Heart disease is currently the leading cause of death in the world. But this will no longer be true in 2010, when it’s expected that cancer will surpass heart disease as the leading cause of death. To put it more into perspective, cancer will cause more deaths than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis — combined.

A recent article in the Washington Post talked about this disturbing development and also noted that in 2030, there may be 27 million people with cancer if new treatments aren’t found by then. Furthermore, there are expected to be 17 million cancer deaths each year by 2030. These figures were released in the 2008 World Cancer Report.

The article points out that around the world, the major avoidable risk for cancer and cancer deaths is smoking, something that about 1.3 billion people do. While there have been increases in lung cancer, which is smoking-related, there have also been increases in breast cancer in developing countries. Despite the fact that in developed countries cervical cancer is preventable and treatable, it’s a major cause of cancer deaths in developing countries.

Get a Cancer Screening

Get a cancer screening — it’s so important to your health. There are several cancer screenings available from HealthCheckUSA, like a colon cancer screening and an ovarian cancer screening. Regular cancer screenings enable cancer to be detected as early as possible, therefore making the survival rate higher. Cancer screenings are simply critical to survival.

Heart Disease Test: Beneficial to Your Health

At-home colon cancer screenings are recommended by a Canadian campaign that recently launched. The campaign effort is to help stop the development of the cancer. And that may just happen if people take at-home colon cancer screenings, which will ideally detect colon cancer before it gets worse.

Put together by the Canadian Health Research Institute, the campaign urges people to take part in at-home colon cancer screenings because the survival rate is thought to  be over 90 percent when the cancer is caught early. When colon cancer is caught early, it is thought to be highly curable.

The Canadian Health Research Institute hopes that by taking these tests, people with colon cancer will have it detected before it gets worse. Since colon cancer is the second deadliest type of cancer in Canada, it makes sense that this campaign was launched.

Also known as colorectal cancer or large bowel cancer, colon cancer causes over 655,000 deaths every year, all over the world. University of Utah researchers were able to trace a gene mutation for colon cancer back to Mr. and Mrs. George Frye, some of the very first settlers to the New World. If you carry the mutation, there’s a 70 percent chance of getting colon cancer, while a 4 percent chance is there for those without the gene.

The third leading cause of cancer death in the United States, colon cancer begins as benign polyps, which are abnormal growths in the large intestine. Later, these polyps become cancerous. Abdominal pain, unknown weight loss and diarrhea are some of the symptoms of colon cancer.

Get an At-Home Colon Cancer Screening

So take a tip from this Canadian campaign and get an at-home colon cancer screening. HealthCheckUSA offers a colon cancer screening, the fecal occult blood test (FOBT). The FOBT screens for gastrointestinal bleeding, and it can help diagnose colon cancer in its early stages so that it can possibly be cured. The way it works is that it collects a sample that is then analyzed. The colon cancer screening kit gets sent directly to you from HealthCheckUSA, and then you collect samples and mail the kit in a pre-addressed envelope to the laboratory so you can get your results after it’s been analyzed.

Getting a negative colon cancer screening doesn’t mean that the possibility of colon cancer is completely ruled out. The same goes for a positive screening: it doesn’t mean you absolutely have cancer. Hemorroids, anal fissures and Crohn’s Disease are some things that could be the reason for blood in your stool. You’ll want to contact your doctor if you experience any symptoms or abnormal results from the at-home colon cancer screening.

A recent study has linked poor sleep to heart disease, says a very interesting recent article in Forbes. Specifically, researchers found that for elderly people with high blood pressure, getting less than 7.5 hours of sleep per night can increase their chance of heart disease.

They tracked the sleep of 1,255 people — the average age was 70.4 years — and followed their health for about 50 months. During the follow-up, there were 99 cardiovascular disease events such as stroke, heart attack and sudden cardiac death.

Over 1,200 people with an average age of 70.4 years were a part of the study, and for 50 months researchers tracked their sleep and followed their health. Those who got less than 7.5 hours of sleep per night were at the highest risk for heart disease. Basically, findings showed that in elderly individuals with hypertension, a shorter sleep duration is a predictor.

The researchers noted that in modern societies people are simply getting less sleep. And getting enough sleep can help prevent obesity and diabetes—as well as many heart disease risk factors. In short, getting a good night’s sleep every night is essential to good health.

Heart Disease: Are You at Risk?

Are you at risk for heart disease? Some things that can put you at risk for heart disease are: smoking, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, physical inactivity, stress and being obese or overweight. A family history of heart disease may also put you at risk.

Take a Heart Disease Test

Take a heart disease test if you’re at risk—taking the test can no doubt be beneficial to your health. The heart disease test offered at HealthCheckUSA is the most comprehensive health assessment we have to offer. This heart disease test is ideal for those who would like to establish or keep track of their overall baseline levels, and it’s offered at several of our laboratory locations across the country.

