test
Showing posts with label Test. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Test. Show all posts
Middle aged women are often thought to be beyond their sexual prime, but a recent study has shown that the sexual wellness and wellbeing of this age group is likely to far exceed that of younger women. Those who are sexually active during middle age are also likely to keep having sex as they get older, even if they have been diagnosed with some form of sexual dysfunction.
Based at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre, the team of researchers looked at data from a group of 602 women aged between 40 and 65 which reported on their sex lives, how sexually active they were and how important they felt sex was to their lives.
The lead author of the study, Dr. Holly Thomas, said that there was a popular preconception in the public that when women get older, sex becomes less important, and also that women stop having sex as they get older. Based on the study, it appears that most women continue to have sex during middle age.
Sexual dysfunction is a label that is frequently applied to women in this age group, but doctors and psychologists have long debated how useful it is to use this label at all. There is a test called the Female Sexual Function Index which is meant to test women’s sexual problems. There are 19 questions in the test, centring around orgasm, arousal, vaginal lubrication and any pain felt during sex.
As part of the recent study, the middle aged women who were sexually active took the test and then took it again four years later. Over 85 percent of the women who reported that they were sexually active when they first took the test, were still sexually active when they took the test again the second time.
Breast cancer is a condition which is becoming more common, which experts say could be attributed to the fact that women don’t catch it early enough to treat it effectively. There are a number of things to be aware of in order to catch breast cancer as early as possible, from screening tests and knowing who to go to when you get tested.
Get a mammogram when you are younger, rather than when you are older
If you’re over 40, it’s time to start getting regular mammograms According to the American Cancer Society, women should get annual mammograms from the age of 40 as this is the best way to spot breast cancer early – an early detection offers the best chance of curing the disease.
Choose the right man for the job!
You can get a mammography at any hospital, but getting the right diagnosis after the test is incredibly useful in increasing your chance of detection when needed. Be sure to choose a doctor who is experienced in reading mammography and has worked with a number of patients previously, as their experience provides them with an added advantage of identifying any problems in your reports. This is where an inexperienced physician may fail.
Pick digital over conventional
A digital mammography is far more accurate when it comes to detecting any problems in women with dense breast tissue This is especially the case when found in women below the age of 40. Furthermore, digital scans do a better job of detecting cancers when compared to the traditional film mammography. – so always choose digital!
Schedule the date for your test carefully
Many women are put off by the idea of getting a mammography because they think it will be painful – but it’s important to remember that this test shouldn’t be painful in any way . In order to reduce the risk of pain, try to schedule your test after your period so that the breast tissue is less sensitive. During the test, if you do experience pain and discomfort, be sure to tell the technician about it so that they can help you feel more comfortable. If the test has really gone really badly, you could try taking medication available at a pharmacy to help relieve some of the pain and inflammation. If you’re worried about the level of pain you’re experiencing during your test, speak to your GP or technician about your worries and they will be able to find a way to make the test less uncomfortable for you.
Don’t let the fear of cancer stop you
Everyone getting a test regarding their health is scared by the result; that much is expected and perfectly natural. But a large number of women fear what the results may be so much that they don’t get tested at all – this is not a reason to avoid testing. If your test is abnormal in any way, you may be called to repeat the test but this doesn’t automatically mean that you have cancer. There are a number of reasons why your test results may have been out of the ordinary, so there’s no reason to worry – your technician will discuss the results with you and explain what they mean. But not all abnormalities mean you have cancer.If you have any worries about your risk of breast cancer and think you may have symptoms, speak to your GP as soon as possible.
In the last several decades, numerous types of medical testing have helped doctors to make informed decisions about disease diagnosis and treatment. Today’s medical tests can diagnose everything from diabetes and hormonal deficiencies to cancer and genetic disorders. These five tests are the most common ones used by doctors in clinics and hospitals.
