Windy City Media Group Frontpage News

THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

home search facebook twitter join
Gay News Sponsor Windy City Times 2023-12-13
DOWNLOAD ISSUE
Donate

Sponsor
Sponsor
Sponsor

  WINDY CITY TIMES

HEALTH AND FITNESS FiveTests Worth Your Dollars
by Andrew Davis
2003-07-16

This article shared 2966 times since Wed Jul 16, 2003
facebook twitter google +1 reddit email


There are five screening tests that could save your life. The only problem is that you have to pay for them yourself. In most cases, the tests aren't covered by insurance if you are healthy and at average risk. But the reason the tests aren't covered or even recommended by physicians has more to do with our national health policy than what may be best for you. Screening tests can be expensive, and the government and health insurers need to justify the costs. Other tests just don't have the political support. Honestly, when is the last time your doctor talked about magnetic-resonance blood tests? Lastly, no screening test is perfect, and a false positive can lead to more testing and invasive procedures that can do more harm than good. Still, you might feel these tests are worth the risk.

In the end, the decision involves a calculated risk. Patients who don't get tested are gambling they will be among the majority who stay healthy. Those who do pay for screening may get peace of mind, but they also accept the risk of possible danger. Keeping all of this material in mind, here are the five tests you may want to ask for yourself. Some should be done yearly; others should be taken depending on results. By the way, HIV testing would be on the list but plenty of Chicago-area sites offer that service for free.

1. Expanded cholesterol testing: Cost: $75 to $175. It's a blood test. The results break down both the good and bad cholesterol into subcategories that can give a better indication of your risk of heart disease. Half the people who have heart attacks have normal cholesterol under traditional testing. Part of the problem is that the average cholesterol test doesn't directly measure your LDL, or bad cholesterol. It just measures HDL, or the good cholesterol, and molecules called triglycerides, and then uses a formula to come up with an LDL score. However, that formula can be very unreliable, especially if you have a high triglyceride count. Insurance plans often will pay for the test if a person has known heart problems or other risk factors or other risk factors such as diabetes. Unfortunately, the companies won't pay for tests for healthy people—even though approximately 40 million otherwise healthy folks have hidden heart disease. Studies show the expanded tests could have detected 95% of heart-attack patients early. Some well-known tests include the one from Berkeley HeartLab, the VAP test from Atherotech, and the NMR Lipoprofile from LipoScience.

2. Transvaginal ultrasound: Cost: Approximately $250. Despite its cringe-inducing name, this test is painless, though not exactly comfortable. The examination is performed annually and involves a wandlike device being inserted into the vagina to view the ovaries. Right now, there is no approved screening test for detecting ovarian cancer, which kills over 14,000 women every year. It is the deadliest female cancer because it often doesn't produce symptoms until it has reached an advanced stage. Early detection can boost five-year survival from the standard 31% to 95%. The best study supporting transvaginal ultrasound comes from the University of Kentucky, where researchers have screened about 23,000 women over the age of 50 or women over 25 with a family history of the disease. So far, the screening has picked up about 300 ovarian tumors. Only 29 of those were cancerous, but 76% were caught in the early stage. Typically, only 25% are caught early. Ovarian cancer risk is highest among women in their 70s, and higher among women with family histories of ovarian, breast, or colon cancer. Women who have never had children are more likely to develop ovarian cancer than those who have.

3. EBT heart scan: Cost: $50. This test involves a machine that looks for calcium buildup that can signal heart disease. This test is very vital when you consider that, for 150,000 people a year, the first—and last—symptom of heart disease is death. A study of these scans, published in the journal Circulation, found that the tests are useful in predicting heart problems in intermediate-risk patients— those without symptoms but with at least one traditional risk factor. According to Harvey Hecht of New York's Beth Israel Medical Center, EBT 'tells you, 'These are your arteries. This is how much plaque you have.'' Patients with high calcium scores may be prescribed medication or urged to make diet and lifestyle changes. If there's heavy buildup of calcium, a follow-up stress test may help to determine if there's a blockage that needs to be treated. That being said, the test remains controversial because results can be occasionally misleading.

The Society for Atherosclerosis Imaging says the scans are best for men over 45 and women over 55 with no risk factors, and 10 years earlier if you have a risk factor like family history or smoking.

4. Spiral CT scan: Cost: $200 to $450. You glide feet-first into a scanner, stopping at the neck. This annual test can find lung cancer when it is as small as a grain of rice. In contrast, standard X-rays don't spot cancer until it's much larger. The overall five-year survival rate for lung cancer is just 15%, and studies show that survival rates are longer with earlier detection. Still, not enough is known about whether patients are simply learning about their cancers sooner or if they're simply living longer.

The early evidence regarding spinal CT scans is promising. Right now, just 15% of lung cancers are found early. In scanning studies, however, 80% of the cancers are caught early. Again, a problem with these scans involves false positives. These scans are recommended for smokers and former smokers 50 and over who have puffed at least 10 'pack years'—that's a pack a day for 10 years or two packs a day for five years.

