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Screening for Highly-Prevalent Diseases and Conditions Helps Lay the Foundation for Proactive Health Management

Few would disagree that having a massive heart attack or being diagnosed with cancer are among the top health concerns for Americans. If we’re health conscious, we take steps to mitigate the risk of heart disease and cancer through lifestyle habits and by following recommended medical guidelines for having screening tests. And while this is a good course of action, for many people it falls short of protecting them against any of a number of potentially life threatening conditions.

The standard blood panel that accompanies the annual physical exam typically consists of a CBC, Chem-20, lipid profile and, for men, a PSA test to screen for prostate cancer, a disease that affects one in 75 American men. At best, this common suite of tests evaluates 50 or so biomarkers and provides a cursory assessment of an individual’s overall health. Unfortunately, the standard blood-based screening tests miss many of the most common diseases affecting Americans—serious diseases that could be effectively managed if discovered early.

Other non-blood based screening tests are recommended depending on age, sex and family history. For example, mammography is an effective screen against breast cancer. Colonoscopy—and the newer virtual colonoscopy—screens for colon cancer. And while both of these diseases have a high occurrence in the U.S., the truth is there are a number of highly prevalent diseases and health conditions that people are not typically tested for unless they become symptomatic. For comparison, take a look at these statistics:

• Persistent, chronic inflammation affects one in every three to five people. Inflammation can be caused by a variety of sources such as gingivitis, a chronic viral infection, hepatitis and the Epstein-Barr virus. If not addressed, it can damage many parts of the body including the heart, brain, and kidneys and has been implicated in the development of many diseases including heart disease, cancer, diabetes, autoimmune diseases and Parkinson’s disease. If diagnosed, chronic inflammation can be treated.
• Autoimmune disease affects about 5% of the population and causes progressive damage to such areas of the body as the kidneys, heart, lungs, muscles, joints and skin.
• Thyroid disease can cause abnormal increases and decreases in the body’s ability to regulate its metabolism. One in thirteen people develop thyroid disease and may experience symptoms such as weight gain, depression, anxiety, heart palpitations, and gastrointestinal disturbances.
• Celiac disease affects approximately one in 120 people and causes digestive problems that can lead to malnutrition. People who have this disease must avoid products that contain gluten.
• Five percent of people worldwide are Hepatitis B virus carriers and 25% worldwide are Hepatitis C virus carriers. Hepatitis B can cause lifelong infection, cirrhosis of the liver, and liver failure. Hepatitis C can also cause cirrhosis of the liver and liver failure. Hepatitis C is a major risk factor for liver cancer. Both Hep B and C can be fatal.
• Alpha-1-antitrysin deficiency is a genetic condition that affects one in 50 Americans. Smokers, who have this disease, are at a much greater risk of developing emphysema. It can also lead to liver disease.
• Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), a condition that can cause increased blood clotting, affects one in 20 people. The condition can cause stroke and miscarriage. Air travelers with APS should move around frequently to minimize their increased risk of developing a blood clot during a long flight.
• Hemochromatosis is hereditary and often results in liver damage, diabetes and heart disease. One in 600 people have hemochromatosis. To control hemochromatosis, physicians often recommend donating a pint of blood every two months to reduce the amount of iron stored in the liver and kidneys to normal level and protect from organ failure.
• One of the most common immune deficiency disorders, IgA deficiency, occurs most often in people of European descent and affects one in 600. People with IgA deficiency are at an increased risk for a catastrophic reaction to a blood transfusion. If IgA is known or suspected, blood can be specially treated before it is transfused in order to prevent an adverse reaction.
• Atrophic gastritis causes severe vitamin deficiency and can lead to stomach cancer if left untreated. It affects 5-10% of the population.

Despite having a high prevalence, physicians typically recommend testing individuals for a specific disease or condition only if there is a family history. Consequently, most people do not find out they have one of these diseases until they become symptomatic. Unfortunately, in most cases, the disease or condition doesn’t manifest itself until it’s in a fairly advanced stage. The good news is that all of these diseases are manageable if you know about them.

So, why don’t doctors routinely screen for these highly-prevalent diseases?

The answer is simple: There are so many highly prevalent diseases that screening becomes very expensive and a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack. To test for all of these conditions separately, it would cost upwards of $40,000 and require a liter of blood using conventional blood testing methods.

Biophysical250 goes far beyond both the recommended standard annual blood tests and health screenings. For the first time, physicians can proactively screen individuals for these highly-prevalent diseases and conditions, and more, using two tablespoons of blood for a fraction of the cost of conventional testing methods. This assessment helps doctors to identify serious diseases and conditions at very early stages—often before symptoms manifest—and when treatment options are the widest and most successful.

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