In many cases, early diagnosis and timely treatment can save lives. Screening tests can help detect diseases before symptoms develop. Unfortunately, Hungary is at the top of the EU mortality statistics, which could be significantly improved if more citizens took advantage of screening.
While we routinely take our cars in for a service every year to prevent major damage and lower maintenance costs, we are not always so careful about our own health and body. It is estimated that if at least two-thirds of the Hungarian population took part in the screening tests offered by the health system, thousands of premature deaths could be avoided.
Recommended every year or every two years
There are screening tests that are recommended regularly, regardless of age and sex. These include eye test – for glaucoma, a green cataract that can affect 2 per cent of people over 40 and can be controlled with appropriate therapy – or a dental and oral screening, which is recommended every six months, even if you have no symptoms. It’s also worth having a full laboratory test every year, the results of which can alert you to the onset of diabetes, inflammation, problems with fat metabolism, and changes in thyroid, kidney and liver function. In Hungary, 40 percent of all cancers are skin cancers, of which 10 percent are melanoma. It accounts for more than 85 per cent of skin cancer deaths, so it’s important to visit your dermatologist annually to check your moles and look for any lesions. Although compulsory lung screening has now been abolished, it is recommended that people under 40 have a screening every two years and then every year thereafter. Colonoscopy and fecal screening can help detect cancers early enough to prevent a significant proportion of deaths: people over 50 are recommended to have this screening every year.
Targeted screening tests for women and men
Prostate cancer detected too late claims the lives of 1,400-1,500 men a year, so experts recommend that the men should take part in recommended screening tests from the age of 45. Breast cancer causes the deaths of nearly 2000 women every year, yet in Hungary only 40-45% of women aged 50-69 years take part in the free mammography screening recommended every two years. Taking part in screening tests can save lives. Experts say that up to 40 percent of cancers in Hungary could be prevented if people regularly attended screenings. Laboratory packages offered by the laboratory service provider, HR-Pharma, in Szeged can also give a more comprehensive picture of the general condition of our body and add useful information to the results of screening tests.