When you smoke, you put yourself and those around you at greater risk for serious disorders.
Early detection and screening can save your life, and quitting smoking today can lead to a better quality of life tomorrow.
Lung disease, heart disease, and other life-threatening illnesses are a major consequence of smoking. The best and safest option to save your life and the lives of your loved ones would be to quit smoking. When you smoke, you and the people around you are at greater risk for serious disorders.
Dr Rakesh Kumar Sharma, Head of Department and Senior Consultant, Department of Medical Oncology, SHALBY Sanar International Hospitals, Gurugram, recommends eight tests that every smoker should undergo:
- Chest X-rayA very important test for a smoker. An X-ray provides an image of the chest and helps detect any problems caused by smoking.
- SpirometryAlso known as a Pulmonary Function Test (PFT), it is a simple breathing test that involves the patient blowing and inhaling into a machine to determine how much air enters and leaves their lungs.
- Computed tomographyLow-dose computed tomography (LD-CT) helps detect important problems like lung cancer. It provides better diagnostic images that allow doctors to detect problems, like lung cancer, at earlier stages.
- High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP) testThis is a blood test that detects low levels of C-reactive protein and measures overall levels of inflammation in the body. It can be used to determine whether people are at risk for heart disease and stroke.
- ElectrocardiogramIt can help detect any complications in a smoker's heart. It examines the heart's regularity and rhythm and helps detect potential heart problems at an earlier stage.
- Diabetes detectionSmoking makes the body more resistant to insulin, which leads to higher blood sugar levels. For this reason, a diabetes screening test is also recommended.
- Vitamin D blood testAre you over 40 and a smoker? Then you should get tested. In fact, most smokers tend to have low levels of vitamin D in their blood.
- Kidney function testsIf you smoke, you are more likely to develop chronic kidney disease (CKD). There is a higher risk if you have diabetes or heart disease. CKD has no early symptoms, so it is important to get screened. Understand what you are putting your body through and seek help from professionals. Screening and early detection can save your life, and quitting smoking today can lead to a better quality of life tomorrow.
