Laboratory tests help identify the root cause of the diseases. It is very important to diagnose the actual disease at the right time to save money, time, and health. A doctor decides the treatment according to the laboratory testing report. The quality of the laboratory testing report depends on the diagnostic center. You should select the diagnostic laboratory with great caution because one wrong decision for your health can put your life in danger.

Here, I have explained five important things you should keep in mind before choosing a diagnostic center.

5 Things to Consider Before Selecting a Diagnostic Center

The awards and quality certifications of the laboratory add value to the clinical laboratory. The clinical laboratory can get many certifications Like ISO, NABH, NABL, etc. The laboratory certifications show that the medical laboratory is following essential laboratory standards. One should check for certifications about the diagnostic center on the website. 

This is undoubtedly the number one priority for choosing the best diagnostic center. The diagnostic center that also uses advanced technology should be given priority. A small error in the machine modifies the entire result. Advance diagnostic equipment provides high-quality, error-free results with complete information in the report.

The laboratory tests also require skilled and trained technicians to perform them. You should choose a diagnostic center that is well established and is run by knowledgeable, experienced, and skilled medical practitioners and laboratory technicians.

The accuracy of lab reports is also very important. Faulty evaluation of the test can lead to serious complications and even the death of the patient. Health tests cannot afford errors in test reading. Doctors do the treatment based on the report provided by the clinical laboratory. You should choose a diagnostic center that is known for its quality test reports. The quality of the laboratory test report depends on the diagnostic equipment. A diagnostic center that uses updated equipment and good-quality reagents should be preferred.

Customer service also matters a lot. A good clinical laboratory provides many facilities to patients, like SMS reporting, web reporting, fast lab results, a patient help desk, an appointment facility, etc.

After thoroughly considering all the points the patients can take their decision. 

You can also get these details about the clinical laboratory through its website, reviews on Google Maps, social media pages, and newspaper articles.

How to Select the Best Diagnostic CenterThe Arth Diagnostics Center has all the advanced facilities. Experienced and skilled doctors and technicians run the laboratory. The clinical laboratory won numerous awards for quality lab test services. The center also got the award of “Top Diagnostic Center” from the honorable Health Minister of Rajasthan, Shri. Raghu Sharma. In an event for Danik Bhaskar, Dr. Arvinder Singh, the CEO of Arth Diagnostics, gave information about the importance of laboratory testing. He also gave Important tips on selecting a diagnostic center.

There is a famous poem which is the part of our childhood time is “Nani k Ghar jaege, Dudh malai khaege, mote hokar aayege” is no longer beneficial for today. In India, the problem of obesity is rising.  A sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy diet, and lack of health awareness are some common reasons behind this. Excess weight is putting our lives in danger. We can become a victim of many life-threatening diseases.

Health Risks of Obesity: 

Obesity is the root cause of many diseases. Obese people are at a higher risk to easily get affected by these diseases.

  1. Type 2 Diabetes
  2. High Blood Pressure
  3. Heart Attack
  4. Fatty Liver
  5. Pregnancy Problems
  6. Kidney Diseases
  7. Arthritis
  8. Cancer
  9. Breathing Problems

Take a closer look at the contribution of obesity in the awakening of these diseases.

There is a strong relationship between obesity and Type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes. In this disease, the blood sugar level increases up to the normal level. Research says that obese people are five times more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes. Currently, 90 percent of obese people are diabetic. Many people are not aware of their health. Hence, regular health check-up is important to diagnose the disease at a very early stage. If you are diabetic then you should do strict care to control your blood sugar. 

Obese people are also at great risk of high blood pressure. Obesity puts pressure on the organ and arteries that create a problem in blood flow. High blood pressure is the leading cause of stroke, damaged arteries, heart failure, memory loss, kidney failure, vision loss, etc. Smoking, stress, lack of physical activity and heavy alcohol consumption are also some major causes of high blood pressure. 

Obesity also puts pressure on the heart. A heart attack occurs because the blood vessels that carry blood become narrow and thick. A heart attack is the leading of sudden death in India. Excess weight increases bad cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Moreover, people who are diabetic are at greater risk of heart diseases. 

