Let’s face it. A trip to the drugstore is a whole lot easier than a costly and time-consuming trip to the doctor’s office. No time wasted waiting for the physician; no embarrassing questions to answer; and no sticker shock when the bill comes. Just head for the section of your pharmacy with all of the gadgets and home test kits and you are ready to “play doctor.”
With skyrocketing medical costs and increased concerns about privacy, more and more Americans are taking advantage of products designed to help monitor existing conditions or to help diagnose new ones. Blood glucose monitors help diabetics manage their condition, blood pressure kits help monitor hypertension while those with cardiovascular concerns can track cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Of course, home pregnancy kits have been available for years. But now it is possible to go well beyond health management with these off-the-shelf products and individuals can now perform diagnostic tests in the comfort and “safety” of their homes.
But is this trend really safe?
Health care professionals have expressed concerns that the use of home test kits may cause users to delay or avoid proper medical care. Misinterpreting the results of self-administered tests can lead to decisions that are based on false assumptions. For example, there have been reports of people changing their medication dosage based on results of blood pressure readings at home. Decisions about any treatment based on self-administered tests should be deferred until a physician confirms them.
The list of conditions for which home diagnostic products are available is expanding rapidly. It is now possible to test for drug use, alcohol use, HIV, prostate cancer, hormone levels, diabetes, blood type, anemia, allergies, hepatitis, cholesterol levels, fertility and even certain strains of flu.
The opportunity is always present for a user to improperly administer a test or to misunderstand the results. Delaying treatment based on these results could have serious consequences. Now that the number of tests available is so large, and the conditions so potentially serious, it is absolutely critical that these test results be validated by a doctor.
Given this diverse menu of tests, users are sure to get results for which they may be unprepared. A positive reading for HIV could be devastating. Health care professionals are trained to address the concerns and possible psychological issues faced by a patient receiving bad news from a test. Individuals trying to cope with a similar result at home may find themselves alone and unable to cope.
Home health tests should be used with great care and should never be considered as a replacement for proper medical care. If you are seriously concerned about your health and well-being, it is fine to practice a bit of do-it-yourself medicine as long as you get a second opinion.
You may also like these articles:
Similar content: Medical Test, Health Test, Diagnosis, Health, Health Care, Medical, Medicine, Doctor, Hiv And Aids, Medical test, Barack Obama, Gastroesophageal reflux disease, Sore throat, Blood pressure, Patient, Soft tissue, HIV/AIDS, Health Care,
Image credits:
English: Medical test for RAAF recruit, Brisbane, 1940. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
English: Ergospirometry setup. This medical test combines ergometry with spirometry and involves cycling under electrocardiographic monitoring while breath tests are performed. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Three Basic Factors To Sexy Abs!
<img style="float:right;margin:5px 0px 5px 10px;" alt="English: Pulldown exercise, which strengthens the arms and back Français : Formation de résistance par un vieillard, Hollywood Ð ÑÑÑкий: ÐневмаÑиÑеÑки ÑегÑлиÑÑÐµÐ¼Ð°Ñ ÑÑга на ÑÑенажÑÑе Ð´Ð»Ñ Ð¿Ð¾Ð¶Ð¸Ð»ÑÑ , ÐолливÑд" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dc/UPSTREAM_FITNESS-7.jpg/350px-UPSTREAM_FITNESS-7.jpg”> There are three basic factors that will help you lose your belly: strength training (which increases resting metabolic rate), cardiovascular exercise (which […]
Why Personal Trainers Should Consider Teaching Group Fitness Classes
Even though it has not aired a new episode since May 1998 (yes, it has been that long), it seems as if there is a Seinfeld episode for almost every one of life’s situations. One of my personal favorites is the “Worlds Collide” episode, where George Costanza is trying to keep his relationship persona separate […]
Common Signs Your Client May Have an Eating Disorder
Eating disorders are complex, clinically diagnosed conditions that can have serious physical and emotional complications. In the U.S. alone, there are nearly 30 million men and women affected by one of the three major disorders. As a health and fitness professional, you can play an important role in recognizing early warning signs, which may increase […]
Common Signs Your Client May Have an Eating Disorder
Eating disorders are complex, clinically diagnosed conditions that can have serious physical and emotional complications. In the U.S. alone, there are nearly 30 million men and women affected by one of the three major disorders. As a health and fitness professional, you can play an important role in recognizing early warning signs, which may increase […]