Home Health Tests Reviewed

Home health tests, according to an article that appeared in the Star-Telegram, are helping people take control over their health.  The article discusses the accuracy and safety of home health tests.

Home Health Tests Accurate When Administered Properly

According to the article that appeared on August 4th, home health tests that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration are generally pretty accurate.  However, the article warns that the accuracy of home health tests does depend on how the sample was collected.  The article states that if a home health test comes up negative, most of the time they are.  Although, there are times that false positives do show up and you should consider receiving a lab test from your physician to be sure of the results.

Home Health Tests vs. Lab Tests

When you consider that most home health tests are for pretty life-altering medical events, such as pregnancy, HIV, hepatitis C, cholesterol levels and prostate cancer; wouldn’t you rather leave that up to a more accurate lab test?

HealthCheckUSA provides you with the same convenience as a home health test, i.e. you don’t have to go to a physician; yet HealthCheckUSA provides you with the same accuracy and confidence in the results as going to your physician to receive tests.

Home Health Tests:  Wise Choice?

HealthCheckUSA offers physician-interpreted tests in all major health areas, such as prostate and ovarian cancer, pregnancy tests, HIV, diabetes, cardiovascular, and even complete health risk assessments based on several predictor tests.  Unlike home health tests, the samples are collected by medical professionals in a sterile environment and an accredited Medical Reference Laboratory analyzes all of the test results.

HealthCheckUSA is also priced comparably to most home health tests, making HealthCheckUSA lab tests an even better decision when it comes to taking control of your health.

Discount Blood Tests Reduce Medical Costs

Discount blood tests can help keep medical costs down.  This is according to Dr. Greg Jackson, a physician at San Antonio’s Interceptive Health.  Dr. Jackson is also writing a book on preventative health care.

Discount Health Tests Assist in Prevention

Discount blood tests are part of the plan Dr. Jackson uses with his patients to help keep their costs down.  Patients of Dr. Greg Jackson are taught to focus on prevention or catching health issues early.  The main part of Dr. Jackson’s plan is to have his healthy patients only come in for physicals every 15 to 18 months vs. every 12 months.  This way the patient might be able to “straddle” two calendar years and thus only have to pay one deductible payout.

Discount Blood Tests with Quality Results

The discount health tests come into play right before a patient’s physical.  Dr. Jackson likes to have his patients come in with their lab results in hand in order to avoid the time and cost of having a follow-up visit to review the lab test results.  Dr. Jackson stated that he sends his patients to us, HealthCheckUSA, as we offer up a discount of up to 50 percent than most other labs.

Not only can Dr. Jackson’s patients receive their annual blood work; they can also receive a series of other lab tests in areas, such as cardiovascular or diabetes, that might be of concern to Dr. Jackson or his patients.

Discount Health Tests for Cost-Conscious

Dr. Jackson reminds his patients and every person receiving healthcare that if health costs are a concern have a discussion with your physician.  Dr. Jackson states that many physicians will work with their patients to make healthcare more affordable.  HealthCheckUSA will also work with you and your physician to provide quality lab tests and timely results that won’t break the bank.

HealthCheckUSA has packages that make it simple for consumers to measure, monitor, and improve their health by being able to order their own lab tests without a doctor’s order. HealthCheckUSA serves customers without insurance, have high deductible insurance plans, and taking control of their health because their doctor won’t order the test.

The blood tests available through HealthCheckUSA are the same medically accepted lab tests ordered by doctors for their patients. The blood tests are analyzed by an accredited medical reference laboratory. The results are confidential, and are available by fax to you or your doctor, or by mail to you (please allow 10 working days for mailing). Results are also available on the HealthCheckUSA Web site within 3-4 business days. An information sheet with an explanation of each test, including normal reference ranges, accompanies all results.

What is hereditary hemochromatosis?

Hereditary hemochromatosis, referred to as HH, is a common iron overload genetic disorder. A person with hereditary hemochromatosis absorbs and stores excess amounts of iron in the body. This extra iron settles in the liver, skin, and pancreas and, if left untreated, gradually develops iron deposits that cause organ and tissue deterioration.

What causes hereditary hemochromatosis?

The HFE gene in humans monitors iron absorption; a mutated HFE gene allows too much iron absorbtion and causes hereditary hemochromatosis. People with the hereditary hemochromatosis gene are carriers for the disease. If two carriers have a child, that child will develop hereditary hemochromatosis. Recently, researchers from both the European Molecular Biology Laboratory and the University of Heidelberg, Germany, discovered that HH is a liver disease. Research lab mice that were genetically engineered to lack HFE only in liver cells showed all the key features of hereditary hemochromatosis.

How common is hereditary hemochromatosis?

