Protect Your Health with Routine Screenings
October 26, 2017People often don’t think about seeing a doctor until they are sick. But routine physicals and preventive care are critical for your health. The Primary Care team at Starling Physicians provides recommendations on how to stay healthy by identifying and managing medical factors. Health screenings are important because they help to establish a baseline and open up discussions about your history and habits that help create a stronger relationship with your doctor. Screening tests look for diseases before you have symptoms. It may find these diseases early making them easier to treat.
Below are some of the screening tests that are recommended:
- Fasting Blood Glucose: With type II diabetes on the rise, this test is crucial for determining your risk of developing this disease. This test measures the amount of glucose or sugar in your blood after a minimum 8-hour fast.
- Lipid Profile: This test measures your total cholesterol, LDL (also known as low density lipoprotein, or bad cholesterol), HDL (also known as high density lipoprotein, or good cholesterol), and triglycerides done via a blood sample. An elevated lipid profile may indicate a future risk for vascular disease such as stroke or heart attack. It is recommended that a baseline test be done when individuals enter their 20’s. If results are normal, it is generally recommended that testing be repeated every 5 years or as recommended by your physician.
- Blood Pressure: Twenty percent of Americans suffer from hypertension; however, many of those afflicted with the condition do not present with any outward symptoms, but may include dizziness, headaches, or visual disturbances.
- Colonoscopy: Getting screened regularly can find colorectal cancer early or even prevent it. Have your first colonoscopy at age 50 if there is no family history of colon cancer or polyps. If no problems are found at the time of your colonoscopy and you have no family history, testing can be limited to once every 10 years. Colorectal cancer in its early stage is more than 90 percent curable.
There are a few other tests that are specific to men or women:
- Women ages 21-65 should be screened regularly for cervical cancer with a Pap Smear. If you are 30 or older, your doctor will test for HPV, which may cause cervical cancer.
- The decision to start screening mammograms in women prior to age 40 should be an individual one. For women who are the average risk of breast cancer most of the benefit of mammography results from screening during ages 50-74 years of age. Those women with a parent, sibling, or a child with breast cancer are at a higher risk for breast cancer and may benefit by beginning screening in her 40s than the average risk woman. Beginning when you’re age 20, your doctor should manually examine your breasts at your regular checkup.
- For men ages 55-69, a discussion regarding the benefits and risks of prostate cancer screening should be encouraged. This can help patients can make an informed decision about screening prostate-specific antigen.
Starling Physicians is proud to welcome Dr. Hoda Abdel Salam and Dr. Young Jay Kwak to our Primary Care team in New Britain. They, as well as our other primary care providers in New Britain, are taking new patients at 300 Kensington Avenue. Call (860) 832-8150 for more
details and to schedule an appointment.
We also are taking new primary care patients in Cromwell. Call (860) 635-2810.