Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Testing Explained
The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test measures the level of PSA — a protein produced by both normal and cancerous prostate tissue — in the…
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How Clinics Screen for Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer screening — one of medicine’s greatest success stories — has reduced cervical cancer mortality by more than 70% in countries with effective programs….
Hepatitis B and C Testing at a Medical Clinic
Hepatitis B and C are chronic viral infections that silently damage the liver for years or decades, ultimately causing cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer…
How Clinics Diagnose Food Allergies
Food allergies affect approximately 32 million Americans and range from mild (itching, hives) to severe (anaphylaxis — a potentially fatal systemic allergic reaction). Unlike food…
Endoscopy at a Gastroenterology Clinic: What to Expect
Upper endoscopy (esophagogastroduodenoscopy, or EGD) allows direct visual examination of the esophagus, stomach, and the first part of the small intestine (duodenum) using a flexible…
Colonoscopy Prep and Procedure: A Complete Guide
Colonoscopy is simultaneously the most powerful colorectal cancer screening tool available and, for many patients, the most anxiety-provoking medical procedure they face. Concerns typically focus…
Bone Density Scans: How DEXA Testing Works
Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) is the gold standard clinical test for measuring bone mineral density (BMD) — the primary diagnostic tool for osteoporosis and osteopenia….
Holter Monitor: Diagnosing Irregular Heart Rhythms
A Holter monitor is a small, portable device that continuously records the heart’s electrical activity for 24–48 hours (or longer with extended monitoring devices) while…
What Is a Stress Test and Who Needs One?
A cardiac stress test — commonly called an exercise stress test or treadmill test — evaluates how the heart performs during physical exertion. Because some…
Lung Function Tests: What Spirometry Reveals
Spirometry is the primary clinical test of lung function — a simple, inexpensive breathing test that measures how much air the lungs can hold and…