5. Aneurysm scan: Cost: $60 to $200. This test doesn't hurt, but you'll feel slight pressure. It's basically a 5- to 10-minute ultrasound with a hand-held scanner against your abdomen. The test can spot bulges in the artery wall long before they become life- threatening, and if the results are positive, you may be rechecked regularly. Aneurysms (artery expansions due to weaknesses in the arteries' walls) are surprisingly common; about 7% of men over 60 have it. Few people, however, have even heard of it or realize they might be at risk for abdominal aortic aneurysm, which kills 30,000 people yearly. Aneurysms caught early can be corrected with surgery. The surgery can be risky and may require a long recovery—but can boost survival to 96% to 99%. If an aneurysm ruptures, the chance of dying is 80% to 90%. The best candidates for screening are men over 60 and women above 60 who have a cardiovascular risk factor, such as diabetes, smoking, or obesity. If you're over 50 and have a family history of aneurysms, by all means see a doctor ASAP. Sources: WebMD; Wall Street Journal

Sperm Limits

Here's another reason to hate the good-looking. According to a recent study, handsome men produce the best quality semen and beautiful women seem to have good voices, according to scientists. When researchers at the University of Valencia in Spain tested the quality of male sperm and then later asked women to rank the attractiveness of the donors it produced some interesting results. < p>'They found that men with the most attractive faces also make the best quality sperm,' New Scientist magazine stated.

Source: Yahoo News

Simply the Chest

So summer's finally here—which means we'll be seeing more exposed body parts than ever. If you're the type who likes to go shirtless (and I'm not discriminating between the sexes), you might be interested in the info that Mike George of Mike George Fitness has on how to achieve that muscular chest: The following exercises are intended to overwork the pectorals. Each of the exercises that follow should be performed with a weight that allows three to four sets of 8 to 12 repetitions and no more than a 60-second timed rest between each set.

1. Chest flies: Lie flat on a bench with your feet firmly on the ground. To start, hold a free weight in each hand, bend and lock your elbows, and place each weight together directly above and away from the center of your chest. Pull the weights away from each other (keep your elbows locked) until they come to rest a few feet away from either side of your chest. Count to three. Then return them to their original position. (Note: This exercise involves dumbbells but cables are best.)

2. Incline chest press: Sit down on incline bench with dumbbells resting on lower thigh. Kick weights to shoulders and lean back. Position dumbbells to the sides of the upper chest with elbows under dumbbells. Press dumbbells up with elbows to the sides until arms are extended. Lower weight to the sides of the upper chest. Repeat.

3. Dumbbell pullovers: Do these exercises on a flat bench, keeping the elbow still and only moving from the shoulder joint. (This works the minor pectorals and pushes out the major pectorals.) For best results follow this order and make sure that you not exceed the rest time and do not go below a eight-repetition set.

Mike George can be reached at (312) 943-6700. His health club is at 401 W. Ontario in Chicago; www.mg-fitness.com .

*** I'm at westelm406@yahoo.com .

It Makes Plane Sense

We have enough to deal with when we fly including paranoia and cardboard disguised as food.

Here are a few tips to make sure you won't have anything else to worry about ... like blood clots in your legs.

1. See the light: You can use bright light to overcome jet lag. If you've traveled eastward (from Chicago to London, for instance), expose yourself to 30 minutes of bright light in the morning. Westward travelers should seek out light in the evening. This advice only applies if you've flown through no more than six time zones.

2. Get up, stand up: You should walk around every once in a while, especially on a long flight. Any long period of inactivity can lead to blood clots developing.

3. The air up there: Poor ventilation can cause a variety of problems. The air vent above your seat is there for a reason.

4. Planet of the grapes: Bring fruit onto a plane. It's a healthful alternative to airplane food ... if it's even served.

5. Plug it in: Use ear plugs to battle those air pressure changes that occur when planes take off. You can also swallow, open your mouth, or chew gum.

Source: Harvard Health Letter


This article shared 2966 times since Wed Jul 16, 2003
facebook twitter google +1 reddit email

Out and Aging
Presented By

  ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Gay News

Brown Elephant Returns To Northalsted 2024-03-26
- Brown Elephant's Lake View location is moving to Northalsted and already accepting donations. Howard Brown Health, the largest LGBTQ+ health center in the midwest, operates three Brown Elephant resale shops in the Chicagoland area to help ...


Gay News

An interstate trans healthcare crisis: Illinois prepares for influx of people seeking gender-affirming care 2024-03-26
- With hard-won rights, such as access to hormone replacement therapy or permission to use one's chosen pronouns in school, breaking down in states across the country, trans residents of all ages are left with a choice: ...


Gay News

Planned Parenthood of Illinois expands Orland Park health center 2024-03-26
--From a press release - ORLAND PARK, Ill. - Planned Parenthood of Illinois (PPIL) announces the expansion of its existing Orland Park Health Center at 14470 S. LaGrange Rd., Suite 106. The 1,800-square-foot expansion is projected to increase sexual and reproductive ...


