Diagnostic tests in Kolkata: Key to Effective Medical Care

In this modern era, everyone is looking for preventive measures and steps to ensure our body is fully fit and in complete healthy condition. These days, everyone is at greater risk of developing some kind of medical issue or health complications. If we just look around ourselves, we will only find a few healthy people. This is mainly because of our poor lifestyle choices, unhealthy eating, and the degrading condition of our environment and immune system as well.

Our older generation was much more fit than us; our eating habits - too much processed food and sugar - led to various complications within our body. We are not engaged in physical activities as we should be, plus our unhealthy eating habits led us to various problems like being overweight which further may result in diabetes, metabolism problems, heart diseases, and liver diseases. And if we pay a little notice in our surroundings, we will observe how many people are struggling with these diseases. In fact, India is a second-leading country in the number of diabetes patients in the world. Such reports suggest we as a community should work in the right direction to control such by changing our lifestyle, being more engaged in physical activities, and other important key factors are diagnostic tests.

Diagnostic tests are an important tool in tackling any unwanted, sudden disease or disorders. Healthcare providers suggest at least a regular yearly test to make sure that everything in your body is okay and each organ is working its maximum level. Diagnostic tests are also used to monitor the progress of an ongoing treatment or recovery process. Now, let’s dive into a few important diagnostic tests that each individual should get; it is a small investment for a longer cause.

Allergy tests in Kolkata - 

Allergy tests are performed on a professional’s recommendation; they are used to determine the substances that trigger your allergic reaction. The immune system is a body defense mechanism against any foreign harmful substances or invaders like germs, bacteria, and viruses, but sometimes, for some unknown reasons, the immune system starts releasing antibodies to destroy substances that it mistaken for harmful substances. The strong response of antibodies leads to various allergic symptoms, such as sneeze, rashes, redness and itchiness on skin, cough, and shortness of breath, swelling of the throat and mouth, and watery eyes.

The substances that trigger the allergic reactions are called allergens, such as - 
•    Dust 
•    Mold 
•    Pet’s hair and saliva 
•    Peanuts 
•    Soy 
•    Seafood
•    Milk 
•    Dairy products
•    Pollen
 

An allergy test allows the doctors to identify the allergen that triggers your allergic reaction. An allergy test is a safe way to determine allergens; it is performed in a controlled environment under the supervision of an experienced allergist who can control severe allergic reactions if they occur during the diagnosis process, especially oral food challenges.

Now if we dive a little deeper into allergens, they are categorized into three different kinds, which are as follows - 

Inhaled allergen - These allergens cause an allergic reaction when a person inhales or smells the fragrance and it comes into contact with the inner membrane of the nostrils or lungs, or throat. Pollen and flowers are the most common type of inhaled allergen.

Ingested allergen - These types of allergens are found in food items, such as peanuts, milk, dairy products, soy, seafood, etc.

Contact allergens - These allergens trigger skin reactions, such as redness, itchiness, or rashes, when they come in contact with the skin. Fabrics, latex, metals, and plants are some of the common examples of contact allergens.

Types of allergy tests available in Kolkata - 

Skin prick test - This is the most common type of skin allergy test. In diagnosing the potential allergen, it is the first test. In this test, a few allergens are mixed in a liquid that is placed on the foreskin of the arm; and with the use of a device, the targeted area of the skin is slightly punctured, which allow the allergens to enter the skin. Allergist then waits for 15-20 minutes for allergens to trigger an allergic reaction.

Intradermal test - This is also a skin test; usually allergists advise this test in case the skin prick test is inconclusive. During this test, allergists directly inject the suspected allergen into the outmost layer of skin called the epidermis and wait for the response of the body.

Patch test - In this test, a patch with suspected allergen on is placed on your skin for at least 48 hours. It does not need much of a preparation; you can carry on with your daily routine. After the given time, your healthcare provider removes the patch and looks for the reaction.

Blood (IgE) test - This is a blood test. The doctor collects the blood sample and sends it to the lab to collect the information about the IgE antibody in response to the allergen. IgE is an antibody involved in allergic reactions.

Full body checkup in Kolkata - 

Full body checkup is a master test that primarily covers the major tests related to different body parts such as the liver, heart, lungs, kidney, and thyroid. A full body checkup is playing a crucial role in diagnosing diseases like diabetes, hypertension, any disorders, and underlying disease, even cancer, in their early stages.

Benefits of a full body checkup - 

•    Every healthcare provider advises at least a full body checkup once a year to detect any complications as early as possible.
•    Full body checkup has multiple benefits, such as detecting any diseases, monitoring the progress of a treatment, or just ensuring that everything within your body is normal.
•    It increases the life span of people.
•    Full body checkup is a small investment that saves you lots of money.