tests and investigations

What Happens In A Prostate Exam?

October 20th, 2020 by The Hello Doctor Team

Guys, when was the last time you had your prostate checked? Unlike breast and testicular cancer, you can’t check it yourself!

Even if you find a site on the web that claims you can and they give you a step-by-step guide for a self-prostate exam, we’re telling all men starting at 40: pick up the phone and make an appointment with your doctor!

What happens in a prostate exam?

There’re various screening tests that are used to detect prostate cancer, but the most common is the digital rectal exam.

Although it’s used to spot an enlarged prostate, or any other abnormalities that are symptoms of prostate cancer, it can’t be used to detect the cancer itself. If the person has an enlarged prostate, they would then undergo various other tests.

The digital exam, for those who don’t know, is where:

A doctor inserts their index finger into the patient’s rectum in order to feel the prostate gland.
It’s a small walnut-shaped gland that sits underneath your bladder.

Don’t worry, doctors are required to wear a glove and use lubrication to ease any discomfort.

Another screening test is called:

The Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test. In this test, blood is taken and tested in a lab.

Do you have Medical Aid? Check if your policy covers this exam – if not, well, you’re just going to have to bite the bullet on this one, because this is an essential annual test for men after the age of 45.

Remember, knowing is always better than not knowing. If you’re over 40, and have never had your prostate checked, schedule an appointment with your GP, today.

6 Blood tests that can reveal a lot about your health

October 19th, 2020 by The Hello Doctor Team

Perhaps you’re bloated, experience random headaches or are just tired all the time? You’ve tried the usual remedies, but the relief is temporary. Functional medicine may help.

Functional medicine vs Conventional medicine: What’s the difference?

Conventional medicine analyses symptoms, identifies a disease and creates a treatment plan based on those symptoms. For example, for help with eczema, the conventional approach might be to focus on symptoms and the doctor might suggest medication like antihistamines that could suppress the inflammation and reduce the symptoms.

Functional medicine, sometimes called ‘alternative’ or ‘integrative medicine’, investigates the root cause. The functional medicine doctor might look for triggers such as toxins, allergens, or food sensitivities that could be causing the symptoms, and may use a wide variety of different tests to decide the best treatment strategy.

If you’re struggling with your health, these 6 lab tests may help give you the insight you need to improve it :

1. 24-hour adrenal stress index

The adrenal glands are tiny organs above the kidneys that manufacture a variety of hormones that your body needs to thrive. Ongoing periods of stress overwork the adrenal glands and cause them to stop working as well as they should, which in turn causes adrenal fatigue. This can lead to feelings of fatigue, anxiety, depression, brain fog, weight gain, irritability, decreased sex drive, and trouble sleeping.

The 24-hour adrenal stress index is a saliva test that tracks your cortisol levels throughout the day.

2. Full thyroid panel

The thyroid is a small gland located in the lower-front part of your neck. It helps regulate many of the body’s processes, including metabolism and mood. Thyroid function tests are a series of blood tests that measure how well your thyroid gland is working. Signs of thyroid dysfunction include fatigue, weight gain, dry skin, hair loss, and depression. Many underlying thyroid problems don’t appear on standard tests performed in conventional medicine. During functional medicine, a thyroid test is comprehensive and can help eliminate possible autoimmune thyroid problems.

3. Gut permeability tests

Gut health is the window to overall health. When your gut lining is damaged, due to lifestyle factors such as stress, poor diet and medication, it can cause undigested food and bacteria to pass into the bloodstream. This, in turn, causes body-wide inflammation. Symptoms of poor gut health include bloating, fatigue, digestive issues, skin problems and food sensitivities.
Gut permeability tests check the permeability of your gut and whether there are antibodies and bacterial endotoxins in your blood that should not be there.

4. Sex hormone labs

Both men and women need balanced levels of oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone for optimal health. Although the ratios are different for men and women, all the sex hormones are players, and when they are out of balance, can lead to symptoms like weight gain, depression, erectile dysfunction, low sex drive, infertility, acne, depression, and more. These tests help evaluate men for low testosterone and women for excess testosterone production.

5. Inflammation labs

Inflammation contributes to many diseases – heart disease, cancer, dementia, arthritis, autoimmune diseases, fatigue, allergies, digestive disorders and even weight gain. Although a certain amount of inflammation is healthy to fight off infections, viruses, and other injuries, chronic inflammation can be problematic. A blood test that tests for the most complete picture of chronic inflammation can help.

6. Genetic testing

You cannot change your DNA, but you can influence how your body responds to different conditions. For example, certain genetic mutations can make you more susceptible to drug reactions, nutrient imbalances, and so on. Specialised genetic lab tests can help identify your possible genetic weaknesses, and ultimately help intervene, and balance risk factors with natural medicines and lifestyle changes.