Gay News

Wyoming is latest state to ban gender-affirming care for minors 2024-03-24
- On March 22, Wyoming became the latest state to prohibit gender-affirming care for minors, The Hill noted. In doing so, it joined 23 other states that passed laws restricting or banning the treatment. Legislators in both ...


Gay News

Chicago's LGBTQ+ Advisory Council sets a new course 2024-03-18
- Chicago's LGBTQ+ Advisory Council held its first meeting of the calendar year on Feb. 28 at City Hall in the Loop under the leadership of the recently appointed chair Jin-Soo Huh. The LGBTQ+ Advisory Council is ...


Gay News

WORLD Leaked messages, Panama action, author dies at 32, Japan court, out athletes 2024-03-15
- Hundreds of messages from an internal chat board for an international group of transgender health professionals were leaked in a report and framed as revealing serious health risks associated with gender-affirming care, including cancer, according to ...


Gay News

UK health service to stop routinely prescribing puberty blockers to minors 2024-03-14
- NHS (National Health Service) England confirmed that children will no longer routinely be prescribed puberty blockers at gender-identity clinics, the BBC reported. The decision came after a review found there was "not enough evidence" that they ...


Gay News

One Roof Chicago launches youth-focused workforce development program 2024-03-14
- One Roof Chicago (ORC) is set to launch its first training, education and job placement program for LGBTQ+ young adults in late spring. This Community Health Workers and Elder Care program is a part of ORC's ...


Gay News

Howard Brown experts discuss advocacy and allyship for Chicago's trans community 2024-03-14
By Alec Karam - Howard Brown Health's Trans & Gender Diverse People's Rights & Patient Care panel convened March 12 to discuss both resources for—and opportunities to provide allyship to—the city's trans and gender diverse communities. The event hos ...


Gay News

Howard Brown Health faces October trial if settlement isn't reached with union 2024-03-13
- Howard Brown Health could go to trial over unfair labor practice allegations if the LGBTQ+ health center doesn't reach a settlement with its agreement soon. Chicago's regional director of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) filed ...


Gay News

Pro-choice activists protest crisis pregnancy center on International Women's Day 2024-03-11
- The rainy weather on March 8 didn't deter a passionate group of pro-choice protesters from gathering in Old Town on International Women's Day. Following the opening of Women's Care Center—a crisis pregnancy center—directly next to Pl ...


Gay News

NATIONAL Altercation, mpox research, Univ. of Fla., George Santos, tech battle 2024-03-08
- Video footage uploaded to Facebook showed an altercation between a state trooper and two prominent Philadelphia LGBTQ+ leaders, the Washington Blade reported, republishing an article from Philadelphia Gay News. Celena ...


Gay News

Pride 365 event emphasizes year-round support for LGBTQ+ employees 2024-03-07
- Queer employees are queer all year-round. The need for employers to accordingly support and uplift them year-round was the core message at Howard Brown Health and Citywide Pride's Pride 365 "Out of Office to Out in ...


Gay News

AMA launches toolkit to increase screenings for HIV, STIs, hepatitis, tuberculosis 2024-03-06
Press release - CHICAGO — With disruptions in clinical care caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and increasing rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and viral hepatitis across the U.S., the American Medical Association ...


Gay News

APA adopts policy supporting transgender, gender diverse and non-binary individuals 2024-02-28
- From a press release: WASHINGTON—The American Psychological Association (APA) has adopted a landmark policy affirming evidence-based care for transgender, gender diverse and nonbinary children, adolescents and adults, noting that recent ...


 


Copyright © 2024 Windy City Media Group. All rights reserved.
Reprint by permission only. PDFs for back issues are downloadable from
our online archives.

Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, and
photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no
responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials.

All rights to letters, art and photos sent to Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago
Gay and Lesbian News and Feature Publication) will be treated
as unconditionally assigned for publication purposes and as such,
subject to editing and comment. The opinions expressed by the
columnists, cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are
their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature Publication).

The appearance of a name, image or photo of a person or group in
Nightspots (Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times
(a Chicago Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature
Publication) does not indicate the sexual orientation of such
individuals or groups. While we encourage readers to support the
advertisers who make this newspaper possible, Nightspots (Chicago
GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay, Lesbian
News and Feature Publication) cannot accept responsibility for
any advertising claims or promotions.

 
 

TRENDINGBREAKINGPHOTOS







Sponsor


 



Donate


About WCMG      Contact Us      Online Front  Page      Windy City  Times      Nightspots
Identity      BLACKlines      En La Vida      Archives      Advanced Search     
Windy City Queercast      Queercast Archives     
Press  Releases      Join WCMG  Email List      Email Blast      Blogs     
Upcoming Events      Todays Events      Ongoing Events      Bar Guide      Community Groups      In Memoriam     
Privacy Policy     

Windy City Media Group publishes Windy City Times,
The Bi-Weekly Voice of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans Community.
5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL 60640-2113 • PH (773) 871-7610 • FAX (773) 871-7609.