Five Easy DIY Health Checks You Can Do at Home
It isn’t always possible or convenient to visit your GP, especially if you have a very busy lifestyle. These DIY tests allow you to check on issues of concern in the comfort of your own home, so that if anything does seem wrong you can seek professional medical care.
- PAP Smear (Solopap.com.au)
Nobody likes PAP smears so if you avoid them then this home testing kit is for you. It’s simple to use and you can take it to your GP for testing or send it to an independent lab.
- Skin Cancer Detection App (Skin Vision from Google Play or the App Store)
Take a pic of any suspicious moles and the app will instantly analyse the image, but you should still see your GP for regular yearly skin checks.
- Omron Bluetooth Blood Pressure Monitor (omronhealtcare.com.au)
The armband applies just the right pressure so it’s easy to take accurate blood pressure readings at home. It then connects wirelessly with your smartphone, so an app can tell you if your blood pressure is abnormal.
- Bowel Cancer Screening Kit (bowelscreenaustralia.org)
Bowel cancer testing is recommended every one or two years after age 50. This kit allows you to take a sample using a brush which is then simply painted onto a test card and is mailed in.
- Diet Test (mydna.life)
Just swab the inside of your cheek, send the sample to the lab. You will receive a bespoke diet plan and personalised health report showing how your body responds to food and drink, medicines and even exercise.
Please remember that home testing kits are simply there to help increase your awareness of a potential problem and should never replace the expert advice and treatment provided by your GP or by another medical professional.
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