Medical Tests & Procedures Archive

Ask the doctor

Q. I am scheduled for an electrical cardioversion for my atrial fibrillation. What should I expect?

A. Electrical cardioversion is a procedure to convert a fast or irregular heartbeat (such as what happens with atrial fibrillation, or afib) to a normal rhythm. Before the procedure, your cardiologist may recommend a special ultrasound test of your heart to check for blood clots. Cardioversion may dislodge any clots, which can be life-threatening. So if clots are found, the procedure may be delayed for a few weeks, so you can take blood-thinning medications to lower your risk of complications such as stroke.

Men also get osteoporosis—but consider your risk factors before deciding to have a bone-strength test.

Men's and women's bodies differ in plenty of ways, but we all have bones, and with aging they may lose some of their strength and leave us more vulnerable to dangerous fractures of the hip or spine. Osteoporosis is not exclusively a women's health issue.

Minimally invasive surgery for a bulging artery below the heart is much safer than open surgery in the short term, but the advantage fades over time, according to a study in The New England Journal of Medicine.

An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) occurs when a portion of the aorta, the main blood vessel carrying blood from the heart to the lower part of the body, becomes enlarged and bulges out. If the bulge ruptures, it is usually fatal. This condition is more common in older men than in women.

The technology is promising, but scientists are calling for controls on how the method is used.

Unless you have symptoms of a heart problem, taking a cautionary look under the hood is unlikely to help—and could even be harmful.

Q. I heard that there is a new stool test for colon cancer screening. Can this test replace colonoscopy for me? I am 68 years old with no history of colon problems, and my last colonoscopy was normal.

A. Among screening tests for hidden colorectal cancer, colonoscopy remains the "gold standard" because it's the most effective technique for detecting colon cancers and simultaneously provides an opportunity to remove any precancerous growths (polyps). The new DNA-based stool test (Cologuard) is less invasive and inconvenient than colonoscopy and finds more cancers and polyps than older stool tests, but it does not entirely eliminate the need for colonoscopies.

Emergency rooms, urgent care clinics, and retail clinics offer immediate care. Your symptoms determine which to use.

You've probably had an illness or injury that you weren't quite sure how to handle. Maybe it was a rattling cough, a finger slammed in a car door, or a rash crawling up your arm. If you can't get in to see your doctor, you have a few options for immediate treatment—the clinic at the nearby shopping mall, an urgent care center, or the emergency room at the nearest hospital. How do you decide which one to go to?

A mini mental status exam or a thorough cognitive assessment can give you answers and may improve your qualify of life.

Women are at greater risk for dementia. Joining clinical trials can help to speed the development of promising drugs.

Family history or past smoking both point to higher risk for this potentially fatal condition.

How many "lifesaving" medical tests have you been offered lately? One frequently marketed to older men is an ultrasound of the abdominal aorta, the large artery below the heart that feeds the lower body. A bulging weak spot there—an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)—could eventually rupture, and that is usually fatal.