Let's face it. A trip to the drugstore is a whole lot easier
than a costly and time-consuming trip to the doctor's office. No
time wasted waiting for the physician; no embarrassing questions
to answer; and no sticker shock when the bill comes. Just head
for the section of your pharmacy with all of the gadgets and
home test kits and you are ready to "play doctor."
With skyrocketing medical costs and increased concerns about
privacy, more and more Americans are taking advantage of
products designed to help monitor existing conditions or to help
diagnose new ones. Blood glucose monitors help diabetics manage
their condition, blood pressure kits help monitor hypertension
while those with cardiovascular concerns can track cholesterol
and triglyceride levels. Of course, home pregnancy kits have
been available for years. But now it is possible to go well
beyond health management with these off-the-shelf products and
individuals can now perform diagnostic tests in the comfort and
"safety" of their homes.
But is this trend really safe?
Health care professionals have expressed concerns that the use
of home test kits may cause users to delay or avoid proper
medical care. Misinterpreting the results of self-administered
tests can lead to decisions that are based on false assumptions.
For example, there have been reports of people changing their
medication dosage based on results of blood pressure readings at
home. Decisions about any treatment based on self-administered
tests should be deferred until a physician confirms them.
The list of conditions for which home diagnostic products are
available is expanding rapidly. It is now possible to test for
drug use, alcohol use, HIV, prostate cancer, hormone levels,
diabetes, blood type, anemia, allergies, hepatitis, cholesterol
levels, fertility and even certain strains of flu.
The opportunity is always present for a user to improperly
administer a test or to misunderstand the results. Delaying
treatment based on these results could have serious
consequences. Now that the number of tests available is so
large, and the conditions so potentially serious, it is
absolutely critical that these test results be validated by a
doctor.
Given this diverse menu of tests, users are sure to get results
for which they may be unprepared. A positive reading for HIV
could be devastating. Health care professionals are trained to
address the concerns and possible psychological issues faced by
a patient receiving bad news from a test. Individuals trying to
cope with a similar result at home may find themselves alone and
unable to cope.
Home health tests should be used with great care and should
never be considered as a replacement for proper medical care. If
you are seriously concerned about your health and well-being, it
is fine to practice a bit of do-it-yourself medicine... as long
as you get a second opinion.
About the author:
J. Terrence (Terry) McDermott is the developer and administrator
of a variety of websites that offer information, resources and
products related to health care.
Alpha Medical
Supplies is at
http://www.alphamedicalsupplies.com and is a
site featuring medical supplies and equipment plus resources for
home caregivers.
