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The human body is more complex and advance than any machine mankind could invent and this particular machinery needs acute attention. New era's health care system has evolved; Taking more responsibility for understanding your care and communicating with your doctor can help extend your healthy years.
Preventive medicine is an area of health care in which all consumers can exercise more responsibility and control. Getting regular screening tests for common health problems is a simple and effective first step.
Screening tests can give you and your doctor the information needed to identify health risks and take preventive measures before they become more serious problems. Screening tests include self-checks, clinical exams, non-laboratory tests (such as imaging tests) and laboratory tests. The focus here is on laboratory screening tests for now.
Getting routine tests performed even though you have no symptoms can help detect problems early and help you benefit from easier and more effective treatment. It can sometimes even prevent disease. It's easy to take these tests for granted, but their power to keep you healthier longer should not be underestimated.
For example, if you are at-risk for type-2 diabetes, catching the disease in its early stages may help you prevent or manage the condition with diet and exercise alone. Without early detection by a routine screening test, you could miss the opportunity to prevent diabetes, which could result in serious complications and a need for more intensive diabetes management.
To get the maximum benefit from preventive medicine, you should approach wellness visits prepared to discuss your health outlook and family and medical history with your health care provider. The decision whether to have certain screening tests performed will depend on your own risk tolerance. Whether to take advantage of laboratory screening is ultimately your decision, but starting from a base of health knowledge will help you communicate with your care provider about what's best for you.
Screening tests play a large role in preventive medicine and are an important part of a physical exam. They have two major benefits:
The Screening section on this site summarizes, by age group, the recommendations of some of the leading authorities for conditions for which laboratory screening tests are available. There are other important conditions that you may be screened for but that don't involve laboratory testing. Please keep in mind that for many tests, no national consensus exists on their value as a mechanism for preventing disease and living a healthier life, so it is important to consult with your doctor to determine which tests are right for you.
To get the best medical care available today, consumers need to develop basic knowledge and skills related to their medical care. Doing so will help you oversee your preventive care and get the most from your screening tests.
Even more important than knowing which tests to have and when to have them is the knowledge of what are your major risks and how you can prevent the diseases you are at risk of developing.
Understanding your personal risks and managing your preventive care will seem much less daunting if you have developed good overall health literacy. Health literacy is your ability to obtain process and understand the basic information necessary to make health decisions. It involves a diverse set of skills, including understanding graphs, making basic calculations, and obtaining, evaluating and applying information.
Specifically, to take full advantage of your screening tests and obtain the best preventive care, you should :
You can still rely on your doctor to tell you what tests are most worthwhile for you, but you will get the best preventive care if you approach your visits from a base of knowledge about yourself and your health.
Once your health care provider has assessed your health status and reviewed your test results, it is time to listen to his or her counsel and recommendations. This is a very important part of the prevention process; you will probably need to take notes and may have follow-up questions. Don't be afraid to ask for clarification if you don't understand something. You can expect to be counseled about changes you can make regarding things you have control over.
Discussing your lifestyle, activities and behaviors that affect your health with your health care provider will help you prevent illness. Likely topics are injury prevention, nutrition and exercise, substance abuse (including alcohol, tobacco and drugs), and activities that place you at higher risk, including, for example, your occupation and sexual activities. Listen for what changes you can make and discuss areas that present difficulty. Even small changes can be the beginning of better health. Some of the areas in your control are: Smoking, Abuse of alcohol or other drugs in general and particularly while driving, Physical activity, Eating habits and diet, High risk sexual practices etc.
It is up to you to choose to have regular screening tests. While there is expert consensus about many areas of screening, there are some areas—like breast and prostate cancer screening - where expert opinions have differed, or changed, in recent years. In the case of some screening tests, you and your doctor will have to work together, considering your risks and personal preferences, to determine which are best for you.
Overall, the benefits of regular screening are compelling: when disease is detected early, your treatment is likely to be more effective and economical and your quality of life is usually better.
Your health care provider can help you understand what you are at risk for and what you can do about it, if you make time for routine screening tests as part of a regular a health examination.
Screening tests are an important part of preventive health care. Over the course of your life, the number and frequency of screening tests that are recommended change. The index of screening articles provides a snapshot of these differences by age group.
Because pregnancy requires a unique range of testing as the mother-to-be progresses through the stages of her pregnancy, we also provide an in-depth look at the tests that may be performed before and during pregnancy.
Routine evaluation of a newborn includes a number of laboratory tests. These tests are valuable because they have the potential to identify diseases and disorders before symptoms appear and before serious complications arise. Early detection allows treatment that may prevent development of serious health problems.
Various conditions that may be present at birth (congenital) can affect the health and wellness of a newborn. Most of these conditions are rare, though some are more prevalent in certain families. Disorders range from difficulties a newborn may have processing certain nutrients (metabolic) to problems with hormones (endocrine) to the production of abnormal forms of hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells. Some of these conditions cannot be cured, but many can be managed so that the child can grow and live a relatively normal life.
Newborns can be routinely screened for many of these disorders before leaving the hospital using a few drops of blood.
Newborn screening tests help to identify potentially treatable or manageable congenital disorders within days of birth. Life-threatening health problems, mental retardation and serious lifelong disabilities can be avoided or minimized if a condition is quickly identified and treated.
Recommends that all newborns be screened for 31 core disorders and 26 secondary disorders. The tests are organized into broad categories:
Reminders to parents : Newborn screening tests are usually performed within 24 to 48 hours of life. For some tests, such as phenylketonuria (PKU) and congenital hypothyroidism (CH), it is important that they not be run too soon after birth. They may not accurately reflect whether a disorder is present if performed within the first 24 hours of life. Since women and their newborns may be discharged within a day or two of the birth, it is possible that a newborn could be tested with a sample taken within those first 24 hours or recommend screening two times, once in the hospital and then about 2 weeks later.
testing typically involves detecting the specific gene(s) associated with a disorder that occurs frequently within a family or members of a specific ethnic group. Parents may decide to ask for supplemental tests for their newborn in these situations:
In some cases, one or both of the parents can be tested before or during a pregnancy to determine if they are carriers of these gene-based disorders. Amniotic fluid can also sometimes be tested during the pregnancy.
Genetic tests can be run on blood, other types of body fluids, and tissues. For some conditions, chromosomes are examined for abnormalities; for other diseases, a single gene is analyzed. It should be noted that some genetic tests will identify a condition for which there is no treatment or cure and no changes can be made to improve the child's quality of life. The value of such test results is controversial.
Typically, newborns are tested for infectious diseases only if they show signs and symptoms. However, asymptomatic newborns may be screened for HIV or hepatitis B if their mothers have the disease or were not screened for the infection while pregnant. Some states require that all newborns be tested for HIV.
Human immunodeficiency virus is the virus that causes AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). The infection can pass from an infected mother to her child during pregnancy, delivery, or breastfeeding.
Almost all AIDS cases in children result from mother-to-baby transmission. If a mother with HIV does not receive treatment during the pregnancy, the child has a 1 in 4 chance of getting HIV. With timely treatment, however, fewer than 2% of children of infected mothers get the virus.
The best way to protect the child's health is to detect the HIV infection during pregnancy, treat the mother with medication, and make birthing plans to help the baby avoid infection (such as a C-section rather than vaginal birth).