The impact of obesity on the liver is quite similar to heavy alcohol consumption. Both obesity and alcohol can cause fatty deposits in the liver. Fatty liver tissues can damage the liver. If the damage is continuous, it can lead to cirrhosis. Fatty liver is the starting stage of liver diseases. 

Obesity can also become a cause of chronic kidney diseases. Excess weight affects the functioning of the kidney. The kidneys are forced to work harder above the normal level. Over some time, the extra work pressure puts the kidneys at risk. Diabetes and high blood pressure are also common causes of kidney diseases. You can test your kidneys by just a simple blood test and urine test. 

Obese women have some complications in pregnancy. Obesity harms fertility. It increases the risk of miscarriage, difficulty in giving natural birth, more baby fat, difficult to detect birth defects through ultrasound, etc. Government research Obesity in pregnancy: risk and management say that the child of an obese woman is at increased risk of congenital anomaly, prematurity, macrosomia, and neonatal death. 

 Obesity puts also extra pressure on the knees lead to Osteoarthritis. Knees bear the whole weight of the body. Excess weight can damage joints and ligaments. Studies found that obese people are more likely to need a knee replacement or hip replacement. 

Cancer is also the leading cause of death in India. Excess weight also increases the risk of several cancers like breast cancer, uterine cancer, esophageal cancer, pancreatic and kidneys cancers. Fatty cells secrete hormones that promote the abnormal growth of cells. The cancerous cells also spread to other body parts easily.  

Obese people have fat around their necks. These make them different from breath. Difficulty in breathing at night increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases and death as well. 

One disease leads to other diseases. Hence, you should not give low weightage to any disease. Proper treatment should be taken as directed by physicians. The best way to control fat and prevent obesity is the Body Mass Index (BMI) test. BMI tests give details about the harmful fat stored in the body. The BMI test tells about the fitness score. 

If you want to know more about the BMI test, visit: https://arthdiagnostics.com/special-programs/

 

Iron deficiency or anemia means the body has insufficient iron. Iron produces hemoglobin that enables the red blood cells to carry oxygen to the body’s tissues. Anemia is relatively common among females and children.

Top Five Reasons for Iron Deficiency are:

Improper Diet:

Our body gets iron from what we eat. Children do not take a nutrition diet hence they do not get enough iron. Iron deficiency can be generally seen in toddlers, preschoolers, and teenagers because of increasing iron needs in the development phase. Premature babies are at increased risk of anemia because they do not get enough iron from breast milk.

Green vegetables, red meat, eggs, beans, peas, seafood, etc., are iron-rich foods. Our body absorbs iron more from red meat than from other sources. The vegetarian or vegan family has higher risks of iron deficiency. If we do not eat iron-rich foods then slowly overtime our body becomes iron deficient. Vitamin C also improves the absorption of the iron nutrient. Hence Vitamin C rich foods like oranges tomatoes, grapefruit, kiwi, broccoli, strawberries, etc. should be taken in conjunction with iron-rich foods.

 Blood Loss:

Blood contains iron. If we lose blood then we lose iron too. Women lose blood during menstruation cycle. Women with heavy bleeding are at higher risk of anemia. Some diseases such as peptic ulcer, hiatal hernia, and colorectal cancer can also cause iron deficiency.

The inability to absorb iron content from the food:

iron is absorbed in the small intestine. If the intestine is bypassed or removed surgically due to some reasons then this may affect your ability to absorb iron from food. This can lead to anemia. An intestine disorder like celiac disease also becomes a cause of the iron deficiency.

Pregnancy:

Iron deficiency occurs in pregnant women because they need iron for their bodies as well as the growing fetus. At that time, women should eat iron-rich food and iron supplements if the doctor recommends.

Frequent Blood Donors:

Frequent blood donors also have an increased risk of iron deficiency. Regular blood donation affects the iron store in the body.

Health Risks of Iron Deficiency:

Mild iron deficiency does not create serious complications. However, if iron deficiency left untreated then it may cause severe health problems. In some situations when the iron level gets too low, the person may require a blood transfusion. Anemia also affects brain development. It may cause heart problems, complications in pregnancy and growth problems. An iron-deficient person is more susceptible to infections.

