No excuses: Five medical tests that you should regularly go for!

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: Avoiding medical tests, are we? Caught you! No one's blaming you, though. It's almost like it is ingrained in us to run away as soon as we hear the word 'doctor'.

However, letting a problem infest our body and waiting till the last minute to get a check-up done is not exactly advisable.

It is important to get yourself checked regularly, let the doctor run some tests to ensure that everything is fine. After all, prevention is better than cure.

It's time you put the 'don't have the time' excuse down the drain if you live in the present times with pollution doing half the damage and your modern lifestyle completing the rest of it.

You do need a handful of basic tests every year, and they reap rich rewards. Many people acquire problems like hypertension and diabetes and regret it later, because they very easily could have been avoided had they been to visit the doctor earlier.

There are a few screenings and/or tests that you should go through to ensure that all is well. Below is a list of five such medical tests that are essential for you. Have a look!

1. Skin exam:

A dermatologist will examine the skin on your entire body, including the scalp, genitals and tiny places like between your toes, to check for suspicious growths, moles or lesions. This is primarily important for women due to the rise in skin cancer cases.

2. Pap smear:

A woman's private part is more prone to infections than men, therefore, regular visits to the gynaecologist will spare you the problem worrying over itchiness, UTI, discharge, etc. The test requires the use of a small brush and a spatula to collect cells from your cervix to screen for precancerous changes.

3. STD tests:

If you're sexually active, getting this set of tests done is of extreme importance for you and your health. As per Health.com, these blood, urine and/or genital swab tests check for sexually transmitted diseases including gonorrhea, chlamydia and HIV. If left untreated, certain STDs can spread to your fallopian tubes, causing fertility-threatening pelvic inflammatory disease.

4. Mammogram:

Breast cancer among women is on the rise and it is becoming increasingly important to get a mammogram done. Doctors recommend getting your first mammogram at the age of 40 – earlier if you have risk factors like a family history.

5. Cholesterol:

Getting your cholesterol checked is important even if you eat healthy. Ask for a lipid profile test when you visit the doctor next time. These tests will show your total cholesterol, your LDL ("bad") cholesterol, your HDL ("good") cholesterol and a type of fat in the blood called triglycerides. High levels of total cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides raise your risk of heart disease and stroke.