By now, many health-savvy folks are starting to hear more about the concept of preventive screening, but they may not have a complete mental picture of how these events work.
When people first learn about preventive screening, many have only the vaguest idea in their heads about what a screening event might be like to attend for themselves.
Many people may be unknowingly facing a symptomless but potentially life-threatening - and yet entirely preventable - disease or condition right now.
Given the potentially enormous health-related and financial benefits that can be afforded to you due to the possibility of avoiding a serious health incident through early detection, it is important to educate yourself about what these screenings are all about, what they are like to attend and how they work.
Here are 5 tips about preventive screenings: 1.
Can detect the presence of certain diseases before they become life-threatening Screenings are able to detect the presence of certain extremely serious health conditions and diseases, including heart disease, stroke, abdominal aortic aneurysm, peripheral artery disease and osteoporosis.
Facing a risk for any one of these conditions can mean literally being on the road to medical and financial disaster.
Many of these conditions can lead directly to death if the afflicted person has a serious attack or related medical emergency.
A large percentage of the people who are lucky enough to live through a serious medical event such as a heart attack or stroke can potentially face years or a lifetime of crippling medical bills and in-home or hospice-based care.
The burden on the victims' families that these incidents can cause can be tremendous and potentially life-changing for all involved.
2.
Involves non-invasive screening techniques As beneficial as preventive screenings are, people can often be initially turned off by the mere idea of them due to their lack of understanding of what the procedures are like to experience.
For many, the term (wrongly) implies the need to be confined for a period of time a tight space - such as what they imagine an MRI or CAT scan to entail.
In reality, nothing could be further from the truth, however.
Rather, they employ equipment and techniques such as ultrasound and other non-invasive technologies that are 100% painless and do not require putting oneself into a tight space.
3.
Take place in convenient locales such as gyms and churches Many screening events are of a mobile nature, meaning that the operation changes locations from event to event.
The mobility of these events means that the operators are always on the move and headed to new, convenient venues.
Types of venues can include any community-oriented location such as a church, gym, government building or even a local business.
4.
Take about an hour Given all of their benefits, people naturally expect screenings to require an hours-long time commitment.
In reality, an entire event can take as few as 45-60 minutes.
Recipients just show up, sign in, and undergo the simple testing procedures - then go on about their day with minimal interruption.
Results are typically provided in 4 business days or less.
5.
Results are presented in non-medical terminology Another common objection that some would-be screening recipients raise is the fear that they will be unable to understand the results presented to them.
Fortunately, reputable screening companies send results to recipients in an easy-to-read, non-medical format.
Advanced providers even give recipients access to copies of the actual images generated during the screening events so that they can get a visual impression of the findings.
Of course, these images can be viewed by the recipient.
But, more importantly, they can be brought by the recipient to their personal physician for further examination or treatment (if the patient's physician deems treatment necessary).
In short, preventive screening is a breakthrough medical service that brings affordable detection of serious diseases and conditions out into the communities.
Recipients can undergo the painless set of quick procedures in about an hour at a community-based location near them.
They soon after receive the results, which they can make sense of themselves and/or bring to their own doctor for further examination if needed.
With price points that are one-tenth what hospitals offer for identical services, some emerging screening companies are now offering the public screening events in a way that makes them affordable for anyone to attend.
The screenings can raise a red flag for recipients who are at high risk for life-threatening, costly and painful conditions that can be potentially avoided altogether if detected and acted upon soon enough.