Symptoms of Iron Deficiency:

The noticeable signs of anemia are given below:

Pale Skin

Brittle nails

Slow growth and development

Frequent infections

Behavioral problems

Increased sweating

Fatigue and weakness in the body

Craving of eating nonfood items such as dirt, paint, ice or starch

Shortness of breath or fast heartbeat

Cold hands and feet

Poor appetite especially in children

Prevent Anemia:

If these symptoms are seen then you should immediately consult a doctor. Iron deficiency is mainly diagnosed through the blood test that involves complete blood count including hemoglobin level. Depending on the test results, a doctor might recommend iron supplements or further testing. At Arth diagnostics, advance diagnostic equipment is available for testing iron deficiency anemia.

A person should not start an iron supplement without consulting a doctor because an overdose of iron can cause liver damage or even death. If a one is iron deficient then one should honesty follow the advice of a doctor and take the complete treatment.

The thyroid gland is responsible for multiple functions of our body. According to researches one in ten Indians is suffering from any one of thyroid problems – Hyperthyroidism and Hypothyroidism. There are many other thyroid disorders but these two are the most common.

In hyperthyroidism, the thyroid gland becomes too active and produces over thyroid hormone. On the other hand, in hypothyroidism, the thyroid gland becomes less active and produces less thyroid hormone. 

Thyroid problems are commonly seen in women between the ages of 18 to 35. In India, many women are suffering from hypothyroidism. Although men also suffer from thyroid disorders, however, the number is comparatively lesser than women.

Causes of Thyroid Problems: 

The general causes of thyroid disorders are given below:

Hashimoto’s disease

Graves’ disease

Iodine Deficiency

Inflammation of the thyroid

Cancerous tumors on the thyroid gland

Thyroid surgery

Genetic disorders

Symptoms of Thyroid Problems

The symptoms of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism are different.

Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism

Unintentional frequent weight loss

Irregular and rapid heartbeat

Enlarged thyroid gland

Eye irritation and vision problem

Infrequent menstrual periods

Nervousness, anxiety, and irritability

Increased heat sensitivity

Excessive sweating

Symptoms of Hypothyroidism

Weight gain

Fatigue

Heavy menstrual periods

Forgetfulness

Harsh Voice

Intolerance to cold

Dry skin and hair

Thyroid problems are difficult to diagnose through symptoms only because many symptoms of thyroid disorders are similar to other diseases. However, if you see symptoms like frequent weight loss or weight gain, irregular heartbeat, irregular menstrual periods or unusual sweating then you should immediately consult a doctor. A small disease can become big and untreatable if we ignore it.

Consequences of Thyroid Problems

Thyroid problems affect all the systems like the respiratory system, reproductive system, digestive system, nervous system, endocrine system, and cardiovascular systems. The thyroid problem affects the metabolism, mental functions, and energy level of the body. Thyroid disorders in pregnant women can cause placental abnormalities and also increase risk on the mother’s health and baby’s health. Hyperthyroidism becomes the cause of Thyroiditis, Plummer’s disease, and grave’s disease. Untreated thyroid problems increase the risk of heart stroke, heart failure, osteoporosis, vision problems, etc.

Diagnosis of Thyroid Problems

To know the cause of thyroid disorders, doctors ask the medical history of the patient. In addition to the patient’s history, doctors also prescribe Thyroid Tests T3, T4, and TSH. Sometimes other blood tests and imaging tests are also prescribed for detail examination of the thyroid gland. Late detection of the disease not only increases the chance of surgery but also increases the risk of irreversible damage to the body. Early diagnosis of the particular thyroid disease helps to get effective treatment.

In Arth Diagnostics, a Thyroid function test is available to detect thyroid problems. It includes a test for T3, T4, and TSH. The thyroid function test is a simple blood test. The test results come on the same day within 1 hour. Fasting is not required for this test. This test can be done at home. Arth Diagnostics provides a home sample collection facility. If you are on medicines then this may affect your thyroid function test results. In that case, you should consult the doctor.

Some tests like thyroid tests, diabetes tests, and cholesterol tests should be done regularly. People above the age of 25 should go for these tests once a year. It will help them to know the body’s status regularly and prevent the development of critical diseases.

