Services & screening

Articles

PET Scan
Article

PET Scan

PET stands for positron emission tomography, a way of creating 3D images of the inside of your body and showing how well certain parts of the body are working. During the scan, a slightly radioactive substance (known as a radiotracer) is injected into your bloodstream. It can then be detected as it moves around your body and is taken up by different cells or parts of your body. It shows which cells are more active and which are less. It is usually used with CT or MRI scanning to provide detailed images. Your body then excretes the radiotracer over the course of a couple of hours after the scan, so it does not stay in your system. PET scanning is particularly useful for helping diagnose cancer, looking at its spread or response to treatment, and looking at conditions that affect the brain.

Bowel cancer screening
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Bowel cancer screening

Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer in the US. Early detection gives a good chance for treatment to work, and to help prevent the cancer from spreading, not only through the bowel but also to other parts of the body, which carries a risk of death. The chance of bowel cancer increases as we get older, so guidelines recommend to start screening from 45-50 years old.

Iron studies or ferritin blood test
Article

Iron studies or ferritin blood test

Blood tests have many different uses. They can be used to diagnose a condition, to 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.

Health check for over 40's
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Health check for over 40's

Many doctors recommend a yearly check-up for individuals aged between 40 and 74. It is your choice if you decide to schedule a health check. The reason for the health check is to assess for age-related diseases that become more common as you age. These include heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, stroke, and dementia. The health check allows you to identify any risks early and better prepare you for the future so that you can make informed, proactive steps to improve your health. If you have no other medical conditions, this health check is usually recommended to be repeated every 5 years.

MRI scan
Article

MRI scan

The letters MRI stand for magnetic resonance imaging and it is a way of scanning that uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create accurate images of the inside of your body. The different densities in your body show up as different shades of gray to white in the images produced. MRI is one of the safest forms of scanning and is pain-free. Unlike X-ray and CT scans, it does not cause any radiation exposure. It can be used to look at any part of the body but is particularly useful for looking at the brain, spine, blood vessels, and heart.

Diastix testing strips
Article

Diastix testing strips

Diastix test strips detect sugar (glucose) levels in your urine. They are for people with diabetes or pre-diabetes. Diabetes is associated with uncontrolled high blood glucose levels. This occurs when either you're not producing enough of a hormone called insulin (type 1 diabetes) or your insulin is not working properly (type 2 diabetes). In healthy individuals, glucose is usually not found in the urine. As people with diabetes have high blood glucose levels, their kidneys can't filter all the glucose out of their urine. As a result, Diastix can help indicate your glucose levels. It is an alternative if you do not like testing your blood. Self-monitoring of glucose is mainly for people with type 1 diabetes. However, sometimes it can be beneficial for type 2 diabetes. Diastix is available over the counter and by prescription.

DEXA scan
Article

DEXA scan

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.

Lateral flow test
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Lateral flow test

A lateral flow test looks for certain markers (proteins and hormones) on a sample of fluid, to give a positive or negative result. There are many different types of lateral flow tests - you may be familiar with a home pregnancy test or the quick COVID-19 test, both of which are rapid lateral flow tests. The COVID-19 self-test can be ordered for free from COVIDtests.gov. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourages people that think they may have been exposed, or have symptoms, or will be meeting anyone who is vulnerable, or going to events or crowded places to be tested. This is designed to catch those without symptoms and prevent spread.

Ketostix testing strips
Article

Ketostix testing strips

Ketostix test strips detect the level of ketones in your urine. They are for people with diabetes. Ketostix is used to identify a dangerous complication of diabetes called diabetic ketoacidosis. It occurs when your body does not have enough insulin. A lack of insulin means your cells can't get enough glucose for energy. Therefore, your body must burn fat for energy instead. Ketones are a by-product of this process produced by your liver. High levels of ketones make your blood acidic. The condition can be life-threatening if not promptly treated. Some ketones leave your body in your urine, allowing for detection by Ketostix. Ketostix test strips are mainly for people with type 1 diabetes, but some people with type 2 diabetes may need to use them if they do not produce enough insulin. They are an alternative if you do not like testing your blood. People who: follow a keto diet, are fasting, or have an eating disorder like anorexia may also benefit from using Ketostix to monitor their urinary ketones. Ketostix is available on prescription and over the counter.

Aortic dissection
Article

Aortic dissection

The aorta is the largest 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 vital organs. It is not common, but it is life-threatening and needs immediate attention as a medical emergency.

Prostate specific antigen (PSA) screening
Article

Prostate specific antigen (PSA) screening

The prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test relates to a man's risk of prostate cancer but unlike other cancers like breast and bowel, there is no routine screening program for prostate cancer in the US. This is because it’s not as straightforward as having a blood test and getting a black-and-white answer: it doesn’t tell you if you have prostate cancer or not. Instead, men over the age of 50 can ask their doctor for a test (or tests every so often) after discussion about how difficult the result is to interpret. A PSA result can be normal and you can still have prostate cancer, or it can be abnormal but you don’t have prostate cancer. A positive test, however, does usually mean you need further investigations, and these can be uncomfortable and carry risks. Let’s talk you through what makes a good screening test, and how this can be applied to PSA screening.

Should I get a test for Lyme disease?
Article

Should I get a test for Lyme disease?

Lyme disease has become fairly well-known among the general population, as it can be blamed for long-term symptoms such as fatigue, aches, and loss of energy. It can be serious, causing a heart inflammation in rare cases. If caught early, it can be treated with antibiotics, and any long-term effects avoided. Lyme disease is an infection with a bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi. It's found in infected ticks that usually live on deer. It's not widespread, and outbreaks in the US are mostly related to areas that are heavily forested. It is more common in the Northeastern, Mid-Atlantic, North Central, and Pacific Northwest regions in the US.

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