Know Your Basic Tests and Scans

 

Diagnosis is the most important aspect of medicine. Diagnosis is the act of identification of the nature of the illness through the help of the patient’s symptoms. The nature of the illness then helps in ascertaining the course of treatment required to treat the illness which is also known as Prognosis, in medical terms.

Diagnosis may vary symptom to symptom; however, the correct way to go about diagnosis is conducting medical examinations which include blood tests, urine tests, scans and other parameters to judge the physical health of the patient.

Now, let us discuss various types of basic tests that are commonly prescribed by doctors to ascertain the nature and intensity of the ailment.

·         Urinalysis - This test is deemed important by doctors in patients with complaints related to the kidney, liver or pancreas. This test has 3 stages of examination namely visual examination- conducted to check clarity and colour of urine, microscopic examination- performed to check for particles too small to be detected by the naked eye and lastly, The Dipstick test wherein a plastic strip is dipped in the urine sample to check for proteins, nitrites, blood, acidity or other substances in the urine. The presence of WBCs, RBCs, bacteria and crystals can be an indicator of kidney stones.

·         Blood Sampling- This most common test is prescribed by doctors to find out the working conditions of various organs like your kidneys, heart, liver or thyroid. This type of test also helps to diagnose chronic and terminal diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease and AIDS. A blood sample also helps to ascertain the level of clotting in the blood. It helps detect Haemoglobin levels, a protein that carries O2 to the organs and Co2 back to the lungs. This also helps monitor the amount of oxygen your blood is getting.  Common blood tests include- a complete CBC panel and enzyme tests. 

 

·         Diagnostic imaging scans - Scans are minimally invasive tests performed by physicians to visually understand problems found within your body. Most common types of scans found are the (i) X-Ray- that uses electromagnetic radiation to determine fractures, ligament tears, pneumonia and tumours. (ii) MRI- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) takes pictures inside your body without exposure to any sort of radiation which makes it a safe option for many patients. (iii) CT Scan- Computed tomography (CT) scans take X-rays and create a 3D view of the organs. (iv) Ultrasound - This type of scan uses high frequency sound waves to produce regal time images of tissues within the organs such as kidney, breast, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, prostate etc. 

Diagnosis can be daunting. It is always scary to get yourself screened for any medical concern but diagnosis is imperative to correct prognosis. Find the best PETscan near you at Sohana Hospital, Mohali. With state of the art equipment and world class doctors, get the best diagnosis and treatment options available, all under one roof.