Biopsies
Some tests look directly at body tissue samples, called biopsies. During a biopsy, the doctor removes a small portion of tissue; the tissue may come from the skin, the mucous membranes or internal organs. Most often, a biopsy tests for cancer. This involves testing a small section of skin or of an abnormal growth.
Body Fluid Samples
The second test is a urinalysis, which tests the urine. Doctors can use this test for many reasons, including checking for drugs, pregnancy, infection, kidney disease and more. Another test that checks body fluids is blood work using hematology stains. Blood can be checked for the presence of drugs or infection. It also checks hormone, mineral, blood cell, glucose and oxygen levels and can determine the presence or extent of some diseases, such as kidney failure or heart attacks.
Radiography
Other tests help doctors look inside the body. Radiography uses electromagnetic waves to look at the bones, muscles and organs in the body. The most common type of radiation, the x-ray, is used to determine if bones are broken, teeth are decayed or tumors or other foreign objects are in the body. Other types of radiation include the mammogram, used to check breast tissue, and magnetic resonance imaging and computerized tomography, used to look at organs within the body, such as the brain, heart, kidneys and liver.
Stress Tests
Finally, a stress test uses a combination of exercise and monitoring to determine the health of the heart. This is a noninvasive test, meaning that no needles or probes will be inserted into the body. Instead, the patient’s blood pressure heart rate and rhythm will be monitored before during and after strenuous activity on a treadmill. This test helps doctors determine the strength of the heart and the extent of heart disease.
Many of these tests are truly modern marvels, some of which were not used until the 1900s. They help doctors understand what is happening to the cells and organs of the body, how effective treatments are and if a disease is progressing or has disappeared. This sampling of the five most common types of medical tests that may ordered will help patients and their family members be prepared for visits to their doctors.
It is vitally important to make sure that your child’s health is regularly checked. Finding heath problems before they escalate will make them much easier to treat. When children start school, they need to be vaccinated and they will also need to see a doctor at least once a year. There are many things that your child will be checked for at those visits.
Cavities
Children do not have the best eating and brushing habits, so they are always very susceptible to cavities. Dentists from Genesis Dental recommend that you have your child’s teeth checked at least every six months. Tooth decay can spread and cause pain and damage to other teeth, so it’s best to catch it before it becomes a bigger problem. The dentist will also be able to give you child tips on how to properly care for and brush their teeth.
Vision Test
Most children do not even realize that they are having trouble seeing, which is why vision tests are extremely important. If your child can’t see properly, then they are not going to perform well in school. Many schools will do basic vision tests, but if you notice your child’s grades are suffering or they are sitting very close to the television or reading with books close to their face, it’s a good idea to get their vision tested.
While there is no major health risk associated with head lice, they can be very uncomfortable for your child and the rest of the family. Once you notice that your child or a friend of theirs has head lice, it’s important to check them and the rest of the family during treatment to make sure that it doesn’t spread.
Hearing Test
While every child is tested for hearing damage at birth, it is also a good idea to get their hearing checked periodically throughout childhood. Kids can develop hearing loss at any age, so it is best to find the problem as quickly as possible.
Scoliosis
Children will have their spines checked for scoliosis as they grow. This is especially important when they come to the age where they are starting sports and more physical activities. The only way to prevent permanent damage to the spine is to diagnose scoliosis early and start treatment as soon as possible. The doctor can do a basic test just by looking at and feeling the curve of your child’s spine.
Cholesterol Test
This may seem like an odd test to most people, but it is actually becoming very common in the medical field. It is now recommended to have your child’s cholesterol levels checked when they are nine years old. High cholesterol is one of the leading causes of heart problems, and it can be treated rather easily if found at such a young age.
Every parent worries about the health of their child, but there is absolutely nothing to worry about if your child is being tested for common health problems on a regular basis. Having these tests done doesn’t have to be expensive. Your school probably offers the basic tests and others can be received through free or low cost clinics. Getting your child regularly checked will give you the peace of mind of knowing that your child is as healthy as possible and they will get amazing care if any problems arise.
