Health Screenings

Health screenings are all over the media, health fairs, entryways of health clinics, and promoted at the hospitals as a means of "preventative" health. The hype of health screenings comes from their ability to detect a disease in individuals without any signs or symptoms of the disease, allowing for earlier treatment measures to prolong the "health" of the individual.

Examples of Health Screenings:
1. Mammograms for detecting early-staged breast cancer
2. Digital prostate exams can detect prostate cancer
3. Blood pressure evaluations can reveal hypertension
4. Colonoscopies can detect colon cancer
5. Eye exams can test for claucoma and cataracts
6. Pap smears may detect cervical cancer
7. Blood work may reveal conditions such as diabetes, high cholesterol, or metabolic disorders
8. An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) can reveal problems with the heart

Most health screenings begin at middle age and can continue indefinitely throughout life to ensure that the disease does not occur. Unfortunately, health screenings are statistically known to overdiagnose, misdiagnose, and also create a false sense of security since they rarely analyze the findings according to relevant health history, stress levels, and current health and nutritional circumstances of the individual. The temporary "security" that can come as a result of a "negative" screening can be detrimental as people do not realize that health screenings are just a "snapshot" in time. Even hours later, the results could prove dramatically different!

Advantages of Health Screenings:
1. Screenings allow health practitioners to find signs of disease early
2. Recommendations for treatment can occur earlier

Disadvantages of Health Screenings:
1. Effects of the screening - stress, radiation exposure, chemical exposure, tissue irritation, discomfort
2. False positive screening results
3. Unnecessary investigation
4. Prolonged knowledge of an illness without any improvements in regard to the outcome
5. Feeling of "security" from a false negative result and delayed treatment of the condition should it develop
6. Medical cost that increases insurance premiums
7. No emphasis for prevention of disease

In addition to the advantages and disadvantages of health screenings, it is important to see the health screening measures from the perspective of health professionals or clinics. Screenings can become an impressive means of marketing and regular revenue from return visits, even if the screenings are not even necessary. Thus, are the intent of the screenings to benefit the patient or the physician.

In reality, no matter the type of health screening, the screening does nothing to actually prevent the disease; they are also named improperly - they should be called disease screenings, not health screenings! Conventional medicine attempts to promote "prevention" through screenings, yet they rarely emphasize the importance of living foods, exercise, nutrition, sunlight, and emotional balance.¹

The best health screening takes place on a daily basis by choosing to live healthy! Daily care is needed for continued health. For optimal health and proper disease prevention, eat a balanced diet avoiding prepared and processed food, exercise regularly, avoid chemical exposure, drink pure water, and avoid destructive habits such as smoking and alcohol use. Above all, remember that it is never too late to begin to make lifestyle changes.

Additional questions to ponder in regards to cancer screenings (compliments of Mike Adams, Health Ranger):

1. If radiation causes cancer, then why does the cancer industry use radiation-emitting machines to "screen" for cancer?²
2. If "early detection saves lives" then why are more women dying of cancer today than ever before?³
3. If it takes ten plus years for a cancer tumor to grow to a size substantial enough to be detected, how can cancer doctors call it "early detection?" What's early about it?⁴