01 Nov 2009
An apple a day keeps the doctor away, so the saying goes. A modern-day version of the proverbial apple is the health assessment, with which we hope to keep serious illnesses at bay. With evolving technology, it is now possible to assess a person’s risk of developing an array of diseases.
However, experts suggest that we may not be signing up for the right tests.
During a health assessment, a detailed history and physical examination, together with basic blood, urine and stool tests, can be used to detect adverse lifestyle factors that increase a person’s risk of developing lifestylerelated diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and cancer. Diseases which are already present can also be diagnosed.
For example, in the case of diabetes, if risk factors such as being overweight and an unhealthy diet can be identified early, lifestyle changes (such as weight reduction, regular exercise and a lowsugar diet) can be adopted to reduce the likelihood of developing the condition, said doctors.
For those who already have diabetes, once a diagnosis is made, therapeutic lifestyle modification and medication can be undertaken to control the condition and minimise potential complications such as blindness, heart attack and kidney failure.
While there is no universal agreement on which tests to do and when they should be done, the Health Promotion Board (HPB) has released a booklet detailing the important ones and the recommended frequency. This is available on HPB’s website.
However, doctors advise that not all health asssessment tests available are necessary, and say that it is useful for individuals to consult a doctor before going for any. Dr Yuen Yih, Director of Singapore General Hospital’s Health As-Test your health
Get the right health assessment for your needs sessment Centre, said tests will be recommended according to the patient’s needs after the initial consultation and examination. Any additional concerns the patient has will also be discussed, and, where necessary, further tests will be carried out.
“An ideal test must be safe, affordable and easy to carry out. It should be able to detect commonly occurring conditions that will respond well to early treatment,” he said.
Dr Yuen added that basic tests which have proven to be useful for most people are measurements of height and weight to obtain body mass index, blood pressure, blood sugar and blood cholesterol.
With regard to cancer screening, Dr Yuen said that Pap smears and mammograms are widely proven to be effective for the early detection of cervical and breast cancer. Tumour markers, however, have not been proven to be useful as screening tests for early cancer, he added. “There may be false negatives and false positives. However, tumour markers may be useful in cases where there is a positive family history or if the individual has undergone treatment for a malignancy and the marker is used to track for recurrence.”
Even traditional tests like ECGs and chest X-rays may not be as useful as one thinks, he added. “One patient underwent surgery after a shadow, which turned out to be an early cancerous growth, was detected on his X-ray. He has since quit smoking and remains healthy after more than 10 years. But this is the exception rather than the norm as X-rays generally do not pick up cancer until it is too late.”
While there is no magic age for people to start carrying out health assessments, one can follow the general guidelines recommended by HPB, said Dr Yuen.
Breathe easy
We depend on our lungs to stay alive, yet we hardly give them any attention unless something unfortunate like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) strikes us. Held on Nov 18, World COPD Day seeks to create awareness of this condition, which is not a single disease, but an umbrella term that encompasses chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
“It is a progressive and irreversible disease that can lead to lung failure and death,” said Dr Kenneth Chan, a consultant at Singapore General Hospital’s Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
Currently, COPD ranks as the eighth leading cause of death in Singapore. Symptoms include a persistent cough, wheezing and breathlessness. To ensure that your lungs stay healthy, here are three things you can do for them today.
Quit now If you’ve been thinking of quitting, now is the time to stub out that cigarette.
Smoking is the leading cause of COPD in Singapore, according to Dr Ong Thun How, a consultant at SGH’s Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
“It is never too late to stop. Studies show that there are multiple benefits to quitting at every age – the rate of lung function destruction will slow down considerably,” she said.
Take action If you are showing symptoms of COPD, consult your doctor early. Complications include frequent chest infections and heart failures. “The heart has to pump harder to compensate for the low oxygen levels in the blood,” said Dr Ong. As difficulty in breathing worsens, patients with severe COPD may struggle to carry out simple activities like wearing clothes or bathing.
Exercise regularly
Regular exercise may help to improve breathlessness and quality of life, according to the COPD Association of Singapore. “Even brisk walking for half an hour is helpful,” said Dr Chan, who recommends participating in such moderate physical activity at least three times a week.
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