Healthy Living
Do I Need
That Test?
Just because a sophisticated medical
test is available, doesn’t mean you
should take it. We separate the
must-haves from the rest.
By Sylvia Booth Hubbard
N
EARLY EVERY PATIENT AT SOME POINT ASKS THE QUESTION: Coronary Calcium Scores Calcium buildup inside the
“Doctor, what medical tests should I have?” coronary arteries indicates coronary artery disease. A CT
The answers have varied over the years as popular scan creates images of the heart and spots calcium depos-
tests waxed and waned in importance or were replaced its in artery walls.
with more accurate or less invasive versions. With Spiral Volumetric CT of the Lungs This is an extremely
advanced tests such as full-body CT scans that promise important diagnostic test for smokers and former smok-
to spot diseases, including cancer, in the earliest stages, ers. “Even if a person hasn’t smoked for 20 years, if they
some patients demand specifi c tests. But should they? had a pack-a-day habit for 10 years, they’re still at a sig-
“Just because a test is available doesn’t mean you nifi cantly greater risk for developing lung cancer,” says
need it,” says Dr. Daniel S. Cosgrove, medical director of Cosgrove. “This test can make a real difference. By the
WellMax Center for Preventive Medicine. time most lung cancer is detected, it’s too late.
“For example, no healthy person without symptoms Ovarian Ultrasound Combined With the CA-125 Blood
should demand a full-body CT scan. There’s too much Test This combination is used to screen women who
radiation involved which could increase the risk of devel- have a family history of ovarian cancer. “The blood test
oping cancer in the future,” he tells Newsmax, adding is best when compared with a previous test,” Cosgrove
“But if you’ve smoked in the past, you should be screened feels. “If you see a change, regardless of the number,
for certain conditions including heart disease and lung that’s a concern.”
cancer, and there are new tests that are non-invasive and Digital Mammograms and Breast MRI These tests are
more accurate than those in the past. But patients at risk best for younger women at high risk, including women
who refuse even low-dose radiation tests simply because who have a close relative with breast cancer, those with
of a fear of cancer do themselves a disservice.” dense breast tissue, or those diagnosed with breast can-
cer. The digital images can be enhanced, magnifi ed, and
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Important Tests Available Now stored for future reference, making new small abnormali-
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Carotid Ultrasound Ultrasound equipment placed at ties more obvious.
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the neck measures any thickening of the inner walls of the High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Blood Tests
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carotid artery, a sign of atherosclerosis. “For the patient, CRP levels are an indication of infl ammation in the
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this test is as simple as loosening a necktie, and it takes 10 body, which has been linked with heart disease. However,
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minutes,” says Cosgrove. “I think everyone over the age of infl ammation associated with arteriosclerosis produces
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40 should get one. levels too low to be measured by regular CRP tests, which
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“There should be no plaque if you’ve never smoked. physicians use to monitor patients with arthritis.
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Plaque means you have accelerated atherosclerosis and Ultrasound Heel Test for Osteoporosis The non-
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you can treat it. If you don’t, you’re going to be in a world invasive, radiation-free test could pinpoint those women
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of hurt by the time you’re 60.” who need further bone-density testing. Experts say the L
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102 NEWSMAX MAXLIFE / NOVEMBER 2009
102_HEALTH_Medtests.indd 102 9/30/09 7:15 PM
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