DEXA is short for 'dual energy X-ray absorptiometry' which is the medical term for a type of scan that uses mild X-rays to measure how dense bone is. The density of bone helps determine how strong the bone is, so the lower the density, the weaker the bone is considered to be. A DEXA scan can be used to diagnose conditions such as osteopenia and osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is when your bone density is significantly lower than the normal range for your age and gender, and the bones are therefore at a higher risk of breaking easily. Osteopenia is a milder form of this with just a slightly lower than normal bone density. Osteoporosis is when bone density is significantly lower than the normal range for your age and gender, and the bones are therefore at a higher risk of breaking easily. Osteopenia is a milder form of this with just a slightly lower than normal bone density.

CT stands for computerised tomography and it is a way of scanning that uses multiple X-rays to create accurate 3D images of the inside of your body. X-rays send small amounts of radiation energy through though the body and detect the amount that has passed through to the other side. Different tissues block or absorb different amounts of the X-rays depending on how dense they are. The more dense the matter, the more radiation it will block and so the whiter it appears on the image. So, for example bone shows up as bright white as it blocks a large amount of the radiation, whereas air such in the lungs allows more to pass through and shows up as much darker.

Blood tests have many different uses. They can help diagnose a condition, monitor a particular organ in the body such as the kidney or liver, and they can also be used to give measurements of bodily processes such as blood sugar or current levels of inflammation.

A colonoscopy is a procedure using a camera to check the inside of your bowel, with the aim of looking for any signs that are causing your symptoms. A colonoscope is a thin, flexible tube, the size of a pen, that is passed into your back passage. It has a camera on the end to view different parts of your bowels, and it may take some photos for future reference. It's usually done in a hospital by a gastroenterologist or colorectal surgeon. In order to get a good view, it’s essential your bowel is cleared out beforehand, and they may blow a little gas in to see the bowel lining fully. It just views the rectum and large bowel (the colon), not the small bowel (intestines).

All women aged between 25 and 64 are invited for cervical screening in the UK. Also called a smear test or pap test, it’s a test aiming to prevent cancer rather than a test for whether you have cancer. It checks for a certain virus that can disrupt the cells of the cervix (the opening to your womb from your vagina). If you have the virus, the cells of the cervix can then be checked for any changes that could, with time, lead to cervical cancer. Your local health authority will get your age and address details from your GP records and send you an invitation (usually by post). If you’re under 25, you’ll be invited every 6 months until you are 25, every 3 years if you’re 25 to 49 and every 5 years if you’re aged 50 to 64. After the age of 65 you’ll only be invited if one of your last three tests was abnormal. You then book an appointment with your general practice nurse or sexual health clinic for a test. Cervical cancer is not one of the most common cancers, but it is common in young women, usually affecting those in their early 30s. Once you have cervical cancer, treatment can be difficult and threaten your fertility and your overall health. But it's considered 99.8% preventable, so it's worth keeping up with your cervical screening.

Many patients are experiencing frustration and irritation at being unable to access GP appointments as they did before the pandemic. Some complain that they would like to see a doctor face to face and they are only offered phone appointments, others that they can’t get through to the reception staff or that all the appointments are booked that day by the time they’ve got through. There has been an unprecedented demand on healthcare since the pandemic, and a shortage of doctors and other health professionals that pre-date the pandemic. They are doing their best to serve the public in challenging times, but that might feel like cold comfort when you feel your problem needs attention. So what are your options? Let’s talk you through where to go and when.

Every woman in the UK is entitled to breast cancer screening. This starts from the age of 50, and continues up to your 71st birthday. You’ll be invited every three years by the local health authority, and they'll use your age and contact details from your doctor's records. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, and every 1 in 8 women is diagnosed in their lifetime. The risk grows with age, hence the screening starting at 50. It can occur in men, as they have breast tissue too, but it’s much more rare, so they are not included in the screening programme.

Everyone aged between 60 and 74 is invited automatically for bowel cancer screening. The local health authority will use your age and contact details in the GP records to send you a home test kit, which you send back to check for abnormalities. You’re then sent this kit every 2 years if you live in England. Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK. Early detection gives a good chance for treatment to work, and to help prevent the cancer spreading not only through the bowel but also to other parts of the body, which carries a risk of death. The chance of bowel increases as we get older, and the government is rolling out plans to start screening from 50 years old.

The aorta is the biggest blood vessel in the body. It carries oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body, so it is vital in keeping us alive. An aortic dissection is a rare, very serious condition that occurs when there is a weakening of the inner layers lining the aorta, causing a leak into the artery wall. This can happen slowly over time, or very suddenly, causing a rupture of the wall. This can be very dangerous as it can lead to major blood loss and failure to supply oxygen to the vital organs. It is not common, but it is life-threatening and needs immediate medical care as a medical emergency.

Why This Article Matters With packed waiting lists and ten-minute appointment slots, GPs are under immense pressure. Many appointments are taken up by self-limiting or minor conditions that could be treated just as effectively at a pharmacy or through self-care. The NHS Pharmacy First scheme enables pharmacists to assess and treat specific common illnesses, such as sore throats and UTIs, and prescribe where appropriate. This saves you time and frees up GPs for more complex cases.

If you find yourself pregnant and do not wish to keep the baby or have it adopted for any reason, you can seek an abortion to bring the pregnancy to an end, otherwise known as a termination of pregnancy. By law in England, Scotland and Wales, this is usually up to 24 weeks, although later in certain exceptional circumstances. The law is more complicated in Northern Ireland. If you find yourself with a positive pregnancy test and are unsure of your decision, you do not need to rush into things. You can turn to your partner, trusted friends or family. You might wish to discuss with someone outside your circle, so your doctor can be a good source of guidance and can refer you for maternity or abortion services. Alternatively, you can refer yourself to abortion services, and they will have counsellors to talk through your options and the turbulent emotions it can bring up. An abortion carries less risk the earlier it is carried out. Earlier discussions also allow for more time to think about the right option for you. If you want to chat to someone you can book an appointment NOW with one of our doctors, or you can chat with the healthwords.ai chat for free today.

Screening for an abdominal aortic aneurysm is extremely important. Doctors refer to this as AAA (pronounced "triple-A") screening. It looks for any weakness in the aorta, the biggest blood vessel in your body. This runs from your heart to the centre of your chest and your abdomen, delivering oxygenated blood to your tissues and organs. Any weakness (aneurysm) can lead to rupture, which causes a life-threatening bleed into your tummy within seconds. Screening is aimed at detecting disease in those most at risk. Men are at higher risk of developing an AAA, and this increases with age, so men aged 65 and over are invited for a test. You’ll receive your invite automatically by post from the local health authority – they'll use your age and the contact details held in your doctor's records. Owing to the risk profile, this screening is not offered routinely to women, men under 65, or if you’ve already received treatment for an AAA.