Hereditary hemochromatosis is one of the most common genetic diseases in the U.S.; almost 1 in 10 American Caucasians carries the gene. Caucasians with ancestry in Northern Europe are most commonly the carriers of the HH gene. Hereditary hemochromatosis is uncommon but still occurs among African Americans, Asian Americans, and Latinos.

What’s the danger of hereditary hemochromatosis?

If left untreated, iron accumulations due to hereditary hemochromatosis could potentially lead to other serious health issues, such as arthritis, liver failure, congestive heart failure, impotence, skin pigmentation, and pancreas damage. Without previous testing for hereditary hemochromatosis, most people are unaware that they have the disease. Most symptoms don’t appear until after about age 30 for men and 50 for women.

Screening for hereditary hemochromatosis is easy.

There is good news, though–testing for hereditary hemochromatosis is painless and simple. A fairly inexpensive, quick cheeck swab test kit you can use at home that will show if you have the mutated HFE gene that results in hereditary hemochromatosis is available from HealthCheckUSA. You shouldn’t take iron supplements until you know your test’s results. If your test’s results do show that you have hereditary hemochromatosis, treatment comes in the form of routine blood removal, usually several times a year.

Nutrition Panels are Great Preventative Medicine

A nutrition panel could be your best preventative medicine. A nutrition panel consists of a simple blood test that examines the way your body processes food. Even though adhering to a good diet and exercise regimen is the best way to stay healthy, each body’s chemistry is unique and breaks down nutrients in different ways. Most diseases are caused by a lack of proper nutrition or an inefficient breakdown of the nutrition that the body receives. At under $100, a nutrition panel is an affordable, comprehensive way to prevent potential health problems.

Fast Before a Nutrition Panel

Fasting for 10 hours prior to the nutrition panel is recommended for the best lab test results, though drinking water or black coffee doesn’t adversely affect the panel’s results. Therefore, it is usually best to schedule the panel in the morning.

Test your diet with a nutrition panel

Nutrition panels focus on three specific areas: CHEM-26, vitamin B12 with folic acid, and total iron binding capacity (TIBC).

The CHEM-26 portion analyzes the body’s total cholesterol (HDL & HDL), triglycerides, glucose, calcium, uric acid, electrolyte, and iron, as well as kidney, heart and liver functions. Glucose levels indicate how the body processes sugar, so it’s good to keep tabs on them if your family has a history of diabetes. Too much or too little iron can be a sign of various health problems.

The vitamin B12 and folic acid portion of the panel can provide information on the body’s metabolic functions. The body uses B vitamins to access and mobilize the energy stored in carbohydrates, fat, and protein. Without B vitamins, the risk of organ damage is heightened. Folic acid is in the B vitamin family and works hand-in-hand with B12 to unlock the nutritional value of the foods you eat. Folic acid also helps to synthesize DNA in the production of new cells.

The total iron binding capacity or TIBC portion checks the blood’s ability to transport iron throughout the body. If your iron levels are low, eating more iron-rich foods like dark green vegetables is recommended.

All three sections of the nutrition panel provide information on which functions of the body are efficient and which need more attention.

What if a nutrition panel comes back with abnormal results?

If a nutrition panel produces abnormal results, share them with your doctor. He or she may recommend different health tests, a change in diet or exercise regimen, or another nutrition panel to double-check the results.

Celiac disease is one of the most common diseases you’ve never heard of. Its symptoms are as common as fatigue, joint pain or muscle cramps, but also include serious illnesses such as anemia and osteoporosis. With such vague symptoms, the disease is often misdiagnosed by doctors or temporarily treated with over-the-counter medications. Celiac disase can easily be diagnosed by a test such as the Celiac Disease DNA Test. While there is no cure, a change in diet can get rid of many symptoms.

Celiac disease is caused by gluten, a food product made of wheat, rye or barley found in many foods and medicines today. The immune system responds to gluten by damaging the lining of the small intestine, which normally aids in absorbing nutrients from our food. Celiac disease causes malnutrition, and can lead to cancer.

According to the Associated Press, over two million people in the U.S. suffer from celiac disease, and for Linda Fedewa, owner of A Piece O’ Cake Bakery, the disease was working her to death.

Because all of her baked goods were made with flour, Fedewa constantly ate food with gluten and had no idea why she was so sick. She was losing weight rapidly, and her doctor began checking for symptoms of an eating disorder after her weight dropped to 85 pounds. After being tested, Fedewa was told to stay away from all things gluten, including the extravagant cakes she baked for her customers. After changing her diet, she began looking for an gluten-free alternative for her bakery. Today, Fedewa’s gluten-free goods comprise a quarter of her business, and offer treats for those suffering from both celiac disease and a sweet tooth. (AP)

While celiac disease is a genetic illness, it can also be triggered by stress, infection or childbirth. As with any illness, early detection through health tests is the key to fighting celiac disease. HealthCheckUSA offers free genetic counseling with their Celiac Disease DNA Test.