Treatment of Thyroid Problems 

Treatment of thyroid disorders depends on the test reports. In most of the cases, Thyroid problems can be well treated through medicines. The thyroid hormone level in the body does not get changed overnight. According to your test results, the doctor may ask you to undergo this test multiple times for a period of 3 to 6 months. This is to ensure the effectiveness of the treatment method. In a few cases, doctors recommend surgery to remove the part of the thyroid gland.

Winter season has knocked on the door. The season has its pleasure on one side it provides relief from harsh heat waves and on the other side, it invites viral and bacterial infections. Many types of diseases developed at this time and viral fever is the most common in winter. It influences children and old persons easily because of their low immunity. Viral fever is contagious; it can be spread rapidly from one to another through a sneeze, yawn, and cough or even by staying close to the person who is affected by viral fever. In a family, if one person gets affected by viral fever then other family members also have high chances of getting a fever. It can be identified easily, there are some common symptoms such as chills, sweating, running nose, soreness in the throat, headache, body pain, weakness and loss of appetite.

Viral fever should be taken lightly. A normal viral fever can be dangerous if not treated on time. A common misconception regarding fever is that bath with cold water is effective however it has an adverse effect on the body. If you have a fever for longer than three days then instead of relying on home treatment you should seek medical attention because the negligence can cause many life-threatening diseases like dengue, typhoid, pneumonia, etc. Hence, you should be extra careful in the winter season and protect yourself and your family from diseases.

Precaution in Viral Fever

Medical attention is important in viral fever to prevent harmful consequences. But still, you have to take some precautions at your level. If you or anyone nears you suffering from fever then the person should apply these precautions.

 What Tests You should Go for Viral Fever?

The symptoms of viral fever are similar to many diseases hence to diagnose the disease correctly, you must visit the doctor. The doctor detects the disease based on test results. A doctor can recommend the following tests.

At Arth Diagnostics, all the tests for viral fever are available at affordable prices. A doctor recommends the treatment after analyzing the test results. To get the right treatment at the right time you should visit the doctor earlier.

To Sum Up

If a fever is not improving even after 3 to 4 days then instead of googling the methods to get rid of the viral fever you should immediately consult a doctor and get proper treatment.

Pathology services are very important in medical treatment because a doctor cannot give treatment until a person is diagnosed with the exact cause of disease. The pathology branch of medical science detects the root causes of disease and also tracks its progression correctly.

There are different areas of specialization in pathology such as hematology, clinical pathology, microbiology, histopathology, etc which are required to detect various diseases. Chemical pathology is the study of chemicals in the blood sample. Hematology stream deals with finding disorders in the blood. Microbiology means the study of infection in the blood, and histopathology implies a study of human tissue.

Understand the Need of Pathology Services

Doctors recommend pathology tests to find the exact cause of the ailment. Early detection of disorders helps to find potential health risks and also helps to start treatment early. Some critical diseases such as cancer, genetic disorders, Tuberculosis, allergy, etc, can be identified at the initial stage. It prevents a lot of problems including expenses on treatment too.

People who have a family history of diseases such as diabetes, tuberculosis, and allergy tests must go for important pathology tests. You can check if you are a health risk of a particular disease. For instance, when you regularly monitor your cholesterol level, you can get to know if you are at the risk of heart disease. The blood sugar level in the body, when checked in regular frequency, can help you to know if you are prediabetic.  The results of pathology tests are important to take preventive actions.

Sample Collection and Testing

In the Diagnostic laboratory, a sample is collected by a phlebotomist, and the sample is labeled with the patient name and pathology test to be performed. Sample labeling ensures that the sample is not mixed up with other samples.

A pathologist analysis of the given sample to detect the disease you are suffering from. Moreover, in the current technology savvy world, advanced medical equipment is also available to perform pathology tests that produce accurate results.

Some pathology test results arrive in only a few hours and some test results might take 1-2 days. In some cases, the sample is kept in controlled conditions to analyze bacteria growth. Hence patients have to wait for 3 to 4 days for results. Few tests are not performed in all laboratories because the tests need specialized equipment.

Treatment of Diseases

In old times, the diagnosis of many diseases was difficult but now with the availability of advanced diagnostic equipment, the problem has been solved. The detail report of pathology tests helps a doctor to identify the exact cause of the disease. A doctor can know how critical the disease is by only seeing the pathology test results.

