What are the tests you need to do to monitor your health? Here are a few suggestions:
1. Blood Glucose Levels
Your sugar or glucose levels can be checked in an approved health center or with an automated blood glucose monitor. For patients without diabetes, the blood glucose levels should be less than 125mg/dl before meals and less than 180mg/dl after meals. If your blood glucose level is abnormal, it could be an indicator of a medical condition such as diabetes. This test should be done regularly, especially because the typical Nigerian diet is heavy with carbohydrates.
2. HIV Status
Do you know your HIV status? Knowing your status allows you to make informed decisions regarding your future and your life. Being HIV positive is no longer a death sentence, as there are medications that will allow you to manage the quality of your life. Medical advancements also mean that women living with HIV may be able to prevent the disease from passing to their children.
3. Blood Pressure
Blood pressure measures the force applied to the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps blood (systolic) and also while it is resting, in between heartbeats (diastolic). The normal range is ‘less than 120 (119 and below) for the systolic reading and less than 80 (79 and below) for diastolic. A systolic of 120-139 and a diastolic of 80-89 is considered prehypertension.
You can have your blood pressure measured at home, at a doctor’s office, at a pharmacy or another health center with an accurate monitor. A person with high blood pressure or hypertension typically has measurements higher than 140/90.
4. Weight
Being overweight or underweight both have challenges. An underweight person may need to be evaluated for malnutrition or other eating disorders, unless it is determined that the person has a small frame. Being overweight puts you at a higher risk for a lot of diseases like diabetes, hypertension etc. How do you know if what you weigh is healthy? One way of calculating the “right” weight is by using the body mass index (BMI). It compares your weight with your height. You can measure your weight easily at home with a bathroom scale.
5. Women’s Health
A pap smear is a screening test used to detect potentially cancerous cells in the endocervical canal of the female reproductive system. Women over the age of 21 should have a pap smear every two years during their physical exam. If the pap smear is abnormal, a physician may suggest interventions to prevent progression to cervical cancer. Every woman should also perform a breast exam at least once a month. Check for any irregularities in shape, lumps, or any leaking from the nipples. You should see your doctor if you notice any changes. Early detection is very important to prevent breast cancer.