When you turn 50, the health concerns really start creeping in. Your sexual health may soon be affected by menopause, if it hasn’t already, but other conditions can also start to have an impact on your wellbeing. However, if you initiate good wellness principles and lifestyle choices there’s no reason why you can’t feel nifty at fifty, and be fully satisfied with the state of your health right up until you reach the big 6-0. One major way in which you can take care of your health during your 50s is to get screened for health concerns that commonly affect your age group. If you catch something sooner rather than later, you can get proactive with treatment and ensure you live to see the next 50 years. For women your age, the United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) provide the following recommendations:
1. Cervical cancer: A pap smear should be performed every one to three years. You should go for this screening every two years if your physician uses a liquid-based test, or every three if you have had three normal paps consecutively. You only need a test for human papillomavirus (HPV) if you have had an abnormal pap test.
2. Breast cancer: Mammograms are recommended every one to two years.
3. Colonoscopy for colon cancer screening: Regardless of your family or personal history of the disease, it is recommended that every woman in her 50s gets tested for colon cancer.
4. 25-OH Vitamin D (25 hydroxy-vitamin D): There’s no denying the importance of vitamin D; optimal levels can improve your bone density, enhance your cognitive health and reduce your risk of cancer. Therefore, if your vitamin D levels are low, that’s something you’ll want to know about! There are several tests that can determine whether or not you need to do something about your vitamin D levels, but the 25-OH vitamin D level is considered the most accurate. If you find your levels are low, you can get the vitamin D you need from sunlight on your skin, supplements or fortified foods.
5. Homocysteine: This is a product of protein metabolism and if your levels get too high, a whole host of wellness issues may be in store. Excess levels of homocysteine can lead to blood vessel damage, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, macular degeneration and depression. If the test reveals your levels are higher than the optimal nine units, you can reset the balance with a higher intake of vitamins B-12, B-6 and folic acid.
6. Fasting Insulin Levels: Before your blood sugar rises to the classic diabetic markers, your insulin levels will rise. This demonstrates early signs of your body’s inability to handle the sugar it’s ingesting, so it’s a good thing to know about. The goal ranges may be from 0 -14, but you should try to keep your levels around 7 units or less. If your levels are too high, you have an indicator that you should be reducing the amount of refined sugar in your diet.
7. Thyroid tests: Your thyroid gland produces your thyroid hormone, which is responsible for your metabolism, energy production and mental sharpness. You may have a deficiency in this hormone if you experience fatigue, dry skin, hair loss, constipation, cold hands and feet, and sugar cravings. If this is the case, get tested through either a TSH and/or Free T-3).
8. C-Reactive Protein (CRP): Inflammation is a marker for heart disease, and this test measures your body’s level of inflammation. The result you’re after is anything less than 1mg/L. However, if you do find that your inflammation levels are elevated, you can fight back with fish oils, CoQ10, magnesium and vitamin D.
As a man in his 30s, it’s easy to put off good wellness practises like exercise and nutrition. You probably put off visiting the doctor until there’s actually a problem with your wellbeing, such as the occasional cold or injury, or, when it’s a sexual health problem, you may even keep schtum altogether! However, optimal wellness is not about waiting for disease to occur and then scrambling for a combative regimen; you need to invest time and energy into your health much as you do in for your retirement. While prevention looks like many things, one important factor is to collect some laboratory information on your potential health risks. Not only do cholesterol panels serve this purpose, but other tests are now available to assess your risk factors and help design a treatment plan.
1. 25-OH Vitamin D (25 hydroxy-vitamin D): There’s no denying the importance of vitamin D; optimal levels can improve your bone density, enhance your cognitive health and reduce your risk of cancer. Therefore, if your vitamin D levels are low, that’s something you’ll want to know about! There are several tests that can determine whether or not you need to do something about your vitamin D levels, but the 25-OH vitamin D level is considered the most accurate. If you find your levels are low, you can get the vitamin D you need from sunlight on your skin, supplements or fortified foods.