In a few cases, to determine if the given treatment is right a doctor recommends the tests to be performed every month. If the patient’s condition is improved that means the treatment is right. On the other side, if the condition is worsened that means there is a need for modification in treatment.

Hence the results of the test must be accurate. Test quality must not be compromised at any cost. Whether, it is a simple blood test, X-Ray, ultrasound or another diagnostic test, the role of high quality diagnostic and pathology services is highly crucial. Hence, you should choose the right diagnostic center to get accurate test results.

Moreover, regular health checkup is also important to prevent diseases. For Senior citizens, a complete body test twice in a year is recommended. For a healthy individual also, it is important to go for full body tests once a year. To know the importance of regular health check-up, check this blog:

How Regular Health Checkup can Prevent Health Issues?

Our diet has a major impact on our health. In current times, eating habits have changed drastically. The majority of the population prefer to eat fast food for good taste but compromise nutrition value. Slowly over time, this habit becomes the reason for many nutrition-related chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes, heart problems, liver diseases, osteoporosis, dental diseases and even several forms of cancer. Diseases might have multiple causes but one common cause is an unhealthy diet. 

Here We Have Listed Major Impact of Unhealthy Diet

Obesity   

In India, more than 140 million people are obese. Common causes of obesity are junk food, food with high calories and sugar, too much oily food, fast food and also physical inactivity. In India, around 3 million children are also obese. Obesity weakens bones and also puts pressure on organs. In India, obesity is the prime cause of cardiovascular diseases.

Diabetes 

In India, the number of people with type 2 diabetes is in millions. Diabetes is the root cause of kidney failure, lower limb amputation, health attack, stroke, and blindness. According to the research of the World Health Organization in 2016, Diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death. An unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity, use of tobacco and alcohol are the common factors of diabetes.

Heart Diseases 

Heart diseases are the prime cause of death in India. Nowadays, young people are also dying due to a heart attack because of wrong food choices.

Osteoporosis

In older times, osteoporosis and Vitamin D were generally found in old people. But, in current days, calcium deficiency and Vitamin D deficiency are found in people at a very early age.

Cancer 

Cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide. The main reason for cancer is tobacco; however dietary factors also contribute to certain types of cancer.

Apart from these, an unhealthy diet can cause stress, anxiety, depression and many physical and mental dysfunctions. 

The unhealthy diet also affects growth and development. To prevent these diseases we must take a healthy diet. A healthy diet is essential for long healthy life. With a healthy diet, regular exercise is also important to balance the energy in the body. In modern times, a sedentary lifestyle has adversary affected on our life. Read this blog to know the risks of a sedentary lifestyle.

To keep ourselves healthy and fit, we should take a healthy diet, do exercise regularly and monitor our fitness score periodically through the Body Mass Index (BMI) test. BMI test gives us the fitness score of our body. We can use the test result to focus on the areas for improvement.

 

Winter brings its own joy. This is the season of food lovers. People love to eat hot dishes like Bajra roti, Makki roti, Sarso Saag, hot pakoras, hot soups, Adhrak chai, strong coffee, etc. However, in winter the chances of getting affected by diseases increase significantly because of temperature variation in the atmosphere. The body makes an effort to adjust to the new climate. In this season, cold or cough is common. Some winter diseases take only 3 to 4 days and get cured by just a few precautions. On the other hand, some winter diseases require proper care and treatment.

Symptoms of many winter diseases are common. Hence, accurate diagnosis is important for treatment.

Asthma:

In the winter season, the air molecules become thinner and more restricted. Due to this, people find it difficult to breathe in extremely cold weather. This can cause inflammation in the lungs that triggers an asthma attack.

 

Heart Attack:

Heart attacks mostly occur during the winter season. Due to lower temperature, the arteries get constricted which makes difficult for the heart to pump the blood. People over the age of 30 should regularly get tested for lipid profile, particularly if there is a family history of heart diseases.

 

Cold and Cough: 

In the winter season, our immunity gets reduced due to climate change. Hence, viruses easily affect our respiratory system. Cold and cough are common in the winter season. The symptoms are sore throat, running nose, blocked nose, and cough.