If the mother was not tested during the pregnancy or at the time of the delivery, the newborn can be screened and, if positive, treated shortly after birth. HIV testing has become routine prenatal care in some countries.
It is recommended that a pregnant woman be screened for hepatitis B infection either before or early in her pregnancy, and again in the third trimester if she participates in activities that put her at increased risk, such as unprotected sexual contact or intravenous drug use. Infection with the hepatitis B virus causes an inflammation of the liver. It is important to detect active hepatitis B infections in pregnant women because newborns are especially vulnerable to developing chronic infection, which can over the course of many years cause progressive liver damage. If a hepatitis infection is detected in a pregnant woman, she can be monitored and the baby can receive treatment at birth to minimize the risk of developing hepatitis B.
With the advent of screening pregnant women for hepatitis B and the vaccination of newborns, the number of infected babies has fallen. However, a newborn may be screened if there is concern that the mother is at high risk of infection and/or she was not tested during the pregnancy.
Without symptoms of disease, infants generally do not need many laboratory screening tests once newborn screening tests have been performed during the first week of life.
The menu above links you to articles on the few conditions and diseases for which infants may be screened. The articles summarize recommendations from various authorities on screening tests for infants, and there is consensus in many areas, but not all. Therefore, when discussing screening with your child's health care provider and making decisions about testing, it is important to consider your infant's individual health situation and risk factors.
Infants grow and develop rapidly and need iron in their diet to develop normally. For the first 4 to 6 months, an infant can rely on the body's own storage supply of iron. After that, if an infant does not consume enough iron, there is a risk of developing iron deficiency. When this happens, the body's red blood cells suffer and their ability to support the rapidly growing body is affected. Iron deficiency can cause anemia, a condition that can delay an infant's mental, motor, and behavioral development and create problems that last long after the iron level is raised to a healthy level. Poor motor skills, behavior problems at home and school, and poor performance in school can be the long-term consequences of not receiving enough iron as an infant and young child (0 to 3 years of age).
Early use and overuse of cow's milk exacerbates existing causes of iron deficiency in infants. Less often, the problem is due to a severe blood loss or something interfering with the body's ability to absorb iron, such as a medication the infant is taking or a chronic illness. Premature and low-birth-weight babies are at greater risk. Breast-fed babies usually obtain enough iron, unless the nursing mother's own supply is low.
Infants and toddlers are screened at any point if risk factors are known to be present or if a child is at high risk.
Risk factors for iron deficiency anemia in infants and young children include:
In some settings, the health care provider may prefer to screen all infants and toddlers and conduct follow-up testing if needed. The age at which the iron deficiency anemia testing is done often depends on clinical signs and symptoms of iron deficiency or the presence of risk factors. If an infant was born prematurely, had a low birth weight, or is fed formula without iron, their iron stores may decrease before 6 months of age. In other circumstances, later testing (between 9 and 12 months of age or 15 and 18 months of age) may detect the problem. A retest 6 months later is also sometimes needed.
Test : Hemoglobin test at one year of age. (Ask Doctor)
Lead is a metal that was once a common additive to household paint and leaded gasoline and was used in water pipes and as a solder in canned foods. The interiors of many houses contain peeling lead paint chips and dust and lead-contaminated water. The soils around the houses and near adjacent roadways may also be affected. Children who live, play, or spendtime in these environments are at risk and can bring lead into their bodies by inhaling or ingesting contaminated dust, water, paint chips, and food. Other local sources of lead may be areas near industrial or manufacturing sites.
A young child's exposure to lead can damage the brain and other organs and cause behavioral problems and developmental delays. Poisoning from this environmental hazard usually occurs in early childhood. In the majority of cases, exposure does not cause physical symptoms, and impaired cognitive development may not be noticed until the child enters school.
Test : A blood lead test can be done to detect the level of lead in your body. When a child's blood lead level is greater than 20 mcg/dL, the doctor may order a hemoglobin and/or hematocrit test to determine if the child is anemic and may order iron tests to check for iron deficiency.
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria. TB primarily targets the lungs but may affect any area of the body. It can be spread through the air from person to person through droplets of respiratory secretions such as sputum or aerosols released by coughing, sneezing, laughing, or breathing.
Most of those who become infected with M. tuberculosis manage to confine the mycobacteria to a few cells in their lungs, where they stay alive but in an inactive form. This latent TB infection does not make the person sick or infectious and, in most cases, it does not progress to active tuberculosis. However, some people - especially those with compromised immune systems - may progress directly from initial TB infection to active tuberculosis. People who have HIV are much more likely to become sick if they contract TB. A person who has latent TB and their immune system becomes weakened may then develop active TB. Another increasing concern is drug-resistant forms of TB that are resistant to the antibiotics typically prescribed to treat the disease.
TB is one of the world's deadliest diseases; it is a large health issue among at-risk groups. Current guidelines call for targeted screening among such groups.
Without symptoms of disease, children generally do not need many laboratory screening tests. However, helping children develop healthy habits, like eating well and being active, could prevent serious and costly health problems as they grow older. For example, helping an overweight or obese child reduce his or her weight can prevent diabetes and heart disease in later years.
The menu above links you to articles on the few conditions and diseases for which children may be screened. The articles summarize recommendations from various authorities on screening tests for children, and there is consensus in many areas, but not all. Therefore, when discussing screening with your child's health care provider and making decisions about testing, it is important to consider your child's individual health situation and risk factors.
For more information on what happens at your child's medical exams, see Bright Futures: Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children, and Adolescents, Pocket Guide.
Childhood obesity is a growing problem in modern world. There are many serious health consequences of being obese, including increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, joint problems, sleep apnea, and social and psychological problems. Children who continue to be overweight into adulthood are at greater risk for serious health problems, including heart disease, stroke, and some cancers.
At least once a year, a health care provider should assess a child's weight status. The child's weight and height as well as age and sex are considered in determining the child's body mass index (BMI) percentile. BMI is a useful tool for estimating body fat.
International task Force has found that the BMI is an acceptable measure for determining excess weight and defines "overweight" and "obese" as above
Being overweight is one of the most common problems seen by pediatricians. At each well-child visit, the following should be discussed: the child's dietary patterns, levels of physical activity, and sedentary behaviors. The family's history of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure are important considerations as are a number of other physical measurements the health care provider can take. The goal is to prevent and address the problems of overweight and obesity through identification and early interventions, such as diet and exercise, to achieve a healthy weight and BMI.
Children's body mass calculations need to be accurate and related to their growth charts. A visit to a health care provider will provide you with the most reliable information.
It is rare in children under age 10; the incidence of specifically type 2 diabetes has increased dramatically in the last decade. Developing the disease early in life means the individual will most likely suffer many more of the damaging blood sugar spikes associated with diabetes. This increases the risk of serious health problems earlier in adulthood, such as heart disease, kidney failure, blindness, and foot amputations due to nerve damage.
Overweight, obesity, and physical inactivity are all contributing factors to development of diabetes, and they too have become national health problems. Parents and children should be aware that healthy eating habits and activity choices can lower an individual's risk of developing type 2 diabetes and related complications later in life.
A youth who is overweight—defined as a body mass index (BMI) greater than the 85th percentile for age and sex, weight for height greater than the 85th percentile, or overweight more than 120% of ideal for height— with just 2 other known risk factors faces a substantial risk of having or developing type 2 diabetes.
