Every 8 minutes, 1 South African has a heart attack. This is a sobering statistic, but the important thing to understand is that with regular screening, you don’ t have to become another statistic. Screening tests will give you information in the form of numbers; numbers that convey the state of your health.

Knowing your numbers can make a difference

Screening goes a long way in keeping you healthy Studies show that regular screenings for:

• breast cancer

• cervical cancer

can help with early detection and early treatment. Research shows that regular screening can also reduce mortality rates.

1 in every 3 people in SA has high blood pressure.

Which numbers matter most? The main“ health checks” that every South African should consider are:

Your handy test guide

TEST HOW IT WORKS

GOOD TO KNOW

Fasting lipogram

A lipogram measures the exact amount of different types of cholesterol you have.

If your total cholesterol is greater than 5mmol / L on your fasting lipogram this indicates raised cholesterol.

If your LDL level is greater than 3mmol / L, your HDL is less than 1.5mmol / L or your triglycerides are higher than 1.5dL, this is also indicative of a possible cholesterol problem.

BMI calculator

HbA1c( check for presence of diabetes)

Your body mass indicator( BMI) calculator checks if you ' re at a healthy weight.

Shows the average blood sugar levels over a period of weeks / months.

BMI categories: Underweight = < 18.5 Normal weight = 18.5 – 24.9 Overweight = 25 – 29.9 Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater

Normal: < 6 % Prediabetes: 6 – 6.4 % Diabetes: 6.5 % or more

Fasting blood glucose

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Shows blood glucose levels after fasting for eight hours.

• Normal: 3.9 to 5.5 mmols / l Prediabetes or Impaired Glucose Tolerance: 5.6 to 7.0 mmol / l

• Diagnosis of diabetes: more than 7.0 mmol / l

B-Living Issue 1, 2018