Medical tests to do at the start of the year

Get regular dental checkups to prevent your pearly whites from damage.

What you need to know:

A medical test is important because it gives you the general status of your health and takes away unnecessary anxiety. It is vital that you know the status of your cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels so they can be treated before they become severe problems, writes Beatrice Nakibuuka.

One of your new resolutions could have been staying healthy but that does not come instantly. It is instead a gradual process that includes following routines. One of the most important ways of staying healthy is by taking your medical examination seriously.
According to Dr Vincent Bakyenga, a general practitioner at Uganda Health Federation, there are some important medical tests that you must do at the start of the year to enhance your health throughout or better so that you detect them early enough when they are still manageable. This will also help you reduce medical costs that you could incur as a result of late diagnosis and treatment.

Cancer screening
Cancers are abnormal cells that grow in the body and the older a person gets, the higher their risk of developing such abnormal cells. Cancer infection in women is common in body parts that have high rates of cell renewal such as the cervix and the breasts.
Dr Noleb Mugisha, an oncologist at Uganda Cancer Institute, says you may be checking your breasts at home regularly but you need to get an annual exam and going for a mammogram if you are above 45 years and have a family history of cancer.

“These cancers if detected early can be cured with treatment. You do not have to wait until you get pain, a lump in the breast or a suspicious discharge to go for cancer screening.”
Like breast cancer, cervical cancer is aggressive and kills quickly if not detected early. Pap smear is the common test for women against cancer of the cervix.
“Cervical cancer screening is important for women who are in the reproductive age and are sexually active,” notes Dr Mugisha. The screening is recommended after every three years.

High blood pressure
High blood pressure affects a vast majority of the global adult population. It is also a risk factor for heart-related and kidney diseases. Regular screening and early detection can save a person from high treatment costs.
Dr Bakyenga says, “Fortunately, you can lower your blood pressure through diet, exercise, learning to manage your stress and medication. Lower blood pressure is a key factor in longevity.”

See a dentist
It is good to have a beautiful smile, but many people only go to see a dentist when they are in pain. According to Patrick Kyagulanyi, a dental surgeon at Dental Solutions Makerere, it is recommendable that you get to see a dentist for general oral check-up as the year begins.
Many times teeth have plaque or are stained as a result of consuming a lot of tea, coffee or smoking and many other foods that stain teeth. Some teeth also develop cavities with time.
“In a dental examination, your dentist will do a comprehensive examination for the gum, tongue, and general appearance of the mouth and teeth. He will also lookout for possible signs of tooth problems, gum diseases such as bleeding, cracking and swelling,” says Dr Kyagulanyi.

Eye examination
If you have trouble reading newspapers, novels or something from your computer, it is high time you went to see an ophthalmologist or optometrist. It is very important to get your eyes checked regularly so that if a problem is detected, it is early enough before the complications advance.
Dr Bakyenga says, “Get your eyes examined annually to check for problems like long-sightedness caused by loss of elasticity of the lens of the eye, short-sightedness, cataract, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration. See a specialist more often if you have sight problems or at risk for eye problems.”

HIV /STDs testing
Taking an HIV test will enable you know your HIV status. This is very important because once you know you are negative, you try to devise means of protecting yourself from getting infected.
Also, HIV-positive people would be able to receive appropriate treatment, regular monitoring, consistency in taking anti-retroviral drugs and regular check-up of their CD4-count can help keep the body healthy. Testing for other sexually transmitted diseases is also crucial if you are sexually active.

Newborn screening
Newborns and young children can be screened for hereditary diseases such as sickle cell anaemia, which can then be managed early enough.
“In developed countries, newborns are screened for different hereditary conditions as soon as the child is born. While this is the recommendation, such tests are expensive in Uganda,” says Dr Bakyenga.
Ensure that your child below one year gets all the vaccinations from tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough, influenza, rota virus, pneumonia and many more.

Other important tests include: Blood count test reveals how much blood a person has and their cell distribution in the body; Lipid profile test to screen for fat abnormalities and cholesterol levels in the body; Uric acid test to diagnose gout arthritis; Liver function test (especially for people who drink or have chronic conditions) to detect inflammation and damage to the liver and Hepatitis B.

Blood sugar
He adds that, “Think about the junk food you ate last year and the overwhelming weight you put on probably because of hormonal changes or over eating. These may have overworked the pancreas that leads to diabetes. You need to have frequent blood sugar examination depending on your risk.” Having this examination done at the beginning of the year can save you from developing heart attacks or strokes and exorbitant hospital bills when you later suffer diabetes.