You know that going to the doctor every year is a good idea, but do you know what tests you should be getting? At Matthews Internal Medicine we can help you with all of your preventative care needs, and that includes important medical tests. Let’s take a closer look at some of the medical tests you should consider asking about this year.
Blood Pressure Screening
Keeping tabs on your blood pressure is always important. High blood pressure can put you at risk for heart disease and stroke. This is especially a problem for patients who are obese or those who have a family history of medical problems that are related to high blood pressure. It’s important that your physician has a baseline so that they can easily spot when your blood pressure has risen sharply so that you can make the lifestyle changes needed to address the problem.
Diabetes Test
Diabetes is a disease where blood glucose is too high. Type 2 diabetes can be developed later on in life, so it’s important to test for it. There are some early symptoms of diabetes that could indicate that it’s time to get tested. If you’re frequently tired, always hungry, and seem to be thirsty all the time, those could be early signs. Blurry vision and slow healing from cuts and wounds are also potential indicators. Your physician can get you tested so that you can begin managing your diabetes. Or, if the test is negative, they can figure out what else may be causing your symptoms.
Cancer Screening
Depending on your gender, age group, and family history there are some cancer screenings that you may want to inquire about this year. Women should ask about pelvic exams and breast cancer screenings. Men of a certain age need to be concerned about colorectal cancer. Everyone should ask about skin cancer screenings if they see a suspicious mole. Your internist can also take your family and medical history into account and suggest other types of cancer screenings that could be high priority for you.
Essential Nutrients Panel
An essential nutrients panel can show what kind of dietary changes need to be made or which supplements you should take. A lack of vitamin D, for example, could put you at risk for osteoporosis later in life, so you’ll want to learn about this issue early and correct it. A nutrients panel also looks at iron levels, magnesium levels, vitamin B12 levels, and more, and properly addressing these health issues and getting the nutrients you need can make a big difference.
Cholesterol Profile
High cholesterol can increase your heart disease risk, so catching this problem early with a simple test is a good idea. That’s especially true for any patient with a family history of heart disease.
Your Heart Disease Prevention Team in Charlotte, NC
At Matthews Internal Medicine we do our best to help our patients in Charlotte, NC avoid bigger medical problems down the road. So if you’re concerned about heart disease prevention, osteoporosis prevention, or any other kind of preventative care, contact us and set up an appointment with one of our knowledgeable internal medicine doctors today. We’ll do everything that we can to help you live a healthier lifestyle.