Which are the Important Medical Tests for Your Parents?

Apart from regular exercise, good nutrition and good mental status are the main factors which play an important role in leading a healthy long life. As a child to your parents, the responsibility lies on you to give them a healthy, disease-free life in their retired age. To provide this, you need to get your parents a regular health screening tests along with health check-up. This helps to identify the possibility of any disease at an initial stage which can be preventable and in case of any age-related diseases, these tests help in regular monitoring of their health.

Here is a list of 5 important tests for your parents:

1. Glycosylated Haemoglobin test (HbA1c):

A glycosylated hemoglobin test helps to detect 3 months' average sugar levels which helps in monitoring blood sugar levels in the case where your parents are diabetic. This HbA1c test also helps to analyse whether the lifestyle changes and medication is helpful or not in controlling blood sugar levels. If glycosylated hemoglobin levels are not monitored or neglected this may result in life-threatening conditions affecting various organs (kidney failure, Vision loss, etc).

2. Lipid Profile test:

The lipid profile test includes various parameters (cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, and HDL) which help in assessing the heart condition. Your mother is at a higher risk of developing high levels of LDL or bad cholesterol in her menopause age as estrogen levels drop. This lipid profile test is preferred to be done in fasting and regular check-up helps in preventing cardiac-related health problems.

3. Liver Function test (LFT):

The liver plays a vital role in the metabolism and detoxification of chemicals and drugs. But as age increases liver along with other vital organs undergo wear and tear resulting in decreased blood circulation which in turn decreases the ability to metabolise and detoxify. Hence, a regular liver function test (LFT test) is among the important tests that will be required for your parents to detect any liver failure or cirrhosis, particularly among those who are on regular medications for other ailments.

4. Kidney Function test (KFT):

Kidney function tests (KFT test) include both blood and urine tests among which serum creatinine and urea are the primary tests to know the functioning of the kidney. The higher risk of developing altered kidney functions is in individuals with comorbidities like hypertension, diabetes, or with a family history of renal diseases for which regular monitoring is needed.

5. 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D test:

25-hydroxy vitamin D is the most accurate method to detect vitamin D levels. With the increase in age, the absorption of vitamin D and production from the skin decreases. The deficiency of Vitamin D results in bone weakness causing osteoporosis. Detection of deficiency and effect of supplements is best assessed with 25-hydroxy Vitamin D levels periodically.