The real question is: Which test should I take?

In the most recent research from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force panel, a conclusion was made about the risks of screening prostate cancer outweighing the benefits. Additionally, they concluded that some screening leads to unnecessary procedures and testing such as radiation therapy and prostate surgery.

That said, many people think twice before going for a health test. The reason behind this is the fear of getting positive results from the tests. Researchers in the medical world point out that some tests do more harm than good and may even lead to unnecessary procedures. Luckily, there are tests that you can skip; however, there are some that you should take.

If you are over 70 years, regular screening tests may be a big waste of your time, especially if the tests are for cancer. Health experts point out that people in their 70s, 80s, and even older should not take most test. The concern is that the screening may leave them worse off than before, especially for those suffering from serious health problems like heart disease. The following is a list you should get and those you can do without.

Tests you should get:

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm screening

The screening helps in checking the condition of the aorta. The condition checked is known as an aneurysm (rupturing of the aorta). The test is essential for men who have ever smoked. The test is useful to women at the age of 65 to 75 who have smoked. However, the test is unclear whether it is safe for women who have never smoked.

Bone density scan

The condition checked by this test is weakening of the bones. The condition is a ‘silent disease’ because it symptoms develop unnoticed and only become noticed when a bone fracture occurs. A baseline bone density scan should be done at age 65 for women and 70 for men. The test can be done earlier depending on the risk factor.

Tests you can avoid

Mammogram

A lot of women age 50-70 get a mammogram everyone two years.  However, the test gives murky results. Health experts point out that there is ‘insufficient evidence’ or no overall benefits to the screening, it gives many falls alarms. A Functional Thermogram gives you better result and no radiation.

Colonoscopy

Going for a colonoscopy test may offer little protection against cancer, especially for people over 70 year of age. Studies show that complications from the test increase with age. If you have a family history of colon cancer or had a polyp removed, then you should probably go for the test. If not, you can skip the test. Since fecal testing is noninvasive, perhaps routine fecal testing would a better solution.

PSA Test

Medical groups around the world do not recommend a PSA screening for prostate cancer, specifically for people over 75 years. However, there is still a percentage of men who go for the test based on the recommendation from the physicians. Most men, past 76 years, have some prostate cancer cells but only 3% dies from this cancer.

Pap smear

Women after the age of 65 and have no previous precancerous or cancer lesions can avoid this test. They can skip the test also if they’ve had three negative Pap smears checking for cervical cancer in the previous ten years.

What you should know before taking a test

Identifying hidden diseases can be beneficial – but not always

Screenings are useful for early detection of a disease before the symptoms appear. It leads to effective treatment that can reduce illness and suffering. However, for some diseases such as lung cancer, this is not usually the case. A doctor can screen a healthy patient on lung cancer, but the screening has not been helping people to survive the disease.

Age makes a difference

As people get older, their doctors recommend more screening test as a way of keeping them healthy. Some tests are beneficial. You should not only consider the “big impact diseases” but also consider small issues like hearing and vision.

Conclusion

Should you get tested? Yes, you should; but avoiding going to all the tests. The benefit of screening is that you will identify a disease before the actual symptoms start to occur. The downside of testing is that some of the tests can cause problems such as leading to unnecessary treatment. Always consult a physician and weigh in the benefits before taking a test.