Tag Archive for: Medical test for senior citizens

 

• Anyone above the age of 45years should routinely do this test, so it’s not just only the senior citizens.

• It helps to detect if your body is not making use of the sugar adequately. This is referred to as diabetes.

 

• This is a simple test that should be done regularly in anyone above the age of 45years, as a matter of fact, it is routinely done in the hospitals. Even if you come everyday.

• It helps to detect those with blood pressure problem early, which is known as Hypertension.

• Hypertension is a silent killer, so without this test, people might be hypertensive and be fine physically. Meanwhile, they are dying inside.

• It is not unusual to see people develop stroke ( inability to use some parts of the body and or speech loss) suddenly, this is as a result of uncontrolled Hypertension, which could have been well controlled if detected early.

 

• When lipid is within normal level in the body, it helps in building the cell memebrane, insulation, energy storage and cellular communication.

• However, if the value becomes too high , especially the Low density lipoprotein (LDL) this can cause heart diseases and even stroke.

• If detected early, you would probably be advised on dietary modification, lifestyle changes and drugs if necessary.

• This is recommended for anyone above the age of 35years and not just the elderly alone

 

• This test allows your Healthcare professionals to know if your blood level is low or normal. Also, it helps us to know if  there is any infection going on within the body by interpreting the parameters.

• This test is a routine test for all age group, and not just the elderly.

 

• The kidneys help in getting rid off toxic waste substances from the body . Therefore, any damage to the kidneys will lead to the accumulation of these substances in the body, and this could be very damaging to human health.

• Anyone from the age of 45years should do this once in a year.

• Also, adequate water promotes the proper function of the kidneys.

 

• One of the organs of the body affected as people age is the eye.

• Yearly eye check is encouraged in the elderly.

 

• This is done to check for wax,dirt and hearing capability.

• The physical examination , that is checking for wax, dirt and foreign bodies can be done routinely, while the hearing capability test (Audiogram) can be done yearly.

 

• This involves viewing the lower part of the large intestine starting from the rectum with the aid of a camera-like flexible instrument, known as colonoscopy.

•It helps to detect any abnormal leison or polyps, and a biopsy would be taken if there is any changes for the purpose of definitive diagnosis.

•Cancer is treatable if detected early before spread. Hence, routine colonoscopy every ten (10) years starting from age 45 years to about 74years is highly recommended.

 

• This is specifically for older men, however, people should start screening for prostate cancer from 45years old and above.

• With a simple digital rectal examination (DRE) your attending physician might suspect a prostate cancer and take a biopsy for histology which would aid in the definitive diagnosis.

• Also, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels can help in the diagnostic process.

• Early detection gives a very favorable outcome.

 

• Breast x-ray is called (mammogram) by health professionals. It helps in taking a picture of the breast for proper examination. 

Women over 55 years of age should have mammogram done every two years, while women of 45-54 years should have it done once in a year.

• Self breast examination is the ability to examine your breast on your own following an approved pattern . Every woman from reproductive age group to elderly should be able to do to this. It helps in early detection of lumps within the breast tissue.

 

• Cervical cancer is one of the cancers that affects women. I am not going to bore you with epidemiology, my simple goal is to let you know how this could be prevented by going for the appropriate test.

• The screening for cervical cancer is pap smear.

• It is often done routinely from 25 years old.

• It is done 3 yearly from 25 to 39 years old or 5 yearly if done with HPV (Human papilloma virus) test.

• It is done 5 yearly between 40 to 54 years old.

• It is only done above 65 years if the person has never been screened before the age of 50years, or if there are symptoms suggestive of cervical cancer.

 

Elderly care, like I said in my previous posts does not start at 65 years . It starts from birth. Your health status at 65 years would be a direct reflection of how you have managed your health since  birth. You would realize that most of the tests I discussed in this post are often commenced from when people are at adulthood and middle age, not when they are elderly at 65years.

If you are at your adulthood or middle age and you are reading this, you would do yourself a huge favour by making this medical screenings a priority.

Likewise, if you have aged parents at home, please do take them for some of these tests.

Admittedly, some of the tests may not be necessary at some age, your physician would advice you more on this.