These risk factors include:
Beginning in childhood, the waxy substance called cholesterol and other fatty substances known as lipids begin to build up in the arteries, hardening into plaques that narrow the arterial passageways. During adulthood, plaque buildup and resulting health problems occur not only in the arteries supplying blood to the heart muscle but in arteries throughout the body (a problem known as atherosclerosis). For both men and women, the number one cause of death is heart disease, and the amount of cholesterol in the blood greatly affects a person's chances of suffering from it.
Growing evidence shows that the biological processes that precede heart attacks and cardiovascular disease begin in childhood, although they don't generally cause symptoms or lead to disease until middle age or later. Experts encourage physical activity and healthy eating in childhood and adolescence - appropriately limiting cholesterol, saturated fat, and trans fat - as these may protect against heart disease in adulthood.
In an effort to get an earlier start on cardiovascular prevention, recommendation those children get routine screening with tests for lipids, including cholesterol. A lipid profile typically includes the following tests : total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides. Non-HDL-cholesterol can also be calculated by subtracting the HDL-C value from the total cholesterol result.
With unhealthy lipid levels, dietary and lifestyle changes, including more exercise, as the often-effective first steps. In some cases, medication may be needed, such as if lipid levels do not respond to lifestyle changes. Talk to your child's doctor about what would be appropriate in your child's situation.
Lead is a metal that was once a common additive to household paint and leaded gasoline and was used in water pipes and as a solder in canned foods. The interiors of many houses contain peeling lead paint chips and dust and lead-contaminated water. The soils around the houses and near adjacent roadways may also be affected. Children who live, play, or spendtime in these environments are at risk and can bring lead into their bodies by inhaling or ingesting contaminated dust, water, paint chips, and food. Other local sources of lead may be areas near industrial or manufacturing sites.
A young child's exposure to lead can damage the brain and other organs and cause behavioral problems and developmental delays. Poisoning from this environmental hazard usually occurs in early childhood. In the majority of cases, exposure does not cause physical symptoms, and impaired cognitive development may not be noticed until the child enters school.
Test : A blood lead test can be done to detect the level of lead in your body. When a child's blood lead level is greater than 20 mcg/dL, the doctor may order a hemoglobin and/or hematocrit test to determine if the child is anemic and may order iron tests to check for iron deficiency.
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria. TB primarily targets the lungs but may affect any area of the body. It can be spread through the air from person to person through droplets of respiratory secretions such as sputum or aerosols released by coughing, sneezing, laughing, or breathing.
Most of those who become infected with M. tuberculosis manage to confine the mycobacteria to a few cells in their lungs, where they stay alive but in an inactive form. This latent TB infection does not make the person sick or infectious and, in most cases, it does not progress to active tuberculosis. However, some people - especially those with compromised immune systems - may progress directly from initial TB infection to active tuberculosis. People who have HIV are much more likely to become sick if they contract TB. A person who has latent TB and their immune system becomes weakened may then develop active TB. Another increasing concern is drug-resistant forms of TB that are resistant to the antibiotics typically prescribed to treat the disease.
TB is one of the world's deadliest diseases; it is a large health issue among at-risk groups. Current guidelines call for targeted screening among such groups.
Children grow and develop rapidly and need iron in their diet to develop normally. If a child does not consume enough iron, there is a risk of developing iron deficiency. Iron deficiency can cause anemia, a condition that can delay a child's mental, motor, and behavioral development and create problems that last long after the iron level is raised to a healthy level. Poor motor skills, behavior problems at home and school, and poor performance in school can be the long-term consequences of not receiving enough iron as a young child (0 to 3 years of age).
Iron deficiency may also be due to a severe blood loss, genetic disorders, chronic infections, or something interfering with the body's ability to absorb iron, such as a medication the child is taking or a chronic illness (e.g., celiac disease).
Children be screened at any point if risk factors are known to be present or if a child is at high risk.
No single test is used for diagnosing iron deficiency or anemia. A hemoglobin and hematocrit test may be used for screening. If a child has a low screening result or is at significant risk of iron deficiency, other tests such as a complete blood count (CBC) and iron tests will be performed.
Risk factors for iron deficiency anemia in young children include:
In some settings, a health practitioner may prefer to screen all children and conduct follow - up testing if needed. The age at which the iron deficiency anemia testing is done often depends on clinical signs and symptoms of iron deficiency or the presence of risk factors.
Adolescents are often thought of as the healthiest age group. However, habits formed during the teen years will likely affect your teen's health well into adulthood. For example, helping an overweight or obese teen reduce his or her weight can prevent diabetes and heart disease in later years.
For teens, annual "well care" visits don't involve many laboratory screening tests. Rather, the emphasis is on preparing for teen health issues, such as accident and injury prevention, sexual health, and avoiding substance abuse. Preventive medicine for teens should emphasize healthy lifestyle choices that help protect against diseases that occur in adulthood.
The menu above links you to articles on the few conditions and diseases for which teens 13 to 18 years old may be screened. The articles summarize the recommendations from various authorities on screening tests for teens, and there is consensus in many areas, but not all. Therefore, when discussing screening with your teen's health care provider and making decisions about testing, it is important to consider your teen's individual health situation and risk factors.
Childhood obesity is a growing problem in modern world. There are many serious health consequences of being obese, including increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, joint problems, sleep apnea, and social and psychological problems. Children who continue to be overweight into adulthood are at greater risk for serious health problems, including heart disease, stroke, and some cancers.
At least once a year, a health care provider should assess a child's weight status. The child's weight and height as well as age and sex are considered in determining the child's body mass index (BMI) percentile. BMI is a useful tool for estimating body fat.
International task Force has found that the BMI is an acceptable measure for determining excess weight and defines "overweight" and "obese" as above.
Being overweight is one of the most common problems seen by pediatricians. At each well-child visit, the following should be discussed: the child's dietary patterns, levels of physical activity, and sedentary behaviors. The family's history of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure are important considerations as are a number of other physical measurements the health care provider can take. The goal is to prevent and address the problems of overweight and obesity through identification and early interventions, such as diet and exercise, to achieve a healthy weight and BMI.
Children's body mass calculations need to be accurate and related to their growth charts. A visit to a health care provider will provide you with the most reliable information.
Chlamydia and Gonorrhea are bacterial sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), but many infected people have no symptoms. These infections usually affect the genitals but may also cause infections of other mucous membranes, eyes, or joints. Pregnant women may transmit the infections to their newborns. Often progressing silently, these diseases can cause infertility and other health complications if left untreated. However, both diseases can be cured with antibiotics.
Chlamydia and Gonorrhea are highest among adolescent girls (15-19 years of age) and young women (20-24 years old). Many people have both Chlamydia and Gonorrhea infections at the same time.
Do not recommend routine screening for sexually active, heterosexual boys. Health care providers may, however, use their judgment and consider risks, such as prevalence of these STDs in the community. It is important to remember that an infected male can spread these diseases and even re-infect a partner if he does not complete treatment.
Sexually active teens face more risk of Chlamydia and Gonorrhea infection, compared to adults age 25 and older. Your risk is even greater if you:
Because re-infection rates are high, both teen girls and boys who are treated for Chlamydia or Gonorrhea infection be retested approximately 3 months after treatment or at their next health care visit, regardless of whether they believe that their sex partners were treated. It is important to continue annual screening for these diseases because re-infection is always possible.