 

Flu:

Winter season is a flu season. The symptoms of flu are similar to cold and cough but also include fever, headache, and muscle stiffness. Flu should not be taken lightly because normal flu can take a dangerous form. Instead of relying on home remedies, a person must visit a doctor.

 

Joint Pain:

The winter season is brutal for people who have arthritis. Old age people mostly complain about joint pain in winter. People with bone or muscle injuries also feel pain during winter. Consult with your doctor if the pain continues for a long time.

 

Dry and Itchy Skin:

In the winter season, skin becomes dry, rough and itchy due to cold weather. If your skin is extremely dry then you must visit the doctor to know the exact cause of the problem.

 

Some Common Prevention Tips for Winter Diseases

If you are suffering from cold then instead of using fabric handkerchiefs you should use disposable tissues. It will help to avoid infection.

Always cover your face and ears by helmet or scarves when riding two-wheelers.

Gargle with one glass warm water with light salt every morning to prevent cough and throat infection.

Drink warm fluids and avoid eating too much in winter.

Shield yourself with scarf, muffler, gloves, socks, and shoes whenever you go outside in windy days to prevent cold and flu.

Daily exercise keeps the body flexible and prevents body pain.

Avoid going outside in the extreme cold.

Apply coconut, olive or almond oil to keep skin moisturized.

Use warm water instead of hot water for a bath to avoid skin dryness.

Stay away from people who are ill.

People with long-term health conditions should not take cold and flu for granted because those people are a major risk of developing critical diseases. Hence, they should go for routine health checkups twice a year.

 

In the current era, most of the persons spend major chunks of their time sitting in front of computer screens, TV and mobile phones. This is because of technological advancement. Now, everyone has a separate mobile phone and even a laptop. Humans are doing more mental works and less physical work. There is hardly a body moment throughout the day. Nowadays, even children avoid outdoor games and spend an average of 3 to 5 hours a day watching TV, computer and mobile. Unfortunately, they get the health risks of sedentary lifestyle such as lower back pain, neck pain, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, certain types of cancer, depression, etc at a very early age.

These things should not be taken lightly because it invites many diseases. World Health Organization says that a sedentary lifestyle is one of the leading causes of many ailments, physical disability, and even death more than smoking in the world.   Hence, it is essential to be aware of the health risks of a sedentary lifestyle. Awareness of health risks would help you to take necessary actions at the right time to prevent ailments.

6 Major Health Risks of Sedentary Lifestyle

Cardiovascular Diseases:

A sedentary lifestyle is a reason for many cardiovascular diseases because it contributes to many factors of heart disease like high blood pressure, Lower good HDL cholesterol, higher LDL cholesterol, weight gain, weak muscles, and blood clot.

Diabetes:

Type-2 Diabetes is one of the prime health risks of sedentary lifestyle. It is found through researches that people, who spend long hours before screen have a higher risk of Type-2 diabetes.

Obesity:

Continuous sitting from long hours can lead to excess body weight. It is reported that we burn 30 percent more calories when we are standing than when we are sitting.

Stress and Depression:

Sitting for long hours can also create anxiety and stress. Facing the screens for long hours can cause depression. An unhealthy lifestyle is a major cause of many mental disorders.

Cancer:

Researchers found that a sedentary lifestyle is directly linked to colon cancer, breast cancer, and endometrial cancer.

Back Pain and Neck Pain:

Lower back pain and neck-shoulder pain are the most common complaints of office goers with a sedentary job role. Interrupting sedentary work after half an hour with a small walk can help to prevent such problems to a large extent.

These are only a few health risks of a sedentary lifestyle. But, there are many.

What can we do to prevent such kind of ailments?

Even though you exercise daily, you should take 5 minutes small walk after 30 minutes of continuous sitting.

It is also helpful to get yourself tested at least once in a year to know your health status.

BMI (Body Mass Index) Test is also good to know fitness score of the body. An unhealthy lifestyle can be measured by BMI.

You can visit Arth Diagnostics and plan your health check to prevent the health risks of sedentary lifestyle. Hopefully, this blog has inspired you to implement essential change in your current lifestyle.  Why not start a healthy lifestyle from today?

 

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