The Importance of Diagnostic Testing

The key to effective treatment is accurate diagnosis. For many medical conditions, a proper diagnosis can only be achieved with state-of-the-art diagnostic testing systems operated by trained practitioners and technicians. When healthcare professionals suspect that their patients have problems with their bones, lungs, cardiovascular systems and other tissues and organs, they generally refer them to a diagnostic specialist who can perform the necessary tests and provide the evidence needed to create a treatment plan. 

Understanding Pulmonary Function Test: Healthy Lung Month

November was Healthy Lung Month in Canada – a time to raise awareness about the importance of pulmonary (i.e., lung) health. In that month, we spent time educating people about various lung diseases and how they happen, as well as encouraging everyone to monitor their pulmonary health and do their best to keep their lungs in good condition.

When your doctor suspects that you have an existing problem with your lungs, they will most likely order a pulmonary function test in Ontario. 

Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) involve complex measurements and calculations that help medical practitioners understand the exact state of your lungs. They measure variables such as tidal volume, minute volume, vital capacity, functional residual capacity, residual volume, total lung capacity, forced vital capacity, forced expiratory flow and peak expiratory flow rate. There are various instruments involved, depending on which test is being done and how the facility is equipped. PFTs are non-invasive. They primarily require you to breathe into a mouthpiece that is connected to a meter that measures the relevant variables, such as volume, flow rate and capacity.

The purpose of a PFT is to test your lung capacity and determine whether it is possible to improve it using medication. 

Detecting High Blood Pressure

The World Heart Federation says that high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is the leading preventable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. It is known as the silent killer because it can go undetected for many years. Sufferers may not even show any symptoms. The only way to detect hypertension and keep it under control is through professional blood pressure monitoring. If your doctor has reason to suspect that you may be suffering from hypertension, he will refer you to a facility such as a WELL Health Diagnostic Center to check your blood pressure.

Blood pressure is one of the easiest health variables to measure. Usually, an inflatable cuff is placed around the upper arm and inflated until it is tight enough to cut off blood flow. The cuff is then left to deflate as the medical practitioner listens to your pulse through a stethoscope. There are two kinds of blood pressure – diastolic and systolic. Diastolic blood pressure is the pressure in the arteries when the heart is resting and filling with blood. Systolic blood pressure is the arterial pressure when blood is pumped outwards from the heart. The systolic pressure is measured when the first sound of blood pulsing is heard, and the diastolic pressure is measured when the sound stops. The gauge then displays both blood pressure measures, showing two numbers, one on top of the other. The top number is the systolic pressure and the bottom number is the diastolic pressure. A reading of 120/80 is considered normal. A reading of 130-139/80 is considered Stage 1 high blood pressure, and 140/90 or higher is regarded as Stage 2.

Diastolic hypertension is a condition that occurs when the diastolic blood pressure (DBP) is 90 or higher. High DBP increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes and even cognitive impairment in people over the age of 45. Since hypertension often does not show any symptoms for a long time, blood pressure monitoring is essential for diagnosing and treating the condition.

Understanding X-Rays and Their Use in Diagnostic Medicine

Medical X-rays have been a mainstay of clinical diagnosis technology ever since they were first developed in the late 19th Century. They use a form of radiation called X-rays – to generate images of the inside of human bodies. X-rays are passed through a patient’s body and then through an X-ray detector on the other side. An image then forms a little like a shadow, formed by the objects – tissues, organs and other structures – inside the body. In this way, a kind of photograph is produced, which a medical practitioner can then inspect for signs of damage or disease. X-rays are most often used to detect bone fractures. Bone tissue shows up most clearly on X-rays compared to other tissues and internal structures because it contains a lot of calcium, which absorbs X-rays more readily than other substances. 

X-rays are not only diagnostic tools. They can also be used therapeutically. They are used to treat cancerous tumours in a procedure called radiation therapy. The tumours are bombarded with X-rays, which damage their DNA and ultimately destroy them.

What Is Osteoporosis and How is it Diagnosed?

Osteoporosis affects about 200 million people around the world. It is a condition in which your bone density gradually decreases. It usually shows no symptoms until the sufferer experiences a fracture. 

The first step in managing osteoporosis is to determine whether or not you have it. This can be done through bone mineral density (BMD) testing, one of several vital bone and muscle health tests provided at all well-equipped medical facilities. In fact, checking for osteoporosis involves several tests, including measures to detect changes in height, weight, balance and gait, in addition to BMD tests.

A BMD test, also known as dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), is essentially a modified x-ray examination. The objective is to determine how many grams of calcium and other essential bone minerals are packed into a particular segment of bone. To do this, the patient is asked to lie down on an x-ray table, with their legs supported on a cushion. Then, two scanning machines are passed over and under the patient’s body – especially the hips and spine – or whatever part of your skeletal structure needs to be scanned. The bottom machine is a photon generator, while the upper one is an X-ray-detecting camera. The images created and recorded by these two devices are then combined and sent to a computer, where they are viewed by the relevant healthcare practitioners, and the results will be calculated.

Results are presented either as a T-score or a Z-score. T-scores apply to postmenopausal women or men over the age of 50. They involve a comparison of the patient’s measured bone density with the typical score expected from a healthy, young adult of the same sex. Z-scores may be used for younger men and women, as well as children. In this case, the patient’s bone density is compared to those of the average for people of the same age and demographic.

A score of -1.0 or higher is considered normal. A score of -1.0 to -2.4 is considered low, and a score of -2.5 or less is usually an indication of osteoporosis.

Other Important Diagnostic Tests

The development of medical technology has facilitated the invention of numerous diagnostic tests aside from X-rays, BMDs and blood pressure monitoring. These tests are carried out regularly in all reputable and appropriately-equipped healthcare centers, helping to identify life-threatening illnesses and facilitate life-saving care. Just a few of the tests carried out at WELL Health Centers are:

• Biopsy: This procedure is used to obtain tissue samples from a patient’s body for lab testing. It is most often used to detect cancer, but is also useful in diagnosing infections and inflammations, and identifying their causes.

• Echocardiogram: This is an ultrasound test that enables your doctor to monitor the beating of your heart. These tests help to diagnose heart disease. 

• Holter monitoring: This involves a special type of portable electrocardiogram (ECG) that records cardiac activity over an extended period. This is used to detect any problems with a patient’s heart.
• Ultrasound: Aside from echocardiograms, ultrasound technology can be used for several other diagnostic tests, including prenatal scans, mammography, and checking of organs such as the gall bladder, thyroid gland, and reproductive organs.

WELL Health Diagnostic Centres have the facilities needed to conduct all kinds of diagnostic testing. If you should need any one of these tests, you will need to be referred by your healthcare provider. Then, you can contact your nearest WELL Health Center and make an appointment.