. Yee recommends. People who are overweight or inactive, who smoke and drink frequently or suffer from bowel inflammation disease should also consider a checkup.
Nutritional assessment
Although it is not an exam, so to speak, putting your diet under the microscope can result in a slender body and greater longevity. “The benefits of making an appointment with the nutritionist are: increased reliability, moral support and problem solving if your progress stagnates,” says MH weight loss coach Alan Aragon. In a 2008 study by Kaiser Permanente, diabetics who received nutritional assistance were twice as likely to lose weight as those who received no help. To find a reliable nutritionist, make sure you are aware of nutritional advances.
Who needs it Anyone who needs to lose weight or simply wants to know what to eat to fight the disease.