The bottom line: Both conventional medicine and functional medicine doctors rely on laboratory test results to better understand what is going on inside the body. Functional medicine digs deeper. Talk to your doctor about testing and make sure the tests are covered by your medical aid.

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Prevent illness with these top health tests

October 8th, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

Blood testing can help catch potential health risks early, before they progress to serious health problems. Blood tests are recommended on an annual basis for people over the age of 40.

Keep an eye on your overall health with these tests.

Thyroid function

Your thyroid regulates how your body uses energy. It influences the way your respiratory, circulatory and nervous systems function. It also influences brain function, cholesterol levels, menstruation, body temperature, muscle tone and strength, and skin conditions. When your thyroid function is too high or too low, you could have serious health complications.

Tests for…

A thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) test checks if your thyroid gland is working efficiently. It can tell you if it’s overactive (hyperthyroidism) or underactive (hypothyroidism). A blood sample is taken from a vein in the arm and sent off to a lab for analysis. Together with your test results and any symptoms you may have been experiencing, your doctor will determine whether you have a thyroid disorder, how severe it may be, and how to treat it.

Complete blood count

A complete blood count (CBC) test measures all the cells that make up your blood. These include your red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets (tiny pieces of blood cells).

Tests for…

The test tracks blood disorders, like anaemia, leukaemia and blood clotting disorders. This is used to diagnose autoimmune disorders and infections, while also being able to show whether any dangerous nutritional deficiencies are present.

Sex hormones

A hormone imbalance is often linked to health conditions that include obesity, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and hypertension. It can impact sexual health and performance, cholesterol and Type 2 diabetes.

Tests for…

This test measures the level of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) in your blood. SHBG is a protein made by your liver. It binds tightly to three sex hormones found in both men and women. These hormones are oestrogen, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and testosterone. SHBG carries these three hormones throughout your blood Although SHBG binds to three hormones, the hormone that’s critical in this test is testosterone. The level of SHBG in your blood changes due to factors like sex and age but can also change because of obesity, liver disease, and hyperthyroidism. Your doctor may mention this test if he suspects that you have abnormal testosterone levels.

Haemoglobin A1C

This test measures the number of red blood cells with glucose-coated haemoglobin. Uncontrolled high blood sugar can lead to diabetes. In people already diagnosed with diabetes, consistently high blood sugar increases the risk of damage to your liver and kidneys, heart disease, stroke, and eye disease.

Tests for…

The haemoglobin A1C test is an important blood test to diagnose diabetes or find ways to control diabetes. It gives an average blood glucose measurement over the past three months.

Vitamin profile

Vitamins are an essential part of a healthy and functioning system which includes your organs and cells. They impact physical, cognitive and emotional health.

Tests for…

A vitamin profile blood test is done to pinpoint and resolve any suspected deficiencies.

Magnesium

Magnesium plays a vital role in several chemical reactions in the body. It works with cell communication, providing energy for cells, and in the structure of chromosomes, cell membranes and bones.

Tests for…

A magnesium deficiency is related to diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. It can also impact calcium and Vitamin D absorption and their levels in your body.

Comprehensive metabolic panel

A comprehensive metabolic panel is a group of blood tests. They provide an overall big picture view of your body’s chemical balance and metabolism.

Tests for…

A CMP test measures liver and kidney function, as well as levels of protein, calcium, blood sugar, and electrolytes. This provides a look into the chemical balance of your body and your overall metabolism.

C-reactive protein (CRP)

This is a test for inflammation in the body. Chronic inflammation is usually linked with diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, certain cancers, periodontitis (inflammation of the gums), hay fever and atherosclerosis (a disease where plaque builds up inside your arteries).

Tests for…

CRP is produced by the liver. Its level rises when there’s inflammation in the body. Levels are measured by testing the blood.

Lipid panel cholesterol test / lipid profile test

This blood test checks triglycerides and cholesterol levels, which include both high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels. Too much cholesterol can threaten your health. This also increases the risks of stroke and cardiovascular disease.

Tests for…

Testing can catch cholesterol problems early, and lifestyle changes can reduce your risk.

Urine test

A urinalysis can help detect diabetes, urinary tract infections and kidney problems. This test is often included in a regular doctor’s appointment.

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Do I need an X-ray for my ankle sprain?

September 18th, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

You’re carrying your groceries up the stairs when BAM! You miss a step, tumble down the steps, and feel a shooting pain up your ankle. Is it a sprain? Or worse, a fracture?