It is rare in children under age 10; the incidence of specifically type 2 diabetes has increased dramatically in the last decade. Developing the disease early in life means the individual will most likely suffer many more of the damaging blood sugar spikes associated with diabetes. This increases the risk of serious health problems earlier in adulthood, such as heart disease, kidney failure, blindness, and foot amputations due to nerve damage.
Overweight, obesity, and physical inactivity are all contributing factors to development of diabetes, and they too have become national health problems. Parents and children should be aware that healthy eating habits and activity choices can lower an individual's risk of developing type 2 diabetes and related complications later in life.
A youth who is overweight—defined as a body mass index (BMI) greater than the 85th percentile for age and sex, weight for height greater than the 85th percentile, or overweight more than 120% of ideal for height— with just 2 other known risk factors faces a substantial risk of having or developing type 2 diabetes.
These risk factors include:
Beginning in childhood, the waxy substance called cholesterol and other fatty substances known as lipids begin to build up in the arteries, hardening into plaques that narrow the arterial passageways. During adulthood, plaque buildup and resulting health problems occur not only in the arteries supplying blood to the heart muscle but in arteries throughout the body (a problem known as atherosclerosis). For both men and women, the number one cause of death is heart disease, and the amount of cholesterol in the blood greatly affects a person's chances of suffering from it.
Growing evidence shows that the biological processes that precede heart attacks and cardiovascular disease begin in childhood, although they don't generally cause symptoms or lead to disease until middle age or later. Experts encourage physical activity and healthy eating in childhood and adolescence - appropriately limiting cholesterol, saturated fat, and trans fat - as these may protect against heart disease in adulthood.
In an effort to get an earlier start on cardiovascular prevention, recommendation those children get routine screening with tests for lipids, including cholesterol. A lipid profile typically includes the following tests : total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides. Non-HDL-cholesterol can also be calculated by subtracting the HDL-C value from the total cholesterol result.
With unhealthy lipid levels, dietary and lifestyle changes, including more exercise, as the often-effective first steps. In some cases, medication may be needed, such as if lipid levels do not respond to lifestyle changes. Talk to your child's doctor about what would be appropriate in your child's situation.
HIV is the virus that causes AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), a life-threatening disease. Initially, an HIV infection may cause no symptoms or cause non-specific, flu-like symptoms that resolve after a short time period. If the infection is not detected and treated, eventually symptoms of AIDS emerge and begin to progressively worse. Over time, HIV destroys the immune system and leaves a person's body vulnerable to debilitating infections.
HIV is spread in the following ways :
Screening for HIV has become routine health care and is an important part of wellness and prevention for adolescents. This is because diagnosis early in the course of infection leads to timely, effective treatment that slows progression to AIDS. Early diagnosis also has important benefits for others and society at large. An individual can learn of their status and modify behavior and not expose others to infected blood or body fluids, thus preventing further spread of the disease. A woman who has HIV and is pregnant can undergo treatment that would help prevent spreading the disease to her child.
Several situations put you at high risk of contracting HIV :
How often you are tested should depend on your risk, activities, and sexual contacts. For example, during a long-term, truly monogamous sexual relationship, you may want just one test. However, if you or your partner have had sexual contact with more than one person in recent months, your risk of infection is greater. If you or a person with whom you've had sexual contact (even unwanted sexual contact) engaged in some risky behavior, you have even more reason to be tested.
Different types of antibody tests may be used for HIV screening. Combination tests that detect the HIV antibody and the p24 antigen may be performed to increase the likelihood that HIV infection is detected as soon as possible after exposure occurs.
Getting tested; a blood or oral sample can be collected in a doctor's office or a local clinic and sent to a laboratory for testing. In these same settings, a rapid test may available in which results are generated in about 20 minutes.
Screening tests have limitations, so it is important to remember :
All teens and adults ages 15 to 64 as well as younger adolescents at increased risk undergo screening for HIV. As for how often, the Task Force says a reasonable approach is one-time testing for all people ages 15 to 64 and at least annual screenings for those at very high risk of HIV, such as males who have sex with males, IV drug users, and in settings with high HIV-positive prevalence, such as STD clinics, clinics that serve adolescents or the homeless, or correctional facilities. Adolescents at increased but not very high risk may be screened less frequently than every year, such as every three to five years. The Task Force points out that risk is "on a continuum" and health professionals should use their own discretion in deciding how frequently to test people for HIV.
Aside from these recommendations, certain individuals should get tested and learn their status. These include :
Don't be surprised if a health care provider, in any care setting, offers you or you an HIV screening Test. Routine HIV testing (which you can decline or "opt out" of) prevents feelings of embarrassment or shame from becoming obstacles to crucial health care. Those infected can get treatment when it works best and take steps to protect the health of sex partners and even their unborn children. If your health care provider does not bring up sexual health topics, you can simply ask for a test or a risk assessment. You can also use confidential services to obtain testing or counseling.
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria. TB primarily targets the lungs but may affect any area of the body. It can be spread through the air from person to person through droplets of respiratory secretions such as sputum or aerosols released by coughing, sneezing, laughing, or breathing.
Most of those who become infected with M. tuberculosis manage to confine the mycobacteria to a few cells in their lungs, where they stay alive but in an inactive form. This latent TB infection does not make the person sick or infectious and, in most cases, it does not progress to active tuberculosis. However, some people - especially those with compromised immune systems - may progress directly from initial TB infection to active tuberculosis. People who have HIV are much more likely to become sick if they contract TB. A person who has latent TB and their immune system becomes weakened may then develop active TB. Another increasing concern is drug-resistant forms of TB that are resistant to the antibiotics typically prescribed to treat the disease.
TB is one of the world's deadliest diseases; it is a large health issue among at-risk groups. Current guidelines call for targeted screening among such groups.
Your health care provider will choose which TB test to use.
Millions of people in this country have chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV). Many of these people are unaware that they are infected.
HBV is one of five "hepatitis viruses" identified so far that are known to mainly infect the liver. It is spread through contact with blood or other body fluids from an infected person, such as during sex or by sharing needles, razors or toothbrushes, and can also be passed from an infected mother to her baby during or after birth.
HBV infection can be acute or chronic, with the course of infection varying from a mild form that lasts only a few weeks to a more serious form lasting years that can lead to complications such as cirrhosis or liver cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), many people die every year from HBV-related liver disease.
The vast majority of those with chronic infections will have no symptoms. A test for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) may be used for screening asymptomatic people who fall into one of the high-risk categories for chronic HBV. Effective vaccines against HBV are available; however, those who have not been vaccinated or who are at high risk and were vaccinated before being screened for HBV infection may want to consider getting tested.
People considered at high risk for HBV infection include those from countries with a high prevalence of HBV infection, those who are HIV-positive injection drug users, household contacts of those with HBV infection, and men who have sex with men. Since the prevalence of HBV infection is low in the genera population and most of those infected do not develop complications, HBV screening is not recommended for those who are not at increased risk.
Guidelines to recommend that the following groups be screened for HBV:
People with chronic HBV can unwittingly spread the infection to others and remain at risk for serious complications of the infection.