2. C-Reactive Protein (CRP): Inflammation is a marker for heart disease, and this test measures your body’s level of inflammation. The result you’re after is anything less than 1mg/L. However, if you do find that your inflammation levels are elevated, you can fight back with fish oils, CoQ10, magnesium and vitamin D.
3. Homocysteine: This is a product of protein metabolism and if your levels get too high, a whole host of wellness issues may be in store. Excess levels of homocysteine can lead to blood vessel damage, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, macular degeneration and depression. If the test reveals your levels are higher than the optimal nine units, you can reset the balance with a higher intake of vitamins B-12, B-6 and folic acid.
4. Total and Free Testosterone: While you don’t need this test on a yearly basis, it’s good to get a baseline reading of your testosterone levels when you’re in your 30s, as this important hormone will decline as you age. Testosterone is often overlooked for its benefits to your heart, brain, bones, muscles and blood vessels, but you should definitely discuss goal levels for these tests with your doctor. Units for the test can very from lab to lab but generally, you should be aiming for around 15-25pg/ml for free testosterone, and 550-800ng/ml for total testosterone.
5. DHEA-Sulfate: This test looks at your levels of the DHEA hormone, which shares many of the health benefits of testosterone. However, to your heart, brain, bones, muscles and blood vessels aside, DHEA is very important for overweight or diabetic men. Again, if you’re healthy and in your 30s, getting this test done now will give you a baseline for future comparison. The goal usually starts at more than 200 mcg/dl.
6. Fasting Insulin Levels: Before your blood sugar rises to the classic diabetic markers, your insulin levels will rise. This demonstrates early signs of your body’s inability to handle the sugar it’s ingesting, so it’s a good thing to know about. The goal ranges may be from 0 -14, but you should try to keep your levels around 7 units or less. If your levels are too high, you have an indicator that you should be reducing the amount of refined sugar in your diet.
After about thirty years of research into HIV epidemic the findings are that many people who are at high risk of HIV infection cannot or will not adopt safer sexual practices, such as abstinence and condom use. There is still room in the market for alternative methods to reduce either exposure to or transmission of HIV among these individuals. One such strategy, HIV home testing (HT), is the subject of a recent study by Alex Carballo-Dieguez and his colleagues at the HIV Centre for Clinical and Behavioural Studies at New York.
A number of biomedical strategies for the prevention of HIV transmission are being developed, many of which are costly and have limited success. Although rapid HIV tests have been available for some time, their potential as a screening tool for possible partners has not yet been studied. And now the possibility of screening partners is a reality with recent FDA approval of HT. Would individuals who choose to have unprotected sex be willing to use them and/or would they ask potential casual partners to take the tests before having unprotected sex?
Twenty-seven ethnically diverse men who have sex with men (MSM) completed the study. They were each given 16 HT kits to use with prospective sexual partners and were monitored weekly for three months and then interviewed in depth. Overall, the HT kits had a high level of acceptability with all men, including ethnic minority MSM, whose infection rates are high. Most men wanted to continue to use these kits and to be able to buy them over the counter.
Often just the suggestion of using the kit opened up discussion about HIV status when it might not have been mentioned otherwise. In two cases, disclosure of an HIV-positive status was only given once the participant had proposed using the HT kit. Refusal to take the test prompted suspicion in participants, who then either had sex with a condom or did not have sex with that potential partner. A positive HIV test resulted in no sex taking place.
Critics of the kits fear that their availability will reduce condom use. However, they contend that it cannot impede condom use in those who already choose not to use condoms. In these individuals, HT would not replace an existing strategy but fill a gap, where there is none. It is clear that HT proved to be a cost-effective, simple and acceptable tool to help prevent the spread of HIV infection in a high risk group.
Since the tactic is peer driven, it may empower individuals to take control of their behaviour, develop a non-condom-based approach for communal, shared responsibility to prevent HIV transmission, and ultimately transform serosorting from a guessing game into a strategy based on objective evidence.
Worth of HIV Home Testing Kits
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