Health Screenings An Important Routine Often Overlooked

By Nurul Halawati Azhari KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 3 (Bernama) -- Many go into the new year vowing to take better care of their health. Besides maintaining a healthy diet and exercise, one should also commit to regular health screenings. Regular health checkups can help detect problems before they start to manifest, especially when it comes to detecting diseases that are considered "silent killers". The test results may help doctors pick up on early warning signs before symptoms of the diseases become evident. This is important as the signs for many diseases only manifest themselves when the disease has reached a critical stage. It is recommended that health checkups be done at least once in two years. A thorough health screening comprises several tests carried out by healthcare specialists. According to Dr Sim Sharon, the Screening Centre Department Head at the Gleneagles Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, they include the blood pressure screening, the diabetes screening, the lung function test and the electrocardiogram (ECG) test. THE BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENING High blood pressure or hypertension forces the heart to work harder than it normally does to pump blood. This can eventually damage the blood vessels in the entire body. Although the human body can tolerate an increase in blood pressure for a few months or even years, the spike would eventually take its toll on the heart, kidneys, brain and eyes. A person's blood pressure can be measured by looking at the systolic (the top number) and the diastolic (the lower number) reading. A reading of 120/80 can be considered normal but a reading of 140/90 and above is clearly an indication of high blood pressure. "Ideally, a person should get his blood pressure tested at least once every two years. However, those suffering from diabetes, heart disease, kidney problems or other conditions need to be monitored more regularly," said Dr Sim. DIABETES SCREENING Diabetes is a disorder quite common among Malaysians. It is when a person has high blood glucose (blood sugar), either because of the insulin production is inadequate, or because the body's cells do not respond properly to insulin, or both. Glucose is obtained from the food we eat and the insulin hormone helps the body to absorb glucose that is used to produce energy in every cell in the human body. Those with Type 1 Diabetes cannot produce insulin while those with Type 2 Diabetes cannot produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin produced. "In many cases, the body's inability to produce insulin to remove the excess glucose in the blood can result in serious damage to the nerves and organs," she said. Those wishing to get themselves tested for diabetes can take a test to check for the glucose level in the blood. Prior to taking the test, they must fast for at least eight hours. The normal reading for those fasting and free of diabetes is between 4.4 and 6.1mmol/L. CHOLESTEROL SCREENING Cholesterol is a kind of fat, or lipid, produced in the liver. It helps in the production of certain hormones and travels throughout the body through the blood plasma. It aids in the formation of bile acids and Vitamin D in the body. Although cholesterol is important for normal bodily function, the human body only needs a small amount of it. Excess cholesterol, causes plaque build-up in blood vessels, causing blood vessels to narrow and ultimately leads to heart problems. "We usually detect the high cholesterol through a blood test. A person can have high cholesterol due to genetics, obesity or unhealthy eating habits," explained Dr Sim. A simple blood test, called a lipid profile, can be used to measure the level of cholesterol. The blood sample is usually taken after a 10 to 12 hour fast. The optimum reading is supposed to be below 2.6 mmol/L. Dr Sim said the test would typically report the level of LDL (low-density lipoprotein), HDL (high-density lipoprotein) and triglycerides. LDL, also known as the "bad" cholesterol can lead to cardiovascular diseases. HDL is called the "good" cholesterol and can help with the reutilisation of bad cholesterols. Its level should be more than 1.6 mmol/L. Triglycerides, meanwhile, is often found in blood and can lead to coronary artery disease. Its reading must be below 1.7 mmol/L. The test results also take into account the compilation of all lipid components in the blood. The recommended level is below 5.2 mmol/L. LUNG FUNCTION TEST The lung function test, also known as the pulmonary test, measures the lung's ability to draw in air. The results are then recorded and compared with those in the same age group, height and gender. The test enables doctors to assess the lung's capacity to supply oxygen to the blood system and the strength of the respiratory muscles. THE ELECTROCARDIOGRAM TEST (ECG) The ECG or EKG is a test for heart diseases. Its results are often used to determine the need for other tests, such as the stress test. The test records the heart's electrical activity during rest and exercise and is also inclusive of a chest x-ray. Its purpose is to detect abnormalities in the heartbeat. An exercise ECG, often using a threadmill, is done to detect poor blood supply to the heart or a blockage in the coronary artery, the blood vessel supplying blood to the heart. AFTER THE HEALTH SCREENING Dr Sim said although the results of a health screening might come out positive, a person should never be lax in his healthcare routines. Regular checkups are important as it can help to quickly identify health problems that may have occurred after a screening. So continue maintaining a healthy lifestyle, but don't miss out on health screenings. If a problem is detected, do not ever postpone treatment. Early treatment and good management of diseases can help prevent more serious complications. --BERNAMA