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SICK & WELL
HEALTH CARE
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PROMOTING
HEALTHY LIVING
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PREVENTING
DISEASE
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ABOUT US
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Health Screenings
There are several tests you can have that give you an idea of how healthy your body is or if you need another healthcare
provider to look more closely at a specific part of your health. For example, having your blood pressure checked is one of
the easiest tests to take and can tell you a lot about how your heart is working. It can tell you also if you need to have
your cholesterol levels checked. See below for other health screening tests.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a condition characterized by the body’s inability to use insulin to get blood sugar into the cells of the body.
If insulin can not get into body cells, the body does not have energy to work with. The sugars and fats that are basically
trapped in the blood circulating around the body and can get stuck in smaller blood vessels or lodge against blockages
that already exist in larger veins. This can lead to heart disease. Because one of the first signs that diabetes may be
developing is high levels of sugar in the blood, a blood sugar test can check a person’s risk for diabetes. These blood
tests can be performed at health fairs, during special months (such as public health month or diabetes awareness month)
or during a well or sick visit to the health department or other healthcare provider. For more information, please call
(336) 651-7450.
Blood Pressure
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the nation. Heart disease is a broad term for any condition that affects
the heart or blood vessels. The heart and blood vessels make up a closed system. If something is affecting the blood
vessels, such as build-up of cholesterol inside walls, it makes it harder for blood to move through. That means the heart
must push harder, create more pressure, on the blood to push it through the vessels. There is not a pressure release
valve in the circulatory system. This is one example of how blood pressure can be a sign that a person’s circulatory
system is unhealthy, causing strain on the heart. Because one of the first signs that heart disease may be developing
is an elevated blood pressure, simple and routine blood pressure checks allow people to monitor their heart’s health.
Current guidelines recommend that all adults have their blood pressure checked regularly in addition to proper
nutrition, routine
physical activity and avoiding
tobacco use or smoke. If the systolic number is
higher than 140 or the diastolic number is higher than 90, (“140 over 90”) contact your healthcare provider. Blood pressures
can be checked at health fairs, at pharmacies or other stores with the blood pressure machines, or during a well or sick
visit to the health department or other healthcare provider. For more information, please call (336) 651-7450.
Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a waxy fat-like substance that the body uses to make hormones, vitamin D and acids that help in digesting
food. It only uses a little bit of cholesterol though, which is why limiting the amount of cholesterol in your diet through healthy
nutrition is recommended. If more cholesterol is in the
blood than the body needs, it can catch on blood vessel walls and start blocking the flow of blood. When the blood vessels
that provide the heart with oxygen and energy get clogged the heart begins to suffocate and starve. This may cause chest
pain (angina). If the blood vessels to the heart get completely blocked off, the blockage causes a heart attack. Because one
of the first signs that cholesterol may be building in the blood vessels, a simple cholesterol blood test should be checked at
least every 5 years. The HDL (High Density Lipoprotein – the “good” or “Happy” cholesterol) is less likely to cause problems
than the LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein – the “bad” or “Loser” cholesterol). Healthcare providers often break down cholesterol
levels in to HDL and LDL and will specifically focus on lowering the LDL cholesterol. Blood cholesterol can be checked at
health fairs or during a well or sick visit to the health department or other healthcare provider. For more information, please
call (336) 651-7450.
PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) Blood Test
Prostate cancer strikes 1 out of every 6 men across the US; but it kills only 1 out of every 5 men who develop it. It is
the 2nd leading cause of cancer deaths in men behind lung cancer.
The exact cause of prostate cancer is not known although high hormone levels, certain foods, viruses or work-related
exposures have all been suggested. This makes screening much more important, especially for men at higher risk.
Men whose relatives who have had prostate cancer and Black-Americans are more likely to develop it. As men get
older their risk gets higher; and men who eat a lot of red meat and high-fat diary products are at higher risk of developing
prostate cancer. There are several screening tools for prostate cancer. The DRE (Digital Rectal Exam), PSA
(Prostate Specific Antigen) and the TRUS (Trans-rectal Ultrasound).
Wilkes County Health Department offers the PSA blood test. Blood is taken from the arm and tested for a chemical made
by the prostate gland called “prostate specific antigen”. The more antigen that the prostate makes, the more likely it is that
the prostate is not healthy. There are several reasons why the prostate may be making more antigen, such as a prostate
infection or recent medical procedures, and some prostates simply make more antigen than others. Cancer is only one
reason why the PSA level would be high. The important thing to know is how much antigen your prostate normally makes
so if there is a change it can be checked out. Taking the test every year is a good way for men to track any changes in
their PSA levels and to identify prostate cancers in their earliest, most treatable stages. PSA tests can be performed at
health fairs, at educational sessions with community groups or during a well or sick visit to the health department or other
healthcare provider. For more information, please call (336) 651-7450.
Mammograms
Mammograms should be performed on women under the age of 40 only when symptoms indicate a need. Women ages
40 -49 should have mammograms once every 1 to 2 years. Women age 50 and over are recommended to have a
mammogram every year. Wilkes County Health Department does not provide mammograms but they can be arranged
through the BCCCP Program (link there) for women who qualify. For more information, please call (336) 651-7450.
Pap Smears
The Pap test is a screening test for cervical cancer. During a Pap test the doctor or nurse uses a small brush or swab
to take a few cells from your cervix. These cells are sent to a lab to be checked for abnormal growth. You will be sent the
results of your test within a few weeks. Cervical health recommendations are a Pap test every year or as instructed by
your health care provider based on your risk. Generally it is recommended that women begin getting Pap tests every year
when they turn 21 or within 3 years of first sexual intercourse, whichever comes first. There are some changes to this
recommendation depending on behavior and previous test results. Even if you are past childbearing or are not having sex,
you still need regular test. Wilkes County Health Department provides pap smears through the
Family Planning and
BCCCP Programs. For more information, please
call (336) 651-7450.
Vision Screening
Vision screenings are performed routinely for children ages 3 and older according to Medicaid guidelines and occasionally
during health fairs on the MESH unit. The person
is asked to look into a titmus machine and read certain lines. For children, the lines might show recognizable objects
rather than numbers or letters. This is the same sort of machine used when getting a drivers’ license. Referrals are made
for abnormal findings. For more information, please call (336) 651-7450.
Hearing Screening
Hearing screenings are performed routinely for children ages 3 and older according to Medicaid guidelines and occasionally
during health fairs on the MESH unit. The child
wears a set of headphones and is asked to raise his or her hand when a bell tone can be heard. Referrals are made for
abnormal findings. For more information, please call (336) 651-7450.
HIV Testing
People are encouraged to know their HIV status.
HIV tests can be performed at HIV Testing Day celebrations, educational sessions with community groups or during a well
or sick visit to the health department or other healthcare provider. The blood test requires two weeks for the most accurate
result. For more information, please call (336) 651-7450.
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