Teens grow and develop rapidly and need iron in their diet to develop normally. If a teen does not consume enough iron, there is a risk of developing iron deficiency. Iron deficiency can cause anemia, a condition that can delay a teen's mental, motor, and behavioral development and create problems that last long after the iron level is raised to a healthy level. Poor motor skills, behavior problems at home and school, and poor performance in school can be the long-term consequences of not receiving enough iron as a child.
Iron deficiency may also be due to a severe blood loss, genetic disorders, chronic infections, or something interfering with the body's ability to absorb iron, such as a medication the teen is taking or a chronic illness (e.g., celiac disease).
Teens be screened at any point if risk factors are known to be present or if a teen is at high risk.
No single test is used for diagnosing iron deficiency or anemia. A hemoglobin and hematocrit test may be used for screening. If a teen has a low screening result or is at significant risk of iron deficiency, other tests such as a complete blood count (CBC) and iron tests will be performed.
Risk factors for iron deficiency anemia in teens include:
In some settings, a health practitioner may prefer to screen all children and teens and conduct follow-up testing if needed. The age at which the iron deficiency anemia testing is done often depends on clinical signs and symptoms of iron deficiency or the presence of risk factors.
You can safeguard and enhance your health, perhaps for many decades, by having certain screening tests a few times in your 20s. The tests are used for early detection of some of the more common and potentially serious diseases occurring in adults, such as sexually transmitted diseases, cancers, diabetes, and heart disease.
Screening tests can find certain conditions in their earliest and most treatable stages, even before you notice symptoms. With information from screening tests, your health care provider can work with you to develop preventive measures that will help you remain healthier in your later years. For example, a routine cholesterol test could reveal your risk of developing heart disease, allowing you to take preventive measures - like lifestyle changes - before you develop a serious condition.
The menu above links you to articles on the laboratory screening tests suggested for young adults, up to 29 years old. The articles summarize the recommendations from various authorities, and there is consensus in many areas, but not all. Therefore, when discussing screening with your health care provider and making decisions about testing, it is important to consider your individual health situation and risk factors.
Women age 20 to 24 had the lowest incidence of breast cancer. Incidence tends to increase with age, with 95% of new cases occurring in those who are 40 and older. Regular screening can help to detect tumors at an early stage when they are most treatable. Several methods are available for screening, including mammography, an imaging test that is especially effective at detecting breast cancer several years before symptoms develop. A number of organizations have published guidelines recommending when women should begin having screening mammograms, some of which disagree. Women should talk to their health care providers to help them decide when they should begin screening.
Decision when to start regular screening mammography should be an individual one, taking into consideration such factors as a woman's risk tolerance. Consult your Healthcare Practitioner.
No guidelines state that there is no age at which mammography screening should be discontinued. The decision as to when to stop screening should be based on the individual, her health, and estimated longevity. If you are in good health and your health enables you to be a candidate for treatment, continue getting mammograms.
The recommendations above are for women without known risk factors for breast cancer. If you have an increased risk such as genetic predisposition and family or personal history of breast cancer you should develop an individualized screening program with the guidance of your doctor. Women at high lifetime risk be screened with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in addition to mammography annually beginning at age 30.
Most deaths from cancer of the cervix (the lower part of the uterus, or womb) can be avoided by having regular checkups and Pap smears. This is a slow-growing cancer that can take several years to develop. Most often, cancerous cells are seen in women 40 years of age or older. Routine screening can help identify cervical cancer early on, at a time when it is highly curable. Screening even finds precancerous lesions that can be monitored or removed before cancer ever starts to develop.
False-positive results may occur due to normal cell changes and are somewhat common. The false-positive results may generate unnecessary and costly treatment as well as emotional anxiety.
In general, screening for the presence of human papilloma virus (HPV DNA test) is not recommended in women younger than age 30 because infections with HPV are relatively common in this age group and often resolve without treatment or complications. It is recommended that women 21 years old or older be screened for HPV in addition to the Pap smear only if the Pap smear shows abnormal results.
Even if you do not need a Pap test each year, for most women an annual well-woman exam is still recommended.
Chlamydia and Gonorrhea are bacterial sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), but many infected people have no symptoms. These infections usually affect the genitals but may also cause infections of other mucous membranes, eyes, or joints. Pregnant women may transmit the infections to their newborns. Often progressing silently, these diseases can cause infertility and other health complications if left untreated. However, both diseases can be cured with antibiotics.
Chlamydia and Gonorrhea are highest among adolescent girls (15-19 years of age) and young women (20-24 years old). Many people have both Chlamydia and Gonorrhea infections at the same time.
Do not recommend routine screening for sexually active, heterosexual boys. Health care providers may, however, use their judgment and consider risks, such as prevalence of these STDs in the community. It is important to remember that an infected male can spread these diseases and even re-infect a partner if he does not complete treatment.
Sexually active teens face more risk of Chlamydia and Gonorrhea infection, compared to adults age 25 and older. Your risk is even greater if you:
Because re-infection rates are high, both teen girls and boys who are treated for Chlamydia or Gonorrhea infection be retested approximately 3 months after treatment or at their next health care visit, regardless of whether they believe that their sex partners were treated. It is important to continue annual screening for these diseases because re-infection is always possible.
Beginning in childhood, the waxy substance called cholesterol and other fatty substances known as lipids start to build up in the arteries, hardening into plaques that narrow the passageway. During adulthood, plaque buildup and resulting health problems occur not only in arteries supplying blood to the heart muscle but in arteries throughout the body (a problem known as atherosclerosis). For both men and women, the number one cause of death is heart disease, and the amount of cholesterol in the blood greatly affects a person's chances of suffering from it.
Screening for high cholesterol, specifically high LDL cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol), is important because it may not cause any symptoms and yet, two out of three adults have it.
An age to stop screening has not been established. After age 65, you may not need to keep getting tested. Lipid levels are less likely to increase at this age; however, anyone over age 65 who has never been tested should have their cholesterol levels measured.
You also are more vulnerable and would want more frequent testing if you have any known risk factors, such as:
Men have greater risk for heart attack than women, and risk for heart disease increases with age.
HIV is the virus that causes AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), a life-threatening disease. Initially, an HIV infection may cause no symptoms or cause non-specific, flu-like symptoms that resolve after a short time period. If the infection is not detected and treated, eventually symptoms of AIDS emerge and begin to progressively worse. Over time, HIV destroys the immune system and leaves a person's body vulnerable to debilitating infections.
HIV is spread in the following ways :
Screening for HIV has become routine health care and is an important part of wellness and prevention for adolescents. This is because diagnosis early in the course of infection leads to timely, effective treatment that slows progression to AIDS. Early diagnosis also has important benefits for others and society at large. An individual can learn of their status and modify behavior and not expose others to infected blood or body fluids, thus preventing further spread of the disease. A woman who has HIV and is pregnant can undergo treatment that would help prevent spreading the disease to her child.
Several situations put you at high risk of contracting HIV :
How often you are tested should depend on your risk, activities, and sexual contacts. For example, during a long-term, truly monogamous sexual relationship, you may want just one test. However, if you or your partner have had sexual contact with more than one person in recent months, your risk of infection is greater. If you or a person with whom you've had sexual contact (even unwanted sexual contact) engaged in some risky behavior, you have even more reason to be tested.
