Preventive Therapy is Better Than Cure

21/05/2018

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pharmacy

One of the keys to staying healthy as we age is to practise preventive healthcare, as developed nations have committed to investing more in preventive than curative medicine. In addition to adhering to healthy diets with appropriate nutritional value and keeping up with healthy lifestyles, certain hormones and body fluids are needed to give interpretations to the status of our health.

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Every registered pharmacy must have the required instruments to carry out these basic tests. Ask your pharmacist for blood cholesterol, blood pressure, blood glucose tests to mention a few. There are also tests to alert one of an impending asthma attack (peak flow meter), breast aware nylon gloves that help detect lumps to check for impending breast tumours, HIV and typhoid test kits, and so on.

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These machines help patients know their numbers and keep them within healthy ranges. They also ensure quick and early detection of some chronic conditions that could have otherwise never been noticed. Most of these devices are handy and easy to use.

Tests with numbers above normal should be referred to physicians for further clarification and treatment. The following are recommended screening tests to carry out preventive care which ensures optimum health.

TEST	WHY IT IS DONE	THOSE WHO NEED TO BE TESTED	NAME OF DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE
Blood cholesterol	To look for signs of cardiovascular diseases	Men & Women 30+	Cholesterol test kit
Blood pressure	To check heart function	Men & Women 30+	Digital blood pressure monitor or sphygmometer
Breast self-exam	To detect lumps in the breast	Women 20+	Breast aware nylon gloves
HIV	To detect the HIV virus	Sexually active people, health workers etc.	HIV test kit
Hepatitis	To detect the Hepatitis virus	Sexually active, health workers etc.	Hepatitis test kit
Asthma	To detect shortness of breath that might be as result exposure to allergens.	Children and adults	Peak flow meter

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Other complicated diagnostic tests carried out in more equipped health facilities like hospital and diagnostic facilities include:

TEST	WHY IT IS DONE	THOSE WHO NEED TO BE TESTED	NAME OF DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE
Colonoscopy	To detect colon cancer and ulcers	Men & Women 20+	Endoscope
Complete blood count	To access overall	Children and Adults	ESR