Health Checkup Packages - Comprehensive Wellness Assessment
Pap Smear Overview
A Pap smear, also called a Pap test, is a screening procedure for cervical cancer. It tests for the presence of precancerous or cancerous cells on your cervix. The cervix is the opening of the uterus.
During the routine procedure, cells from your cervix are gently scraped away and examined for abnormal growth. The procedure is done at your doctor’s office. It may be mildly uncomfortable, but doesn’t usually cause any long-term pain.
Keep reading to learn more about who needs a Pap smear, what to expect during the procedure, how frequently you should have a Pap smear test, and more.
Who needs a Pap smear?
Current guidelinesTrusted Source recommend that women get regular Pap smears every three years starting at age 21. Some women may be at increased risk for cancer or infection. You may need more frequent tests if:
- you’re HIV-positive
- you have a weakened immune system from chemotherapy or an organ transplant
If you’re over 30 and have not had abnormal Pap tests, ask your doctor about having one every five years if the test is combined with a human papillomavirus (HPV) screening.
HPV is a virus that causes warts and increases the chance of cervical cancer. HPV types 16 and 18 are the primary causes of cervical cancer. If you have HPV, you may be at an increased risk of developing cervical cancer.
What do the results of a Pap smear mean?
There are two possible results from a Pap smear: normal or abnormal.
Normal Pap smear
If your results are normal, that means that no abnormal cells were identified. Normal results are sometimes also referred to as negative. If your results are normal, you probably won’t need a Pap smear for another three years.
Abnormal Pap smear
If the test results are abnormal, this doesn’t mean you have cancer. It simply means that there are abnormal cells on your cervix, some of which could be precancerous. There are several levels of abnormal cells:
- atypia
- mild
- moderate
- severe dysplasia
- carcinoma in situ
Milder abnormal cells are more common than severe abnormalities.
Depending on what the test results show, your doctor may recommend:
- increasing the frequency of your Pap smears
- getting a closer look at your cervical tissue with a procedure called colposcopy
During a colposcopy exam, your doctor will use light and magnification to see vaginal and cervical tissues more clearly. In some cases, they may also take a sample of your cervical tissue in a procedure called a biopsy.
Sonomammography / Breast Examination
Sonomammography (Ultrasound of Breast) Sonomammography or ultrasound of the breast is a non-invasive procedure performed to check the health of breasts and the blood flow to areas inside it. It is an imaging technique that is used to examine and screen for cancer or/and other breast abnormalities. This test allows quick visualization of the breast tissue. The examination is often done along with mammography (x-ray of breast tissue) to study a mass or lump.
When should you get Sonomammography done?
A breast ultrasound or sonomammography is recommended:
- When a breast lump (mass) or a general lumpiness is felt in the breast
- To determine if the abnormality detected through mammography or a palpable lump is a fluid-filled cyst or a solid tumour
- If breast tissue is too dense to be assessed accurately by mammography
- In high risk patients with family history of breast cancer, past history of breast cancer or in females older than 35 years of age as a preventive measure to screen for breast cancer
- Additional method to evaluate the breast, when mammography is not so clear
How is it done?
- Unlike mammography, sonomammography can be performed anytime during the menstrual cycle with no special preparation
- Being a simple ultrasound procedure, it doesn’t require much groundwork. The person to be examined lies down on the examining table. Radiologist applies a gel on the breast area and uses a special probe (linear, high frequency probe) to scan the whole chest area and armpits for any lump or mass
Advantages of Sonomammography:
- Quick & non-invasive
- Painless
- Inexpensive
- Doesn’t require any prior preparation
- Useful for evaluating breast masses
- Identifies if a suspicious mass is a cyst (fluid-filled sac) without even placing a needle into it to aspirate fluid
Breast cancer is a life-threatening disease that can be easily detected in such routine health examinations. Early detection of breast cancer aids in a successful treatment and recovery. Preventive Health Check-ups by AMVI Hospital can help you maintain your overall health and detect any serious underlying health conditions. Know more about how regular health checkups can assist you in being healthy and happy.
DEXA Scan / Bone Density Scan
What is a DEXA / Bone Density Scan?
A bone density scan, also known as a DEXA scan, is a type of low-dose x-ray test that measures calcium and other minerals in your bones. The measurement helps show the strength and thickness (known as bone density or mass) of your bones.
Most people's bones become thinner as they get older. When bones become thinner than normal, it's known as osteopenia. Osteopenia puts you at risk for a more serious condition called osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a progressive disease that causes bones to become very thin and brittle. Osteoporosis usually affects older people and is most common in women over the age of 65. People with osteoporosis are at higher risk for fractures (broken bones), especially in their hips, spine, and wrists.
Other names: bone mineral density test, BMD test, DEXA scan, DXA; Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry
What is it used for?
A bone density scan is used to:
- Diagnose osteopenia (low bone mass)
- Diagnose osteoporosis
- Predict risk of future fractures
- See if treatment for osteoporosis is working
Why do I need a bone density scan?
Most women age 65 or older should have a bone density scan. Women in this age group are at high risk for losing bone density, which can lead to fractures. You may also be at risk for low bone density if you:
- Have a very low body weight
- Have had one or more fractures after the age of 50
- Have lost a half inch or more in height within one year
- Are a man over the age of 70
- Have a family history of osteoporosis
Other risk factors include:
- Lack of physical activity
- Smoking cigarettes
- Heavy drinking
- Not getting enough calcium and vitamin D in your diet