Different types of antibody tests may be used for HIV screening. Combination tests that detect the HIV antibody and the p24 antigen may be performed to increase the likelihood that HIV infection is detected as soon as possible after exposure occurs.
Getting tested; a blood or oral sample can be collected in a doctor's office or a local clinic and sent to a laboratory for testing. In these same settings, a rapid test may available in which results are generated in about 20 minutes.
Screening tests have limitations, so it is important to remember :
All teens and adults ages 15 to 64 as well as younger adolescents at increased risk undergo screening for HIV. As for how often, the Task Force says a reasonable approach is one-time testing for all people ages 15 to 64 and at least annual screenings for those at very high risk of HIV, such as males who have sex with males, IV drug users, and in settings with high HIV-positive prevalence, such as STD clinics, clinics that serve adolescents or the homeless, or correctional facilities. Adolescents at increased but not very high risk may be screened less frequently than every year, such as every three to five years. The Task Force points out that risk is "on a continuum" and health professionals should use their own discretion in deciding how frequently to test people for HIV.
Aside from these recommendations, certain individuals should get tested and learn their status. These include :
Don't be surprised if a health care provider, in any care setting, offers you or you an HIV screening Test. Routine HIV testing (which you can decline or "opt out" of) prevents feelings of embarrassment or shame from becoming obstacles to crucial health care. Those infected can get treatment when it works best and take steps to protect the health of sex partners and even their unborn children. If your health care provider does not bring up sexual health topics, you can simply ask for a test or a risk assessment. You can also use confidential services to obtain testing or counseling.
Obesity is a health concern because it increases the risk of many diseases, such as high blood pressure (hypertension), dyslipidemias (high cholesterol and/or high triglycerides), Type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, and some cancers.
Calculating a person's body mass index (BMI) can be useful for assessing their body fat. It is a screening tool for determining if someone has a weight problem. For adults, the following formula and classifications are used:
BMI = (Weight in pounds) / (height in inches squared) x 703
Diabetes is becoming more common at younger ages. Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90-95% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes among adults. Unhealthy weight and physical inactivity, both contributing factors, have also become national health problems.
In most cases in younger generation, blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Detecting pre-diabetes allows individuals take steps to stop or slow the development of type 2 diabetes and its complications. These include heart attack, stroke, hypertension, blindness and eye problems, kidney disease, and nervous system maladies. More than 60% of lower limb amputations occur in diabetics.
Being overweight – having a body mass index (BMI) equal to or greater than 25 kg/m2) – is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes.
Other risk factors related to your own health include:
If you are overweight and have at least one other risk factor, get diabetes screening with an A1c, fasting plasma glucose, or 2-hour 75g oral glucose tolerance test.
If results are normal, get repeat testing at least every 3 years.
If you have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes, get tested yearly.
If you have no risk factors for type 2 diabetes, get screening beginning at age 45.
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria. TB primarily targets the lungs but may affect any area of the body. It can be spread through the air from person to person through droplets of respiratory secretions such as sputum or aerosols released by coughing, sneezing, laughing, or breathing.
Most of those who become infected with M. tuberculosis manage to confine the mycobacteria to a few cells in their lungs, where they stay alive but in an inactive form. This latent TB infection does not make the person sick or infectious and, in most cases, it does not progress to active tuberculosis. However, some people - especially those with compromised immune systems - may progress directly from initial TB infection to active tuberculosis. People who have HIV are much more likely to become sick if they contract TB. A person who has latent TB and their immune system becomes weakened may then develop active TB. Another increasing concern is drug-resistant forms of TB that are resistant to the antibiotics typically prescribed to treat the disease.
TB is one of the world's deadliest diseases; it is a large health issue among at-risk groups. Current guidelines call for targeted screening among such groups.
Your health care provider will choose which TB test to use.
Millions of people in this country have chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV). Many of these people are unaware that they are infected.
HBV is one of five "hepatitis viruses" identified so far that are known to mainly infect the liver. It is spread through contact with blood or other body fluids from an infected person, such as during sex or by sharing needles, razors or toothbrushes, and can also be passed from an infected mother to her baby during or after birth.
HBV infection can be acute or chronic, with the course of infection varying from a mild form that lasts only a few weeks to a more serious form lasting years that can lead to complications such as cirrhosis or liver cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), many people die every year from HBV-related liver disease.
The vast majority of those with chronic infections will have no symptoms. A test for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) may be used for screening asymptomatic people who fall into one of the high-risk categories for chronic HBV. Effective vaccines against HBV are available; however, those who have not been vaccinated or who are at high risk and were vaccinated before being screened for HBV infection may want to consider getting tested.
People considered at high risk for HBV infection include those from countries with a high prevalence of HBV infection, those who are HIV-positive, injection drug users, household contacts of those with HBV infection, and men who have sex with men. Since the prevalence of HBV infection is low in the genera population and most of those infected do not develop complications, HBV screening is not recommended for those who are not at increased risk.
Guidelines to recommend that the following groups be screened for HBV:
People with chronic HBV can unwittingly spread the infection to others and remain at risk for serious complications of the infection.
Screening tests are an important part of your preventive health care. For people between the ages of 30 and 49, these tests are used for early detection of some of the more common and potentially deadly diseases - such as cancers, diabetes, and heart disease - that begin to affect people in their middle years. These tests can help catch certain illnesses and conditions in their earliest and most curable stages, even before you notice symptoms.
With information from screening tests, your health care provider can work with you to develop preventive measures that will improve your health and can even extend your healthy years. For example, a routine cholesterol test could reveal your risk for developing heart disease, allowing you to take preventive steps - like lifestyle changes - before you develop a serious condition.
The menu above links you to articles on the laboratory screening tests suggested for adults 30 to 49 years old. The articles summarize the recommendations from various authorities, and there is consensus in many areas, but not all. Therefore, when discussing screening with your health care provider and making decisions about testing, it is important to consider your individual health situation and risk tolerance
Women age 20 to 24 had the lowest incidence of breast cancer. Incidence tends to increase with age, with 95% of new cases occurring in those who are 40 and older. Regular screening can help to detect tumors at an early stage when they are most treatable. Several methods are available for screening, including mammography, an imaging test that is especially effective at detecting breast cancer several years before symptoms develop. A number of organizations have published guidelines recommending when women should begin having screening mammograms, some of which disagree. Women should talk to their health care providers to help them decide when they should begin screening.
Decision when to start regular screening mammography should be an individual one, taking into consideration such factors as a woman's risk tolerance. Consult your Healthcare Practitioner.
No guidelines state that there is no age at which mammography screening should be discontinued. The decision as to when to stop screening should be based on the individual, her health, and estimated longevity. If you are in good health and your health enables you to be a candidate for treatment, continue getting mammograms.
The recommendations above are for women without known risk factors for breast cancer. If you have an increased risk such as genetic predisposition and family or personal history of breast cancer you should develop an individualized screening program with the guidance of your doctor. Women at high lifetime risk be screened with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in addition to mammography annually beginning at age 30.
Most deaths from cancer of the cervix (the lower part of the uterus, or womb) could be avoided if women had regular checkups with Pap smears. This cancer can take several years to develop and most often is seen in women 40 years of age or older. Getting routinely screened can help identify cervical cancer in its early stages, when it is highly curable. Screening even finds precancerous lesions so they can be removed before cancer ever starts.
