Too many screening tools

Now the big 'hoo haw' in the medical world is preventative care. You know they want people to have annual physicals and get certain screening tests - mammograms, PSA, and colonoscopies. I personally think a bit of prevention goes a long way.

But we can't focus on that and test everyone to death (bad choice of words there?) can we? I mean its bad enough that I go to my PCP for a physical and I get sent for blood tests. I used to get annual chest x-rays because I have had a thingy in my lungs but after thirty years of annual commemorative pictures, they have changed protocols and said I no longer need those.

I also still get annual visits with the radiation oncologist and breast surgeon, three times a year with the medical oncologist, twice a year with the endocrinologist and four times a year with someone in rheumatology which is more than the average bear. Because with my medical history, they need to be sure but I am not so sure about the rest of the population. How many tests do they need? I question this.

Last year medical organizations came out about tests we generally do not need. I blogged about these somewhere in my blog but can't find them... I have to get to work, I don't have hours to dig through my blog so trust me it is there.

Now medical research is busy adding new screening tests. Some British researchers have found a link between lifestyle and developing rheumatoid arthritis. They found:

they found that smoking, obesity and having diabetes all increased the risk. It was also found that drinking a small amount of alcohol and being in a higher social class were associated with a reduced risk of developing the disease.

Read more at: http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-03-links-lifestyle-rheumatoid-arthritis.html#jCp

 "... they found that smoking, obesity and having diabetes, all increased the risk. It was also found that drinking a small amount of alcohol and being in a higher social class were associated with a reduced risk of developing the disease."

Their recommendation, as a result, is to develop a screening tool to identify patients with a higher risk and who could be given advice on  how to reduce their risk. (I'm not signed up for any special social class so how would I know if I am at a lower risk?) Not helpful.

So let me review this. The movement these days is to reduce unnecessary tests and research is creating more tests. Sounds like a vast conspiracy to me.

they found that smoking, obesity and having diabetes all increased the risk. It was also found that drinking a small amount of alcohol and being in a higher social class were associated with a reduced risk of developing the disease.

Read more at: http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-03-links-lifestyle-rheumatoid-arthritis.html#jCp

they found that smoking, obesity and having diabetes all increased the risk. It was also found that drinking a small amount of alcohol and being in a higher social class were associated with a reduced risk of developing the disease.

Read more at: http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-03-links-lifestyle-rheumatoid-arthritis.html#jCp

they found that smoking, obesity and having diabetes all increased the risk. It was also found that drinking a small amount of alcohol and being in a higher social class were associated with a reduced risk of developing the disease.

Read more at: http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-03-links-lifestyle-rheumatoid-arthritis.html#jCp