Blood tests – rarity or routine?

Posted on 9 April 2014

Most of us have had a blood test done at some point in our lives, usually when we’ve been feeling ill or our doctor has wanted to investigate an apparent disorder. It turns out, though, that blood tests are really useful as an early-warning system, and should be incorporated in your regular healthcare programme.

Try and schedule these two tests annually (there are others that are very helpful too, but you could start with these):

Cholesterol
Cholesterol, a fat produced by the liver, is vital for healthy functioning. But high cholesterol levels can be dangerous: too much of the wrong kind (known sometimes as ‘bad’ cholesterol) can cause narrowed or blocked arteries throughout your body, making it a significant risk factor for heart disease. It’s a silent risk – it doesn’t usually have any symptoms or cause discomfort, so it’s important to have a cholesterol test regularly to show up any hidden dangers.

Who should be tested?
Everyone from the age of about 20 should have a cholesterol test once every five years. Testing is especially important if you:
•    Have a family history of high cholesterol or heart disease.
•    Are overweight.
•    Are physically inactive.
•    Have diabetes.
•    Eat a high-fat diet.

Just for men
Prostate cancer affects many men, particularly in the older age group. One way to screen for prostate cancer is by means of a blood test called a prostate specific antigen (PSA), which measures the level of a protein (PSA) produced by the prostate gland. PSA screening should begin at the age of 50, but if your father or brother has had prostate cancer, you should undergo screening from the age of 40.

Most doctors consider PSA levels of 4ng/ml or lower to be normal. The higher the PSA level in the blood, the more likely you are to have a prostate problem. But there are other factors – age, race, certain medical procedures and medications – that may affect the PSA levels, so a high level does not inevitably indicate cancer. Your doctor will interpret and discuss your PSA test results with you.

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The information provided in this article was correct at the time of publishing. At Mediclinic we endeavour to provide our patients and readers with accurate and reliable information, which is why we continually review and update our content. However, due to the dynamic nature of clinical information and medicine, some information may from time to time become outdated prior to revision.