Women who haven't been screened for cervical cancer in 3 years or more or who have never been tested are especially urged to have a Pap smear.
In addition to a Pap smear, several organizations also recommended that women 30 years of age or older be screened with an HPV DNA test. Persistent infections with certain types (strains) of HPV are now known to be the major risk factor for cervical cancer.
How often you should be tested depends on your risk factors, such as exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES) in uterus, previous diagnosis of cervical cancer, HIV infection, or a compromised immune system. If you have any of these risk factors, you should be tested more frequently. Ask your health care provider for a recommendation on frequency. If you have had a hysterectomy, discuss whether continued screening is of value. In some cases, it is.
Even if you do not need a Pap smear each year, for most women an annual well-woman exam is still recommended.
Beginning in childhood, the waxy substance called cholesterol and other fatty substances known as lipids start to build up in the arteries, hardening into plaques that narrow the passageway. During adulthood, plaque buildup and resulting health problems occur not only in arteries supplying blood to the heart muscle but in arteries throughout the body (a problem known as atherosclerosis). For both men and women, the number one cause of death is heart disease, and the amount of cholesterol in the blood greatly affects a person's chances of suffering from it.
Screening for high cholesterol, specifically high LDL cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol), is important because it may not cause any symptoms and yet, two out of three adults have it.
An age to stop screening has not been established. After age 65, you may not need to keep getting tested. Lipid levels are less likely to increase at this age; however, anyone over age 65 who has never been tested should have their cholesterol levels measured.
You also are more vulnerable and would want more frequent testing if you have any known risk factors, such as:
Men have greater risk for heart attack than women, and risk for heart disease increases with age.
HIV is the virus that causes AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), a life-threatening disease. Initially, an HIV infection may cause no symptoms or cause non-specific, flu-like symptoms that resolve after a short time period. If the infection is not detected and treated, eventually symptoms of AIDS emerge and begin to progressively worse. Over time, HIV destroys the immune system and leaves a person's body vulnerable to debilitating infections.
HIV is spread in the following ways :
Screening for HIV has become routine health care and is an important part of wellness and prevention for adolescents. This is because diagnosis early in the course of infection leads to timely, effective treatment that slows progression to AIDS. Early diagnosis also has important benefits for others and society at large. An individual can learn of their status and modify behavior and not expose others to infected blood or body fluids, thus preventing further spread of the disease. A woman who has HIV and is pregnant can undergo treatment that would help prevent spreading the disease to her child.
Several situations put you at high risk of contracting HIV :
How often you are tested should depend on your risk, activities, and sexual contacts. For example, during a long-term, truly monogamous sexual relationship, you may want just one test. However, if you or your partner have had sexual contact with more than one person in recent months, your risk of infection is greater. If you or a person with whom you've had sexual contact (even unwanted sexual contact) engaged in some risky behavior, you have even more reason to be tested.
Different types of antibody tests may be used for HIV screening. Combination tests that detect the HIV antibody and the p24 antigen may be performed to increase the likelihood that HIV infection is detected as soon as possible after exposure occurs.
Getting tested; a blood or oral sample can be collected in a doctor's office or a local clinic and sent to a laboratory for testing. In these same settings, a rapid test may available in which results are generated in about 20 minutes.
Screening tests have limitations, so it is important to remember :
All teens and adults ages 15 to 64 as well as younger adolescents at increased risk undergo screening for HIV. As for how often, the Task Force says a reasonable approach is one-time testing for all people ages 15 to 64 and at least annual screenings for those at very high risk of HIV, such as males who have sex with males, IV drug users, and in settings with high HIV-positive prevalence, such as STD clinics, clinics that serve adolescents or the homeless, or correctional facilities. Adolescents at increased but not very high risk may be screened less frequently than every year, such as every three to five years. The Task Force points out that risk is "on a continuum" and health professionals should use their own discretion in deciding how frequently to test people for HIV.
Aside from these recommendations, certain individuals should get tested and learn their status. These include :
Don't be surprised if a health care provider, in any care setting, offers you or you an HIV screening Test. Routine HIV testing (which you can decline or "opt out" of) prevents feelings of embarrassment or shame from becoming obstacles to crucial health care. Those infected can get treatment when it works best and take steps to protect the health of sex partners and even their unborn children. If your health care provider does not bring up sexual health topics, you can simply ask for a test or a risk assessment. You can also use confidential services to obtain testing or counseling.
Obesity is a health concern because it increases the risk of many diseases, such as high blood pressure (hypertension), dyslipidemias (high cholesterol and/or high triglycerides), Type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, and some cancers.
Calculating a person's body mass index (BMI) can be useful for assessing their body fat. It is a screening tool for determining if someone has a weight problem. For adults, the following formula and classifications are used:
BMI = (Weight in pounds) / (height in inches squared) x 703
Chlamydia and Gonorrhea are bacterial sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), but many infected people have no symptoms. These infections usually affect the genitals but may also cause infections of other mucous membranes, eyes, or joints. Pregnant women may transmit the infections to their newborns. Often progressing silently, these diseases can cause infertility and other health complications if left untreated. However, both diseases can be cured with antibiotics.
Chlamydia and Gonorrhea are highest among adolescent girls (15-19 years of age) and young women (20-24 years old). Many people have both Chlamydia and Gonorrhea infections at the same time.
Do not recommend routine screening for sexually active, heterosexual boys. Health care providers may, however, use their judgment and consider risks, such as prevalence of these STDs in the community. It is important to remember that an infected male can spread these diseases and even re-infect a partner if he does not complete treatment.
Sexually active teens face more risk of Chlamydia and Gonorrhea infection, compared to adults age 25 and older. Your risk is even greater if you:
Because re-infection rates are high, both teen girls and boys who are treated for Chlamydia or Gonorrhea infection be retested approximately 3 months after treatment or at their next health care visit, regardless of whether they believe that their sex partners were treated. It is important to continue annual screening for these diseases because re-infection is always possible.
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in adults and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men and women. Cancer of the colon and rectum is both preventable and treatable if detected early. Studies show that regular screening could prevent one-third of colorectal cancer deaths.
Screening tests that look for and remove polyps and lesions in the colon can prevent colorectal cancer. These are found most often in people 50 years of age and older, so experts recommend universal screening of average risk people in this age group. However, if you have one or more risk factors for colon cancer, described below, you should talk to your doctor about screening at a younger age. Those risk factors could include hereditary conditions, family history of colon cancer, and lifestyle.
The exact causes of colon and rectal cancer are not known, but risk appears to be associated with genetic, dietary, and lifestyle factors. Earlier, more frequent screening is appropriate at a younger age for those who have risk factors, often beginning at age 40. Screening can begin even earlier in some cases.
Lifestyle factors that may contribute to increased risk for colon cancer include lack of regular physical activity, low fruit and vegetable intake, a low-fiber and high-fat diet, obesity, alcohol consumption, and smoking.
Recommendations for colon cancer screening include laboratory tests performed on your stool samples to detect existing cancers and imaging tests on the inside of your colon that can detect pre-cancerous polyps and existing cancers.
Colonoscopy is the most accurate and thorough test, but also the most costly and invasive. However, it is especially appropriate for those with risk factors. Stool sample testing and sigmoidoscopy are easier than colonoscopy, but not as accurate. Stool testing and sigmoidoscopy are best used together.