Ankle sprains are one of the most common injuries. They can be very painful, and make you wonder if something might be cracked. Most of the minor ankle sprains don’t need X-rays or surgical treatment, but with more serious injuries, there can be fractures of the bones of the ankle as well as the foot.

Here is a quick way to figure out if you need an X-ray after an ankle sprain:

Ankle X-ray screening questions

Can you take four steps? (It’s okay if you limp)? No? Get an X-ray.
Do you have tenderness/pain around your medial or lateral malleoli (the little bone bumps on either side of your ankle) – specifically the back side of these bones? Yes? Get an X-ray.
Do you have tenderness/pain around the base of the fifth metatarsal (bump on the lateral/outside portion of your foot; halfway between your heel and your little toe)? Yes? Get an X-ray.
Do you have tenderness/pain around the navicular bone (bump on the inside portion of your foot?) Yes? Get an X-ray.

The Ottawa ankle rules

The Ottawa ankle rules are a set of guidelines for doctors to help them decide whether a patient with foot or ankle pain should be offered X-rays to diagnose a possible bone fracture.

Before these rules, most patients with ankle injuries had x-rays taken. But the problem was, a lot of patients with unclear ankle injuries didn’t have fractures. This meant many unnecessary X-rays, which were costly, time-consuming and risky due to radiation exposure.

What happens during an X-ray

This procedure is a form of radiation like light or radio waves. It’s most commonly used after an injury to look for fractures, dislocations or bleeding in the joint.

Make sure you wear clothing that can be removed or pulled away from the joint being X-rayed.

Once an x-ray machine is carefully aimed at the part of the body being examined, it produces a small burst of radiation that passes through the body, recording an image on photographic film or a special detector.

Your doctor will place you on an X-ray table and put the x-ray film holder or digital recording plate under the table in the area of the body being imaged.

An x-ray may also be taken of an unaffected part of the body, for comparison purposes. A bone x-ray examination is usually completed within five to 10 minutes.

While a bone x-ray examination is a painless procedure, you may experience discomfort from the cool temperature in the examination room. You may also find it uncomfortable to hold still in a position and lying on the hard examination table, especially if you’re injured. Don’t worry much; your doctor will help you find a comfortable position that will help produce quality x-ray images.

After the X-ray

Depending on your condition, your doctor may advise you to go on with your daily activities or rest while you’re waiting for your results. Your results may be available on the same day as your procedure, or later.

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Five things your blood can tell you

February 27th, 2017 by The Hello Doctor Team

Few of us enjoy being jabbed with needles, but a blood test is an important indicator of how healthy you are. A blood test usually involves taking blood samples from a blood vessel in your arm. Your arm is used because it can be easily covered up after a blood sample is taken.

The usual place that blood is taken from is the inside of your elbow or wrist, where your veins are close to the surface and easy to find.

You should have a blood test done at least once every year, to check for any health issues. Doctors use blood tests to evaluate different things regarding your health and may request that a blood test is done to check for specific issues.

Blood tests help doctors to:

Check how well your organs like your heart, lungs and kidneys are functioning.
Determine whether you may be at risk for heart disease.
Decide if the medication you’re taking is working.
Assess how well your blood is clotting.
Do checks for symptoms of diseases like cancer, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, coronary heart disease and anaemia.

Your blood is made up of several kinds of cells, compounds, salts and certain proteins. The biggest liquid portion in your blood is called plasma, and the remaining part is serum which can be used to find out how your immune system fights diseases.

All the different parts of your blood can measure and check for various issues that you wouldn’t think a blood test could help your doctor see.

Your blood will indicate:

Your dehydration levels
As an average adult, you are made up of 50-65 percent water, so it’s no wonder that dehydration could cause health problems. Dehydration could put stress on your heart, increase fatigue and make it difficult for you to think clearly.

If your nutrients and minerals are balanced
Nutrients play a big role in the healthy functioning of your body. Deficiencies in critical minerals like magnesium can result in body odour, constipation, muscle cramps, insomnia, headaches, and fatigue. Blood tests can pick up defects like this, so it’s important to have your annual blood test.

Whether you have allergies and triggers
Your annual blood test is also a way to check if you have allergies and its triggers.

If you have an infectious disease
A blood test is the best way to detect infectious diseases early, which will make treatment more effective. The most common conditions that blood tests are used to check for are sexually transmitted diseases like syphilis, HIV/AIDS, herpes and Hepatitis B, and C. Blood tests can also be used to check for other infectious diseases which are hard to detect like tuberculosis.

If you’re pregnant
If you are unsure about whether you are pregnant or not, a blood test is the best way to confirm it. It can also check if you are at risk for pregnancy-related diseases and conditions like gestational diabetes.

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