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diabetes screening
If you have risk factors for diabetes
type 2 (adult onset diabetes) you
should go for either a fasting
glucose test or a glucose tolerance
test every three years, beginning at
age 45. risk factors for adult onset
diabetes include the following:
- Family history of either type
1 or type 2 diabetes
The primary symptoms of hypotension more often to monitor how well - Women who experienced gestational
include dizziness or feeling lightheaded they are responding to treatment. diabetes during pregnancy
and experiencing headaches. If - Having given birth to an infant
you are taking medicine for high colonoscopy who weighed over 4kg at birth
blood pressure and start having regular screening for colorectal cancer, - High blood pressure or hypertension
these symptoms, you should check such as a through colonoscopy, should - getting little or no exercise.
with your healthcare providers to start for most women from age 50
determine whether the prescribed and should be done every 10 years vision screening
blood pressure medication has lowered thereafter. However, if you have vision screening is recommended
the blood pressure too much or if a known risk factors for colon cancer every one to two years from age 18,
medication change is necessary. you should follow your healthcare unless you have an eye condition
provider’s advice on what age to start and your healthcare practitioner
cholesterol screening having this test, so that cancer can be recommends more frequent
Cholesterol screening helps predict detected while still in its early stages. screening. You may also need more
your individual risks for developing frequent screening if you have risk
heart disease. Adults should have Early diagnosis of colon cancer factors such as diabetes, high
routine cholesterol tests every five significantly increases the five- blood pressure, a family history of
years. Other tests include tests for HDL year survival rate from this tragic ocular diseases such as glaucoma
and LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, disease to more than 90%; however, and macular degeneration, work
which together are called a lipid profile. early colorectal cancer diagnosis in a job that requires acute vision,
These tests are usually performed occurs only 39% of the time. wear contact lenses, regularly take
at the time of cholesterol testing. prescribed medication or over-
skin cancer screening the-counter medication that have
Pregnant women should forgo Exposure to the harsh south African vision-related side effects, or have
cholesterol testing during pregnancy sun can cause skin cancer. By regularly other health conditions that may
since pregnancy often causes higher visiting a doctor to examine the skin affect the health of your eyes.
than normal cholesterol levels. Women over your entire body, any potential
taking prescription medication to skin cancer lesions can be detected Hearing test
lower cholesterol need to go for testing early and be treated timeously. Hearing loss is widespread and
persistent among adults of all ages.
Over 30% of people over 65 suffer
from hearing loss, and 14% of adults
aged 45 to 64 also experience hearing
loss. According to the WHO, 2% of
people with hearing loss worldwide
are between the ages of 18 and 44.

The prevalence of disabling hearing
loss in adults over 65 years is highest
in south Asia, Asia Pacific and sub-
saharan Africa. It is recommended
that you should go for a hearing
screening every 10 years up to the age
of 50, and thereafter every three years.

Waterfall Issue 1 2020 23