Your doctor can help you assess your individual risk factors and determine if you should begin screening before age 50, and what tests are appropriate based on your risks. As the CDC notes, any of the recommended tests is better than no test.
Several health organizations have their own colon cancer screening recommendations. While they may differ on which tests to use and how often, they each support screening for colon cancer. These guidelines provide the most comprehensive screening guidelines for people who are at increased risk for colon cancer and thus candidates for screening before age 50. If you are at increased or high risk for colorectal cancer, your health care provider can help you assess the best combinations of preventive tests and how frequently you should have them.
Several health organizations have their own colon cancer screening recommendations. While they may differ on which tests to use and how often, they each support screening for colon cancer.
If you have increased or high risk for colorectal cancer due to family history, hereditary syndromes such as hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) or familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or inflammatory bowel disease, you should talk to your health care provider about more aggressive and frequent screening.
People aged 76 to 85 who have had consistently negative screening results since they were age 50 and against screening for anyone over the age of 85 years.
Talk to your health care provider about the screening tests recommended for you. Some employers, health plans, and health care providers offer decision aids.
Also, don't neglect the protection of getting re-tested at the interval recommended by your health care provider. Ask or sign up for a mailed or e-mailed reminder (see Links below), or mark your calendar or date book.
Diabetes is becoming more common at younger ages. Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90-95% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes among adults. Unhealthy weight and physical inactivity, both contributing factors, have also become national health problems.
In most cases in younger generation, blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Detecting pre-diabetes allows individuals take steps to stop or slow the development of type 2 diabetes and its complications. These include heart attack, stroke, hypertension, blindness and eye problems, kidney disease, and nervous system maladies. More than 60% of lower limb amputations occur in diabetics.
More people today die from hepatitis C than from HIV. Although many people with hepatitis C (HCV) have no symptoms for decades, if left undiagnosed and unmanaged, hepatitis C infection can progress to chronic liver damage.
People are living with chronic HCV infection, which can cause long-term liver damage; without treatment, it is estimated that as many as half will develop cirrhosis and/or hepatocellular carcinoma, a type of liver cancer, both of which can be fatal. Two-thirds of this population is, between the ages of 47 and 67 and are now entering a period of risk for these late complications of chronic hepatitis C infection, most of whom are unaware that they have even been infected by this slowly progressing disease.
Hepatitis C is spread by exposure to contaminated blood, for example, through sharing of needles during intravenous (IV) drug abuse. Though the risk is low, transmission can also occur through sexual activity and from an infected mother to her baby during childbirth. It was also possible to become infected with HCV through blood transfusion or organ transplant. Health care workers who have been exposed to infected blood are also at risk.
People at risk and who may have contracted the virus 40 years ago are unaware of their condition. Those at risk see no reason to seek testing as long-ago behavior is not easily linked to current liver problems, and doctors are reluctant to ask sensitive questions about 40-year old behavior. A one-time test for older adults could detect infections contracted long ago, allowing for timely treatment and prevention of complications.
HCV-related disease and death is preventable if detected and treated. Before 2000, chronic HCV was curable in only 10% of cases. Now, treatments for HCV can cure around 60-70% of those detected before late complications occur. Treatments are evolving at a pace that could reach nearly 90% cure rates with drugs that are currently being researched.
Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in men and the second leading cause of cancer death, after lung cancer. As many as 1 in 6 men will develop it during their lifetime, with most cases diagnosed in men 65 years of age or older. Some prostate cancers progress quickly and cause death within months or a few years, but most grow slowly and never pose a threat. Screening tests for prostate cancer are important for men to discuss with their health care providers, especially because expert panels have reached different conclusions about prostate screening.
Since the introduction of blood tests for prostate - specific antigen (PSA), more prostate cancers are being caught before they spread to other organs and become difficult to cure. However, PSA tests have not been linked to declining prostate cancer deaths in a cause-and-effect relationship. Deciding when to be screened for prostate cancer is especially challenging because of conflicting expert opinion. Research on how PSA testing improves prostate cancer survival rates has been inconclusive.
Many complicated issues are involved :
Informed decisions
In spite of the controversy surrounding prostate cancer screening, many scientific and medical organizations recommend prostate cancer screening in average-risk men. This includes men with no known risk factors who are 40 or older and have a life expectancy greater than 10 years. Experts agree that older and middle-aged men should receive balanced information about prostate cancer screening. You need to know the risks, uncertainties, benefits and limits of prostate cancer testing and treatment and should work with your health care provider to understand your options and decide what is best for you.
One important factor to consider is your personal risk of developing prostate cancer :
If you choose to undergo screening, one or both of the following tests may be recommended:
Medical organizations have different recommendations for prostate screening. The earliest age at which you should be offered screening and how often you should be tested varies depends on which organization's guidelines you and your health care provider follow. It is important to consider your own tolerances for risk and uncertainty and to consult with your doctor about which recommendations are best for you, and how you will use the test results.
Before choosing prostate screening, it is important that you have a discussion with your health care provider that will help you weigh the pros and cons based on your age, life expectancy, family history, race, overall health, previous test results, and individual risk tolerance.
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria. TB primarily targets the lungs but may affect any area of the body. It can be spread through the air from person to person through droplets of respiratory secretions such as sputum or aerosols released by coughing, sneezing, laughing, or breathing.
Most of those who become infected with M. tuberculosis manage to confine the mycobacteria to a few cells in their lungs, where they stay alive but in an inactive form. This latent TB infection does not make the person sick or infectious and, in most cases, it does not progress to active tuberculosis. However, some people - especially those with compromised immune systems - may progress directly from initial TB infection to active tuberculosis. People who have HIV are much more likely to become sick if they contract TB. A person who has latent TB and their immune system becomes weakened may then develop active TB. Another increasing concern is drug-resistant forms of TB that are resistant to the antibiotics typically prescribed to treat the disease.
TB is one of the world's deadliest diseases; it is a large health issue among at-risk groups. Current guidelines call for targeted screening among such groups.
Your health care provider will choose which TB test to use.
Millions of people in this country have chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV). Many of these people are unaware that they are infected.
HBV is one of five "hepatitis viruses" identified so far that are known to mainly infect the liver. It is spread through contact with blood or other body fluids from an infected person, such as during sex or by sharing needles, razors or toothbrushes, and can also be passed from an infected mother to her baby during or after birth.
HBV infection can be acute or chronic, with the course of infection varying from a mild form that lasts only a few weeks to a more serious form lasting years that can lead to complications such as cirrhosis or liver cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), many people die every year from HBV-related liver disease.
The vast majority of those with chronic infections will have no symptoms. A test for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) may be used for screening asymptomatic people who fall into one of the high-risk categories for chronic HBV. Effective vaccines against HBV are available; however, those who have not been vaccinated or who are at high risk and were vaccinated before being screened for HBV infection may want to consider getting tested.
People considered at high risk for HBV infection include those from countries with a high prevalence of HBV infection, those who are HIV-positive, injection drug users, household contacts of those with HBV infection, and men who have sex with men. Since the prevalence of HBV infection is low in the genera population and most of those infected do not develop complications, HBV screening is not recommended for those who are not at increased risk.
Guidelines to recommend that the following groups be screened for HBV:
People with chronic HBV can unwittingly spread the infection to others and remain at risk for serious complications of the infection.