When going for your regular doctor’s visit, there are a couple of common medical tests that are often asked to be taken by patients. These tests help assess common health markers such as blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and other gender-specific tests.
Aside from these standard tests, there are a couple of important medical tests that are often overlooked. Check out with your doctor if a laboratory test or two from the following list is something that you should also get:
1. C-Reactive Protein Test
If your family has a history of heart disease, and you are already showing signs of higher-than-normal cholesterol levels, you should be tested for the presence of C-reactive proteins, especially once you hit 40. C-reactive proteins indicate inflammation in your body, and high levels of increases your likelihood to suffer cardiac arrest.
2. Hepatitis C Test
Those born between 1945 and 1965 should be tested for Hepatitis C as this generation has a high chance of getting it since disposable needles were not available during this time yet, as well as the prevalence of risky acts such as recreational drug use during the 60s through the 70s. Hepatitis C could lead to liver issues such as liver damage, liver cirrhosis, and even liver cancer.
3. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) test
Females over the age of 60 are likely to have hypothyroidism. While thyroid gland function is normally tested, you should get more regular TSH test if you are exhibiting signs such as fatigue, being more sensitive to cold, having dry skin, and gaining weight. On the other end of the spectrum, those that have hyperthyroidism would exhibit rapid heart rate, nervousness, sweating, and tremors.
4. Vitamin D test
Studies reveal that as much as seventy-five of American adults are low levels of vitamin D. Also called the sunshine vitamin, vitamin D is linked to bone health as well as to immunity. It will therefore be a good idea to know your level of vitamin D so that you can have more of it if needed so that you
5. Depression screening
Your mental well-being is also important. If you are feeling sadness or hopelessness that you cannot explain, or have lost interest in activities or tasks that you usually enjoy, and such feeling persists for more than two consecutive weeks, then you should tell your doctor that you may need to undergo depression screening. A simple screening that involves answering a couple of questions can help your doctor make an assessment, and you may be referred to a specialist for further screening and for treatment.
These laboratory tests are important tests that should be taken in addition to standard medical tests which include the following:
- Complete blood count
- Basic metabolic panel
- Comprehensive metabolic panel
- Lipid panel
- Liver panel
- Inflammatory markers, and
- Essential nutrients
By having these tests, your doctor would have a better picture of your health, and could assess whether or not you need further tests, especially if you are showing signs of certain conditions or diseases.
The additional medical tests listed above are not as regularly asked for, but certain groups or people with certain symptoms may need to get them. What’s really important is that when you consult your doctor, you should be very honest with all the possible signs and symptoms so that he may recommend tests that can confirm possible health conditions that need to be addressed. As with any health issues, detecting them early can help you tackle them better.
Stay on top of your health by regularly visiting your doctor, undergoing the right tests, and following the recommended treatment plan for you.
A professional writer with over a decade of incessant writing skills. Her topics of interest and expertise range from health, nutrition and psychology.