The Pap smear is an important screening test in sexually active women under the age of 65, to detect cancer at a stage when there are often no symptoms. Pap smears are samples of cells taken from the cervix in women to look for cellular changes indicative of cervical cancer. Testing is recommended starting at age 50 by many organizations including the American Cancer Society.
It is important to understand that when blood is present in a stool sample, it can be due to other noncancerous factors, such as certain medications or foods, gastrointestinal bleeding, or hemorrhoids. The test requires collection of 3 stool samples that are examined under the microscope for blood.
People with blood in their stool may have a cancerous growth indicative of colorectal cancer. Fecal occult blood testįecal occult blood is detected by microscopic analysis or by chemical tests for hemoglobin (blood) in the stool. It is important to understand, however, that people can still have heart disease even with cholesterol levels in the normal range. Studies have shown that people with high cholesterol can reduce their risk for heart disease by lowering their cholesterol. People with high cholesterol measurements from a blood sample have a higher risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), than those with cholesterol in the normal range. The 2 most commonly known lipoproteins are low-density lipoproteins (LDL), or "bad" cholesterol, and high-density lipoproteins (HDL), or "good" cholesterol.Ĭholesterol screening is performed by a blood test. However, the liver produces all of the cholesterol the body needs.Ĭholesterol and other fats are transported in the bloodstream in the form of spherical particles, called lipoproteins. The cholesterol in the blood comes from 2 sources: the food you eat and production in your liver. It aids in the production of cell membranes, some hormones, and vitamin D. The following are some examples of common screening tests: Cholesterol measurementsĬholesterol is a waxy substance that can be found in all parts of the body. Some common screening testsīe sure to consult your healthcare provider regarding the appropriate timing and frequency of all screening tests based on your age, overall health, and medical history. However, some screening tests, when used in people not at high risk for disease, or when testing for very rare diseases, can cause more problems than they help. While screening tests are not 100% accurate in all cases, it is generally more valuable to have the screening tests at the appropriate times, as recommended by your healthcare provider, than to not have them at all. What makes a screening test valuable is its ability to detect potential problems, while minimizing unclear, ambiguous, or confusing results. Screening tests are not considered diagnostic, but are used to identify a subset of the population who should have additional testing to determine the presence or absence of disease. The goal is early detection and lifestyle changes or surveillance, to reduce the risk of disease, or to detect it early enough to treat it most effectively. A screening test is done to detect potential health disorders or diseases in people who do not have any symptoms of disease.
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