[ad_1]
We test, scan and check for sickness, even when we have no symptoms of illness.
There are tons of home tests that you can buy online or at the pharmacy. They should answer if you have any Celiac Disease and borreliosis to ulcer and poor sperm quality.
Presenter Andreas Wahl at Folkeopplysningen on NRK got comedian Jonis Josef to try out 14 different home tests.
Jonis opened the doors and brought in feces, blood and semen. When the results appeared a few minutes later, the comedian was shocked.
12 of the tests were neutral.
One showed reduced sperm quality.
One had an effect on gastric ulcer bacteria.
– That was a recession, says Jonis. He felt completely healthy before taking the tests, but was stressed about the results.
Encouraged to see a doctor
Most home tests are 90 to 98 percent safe, provided they’re done correctly, says Kristian Mikkelsen. He is the CEO of Test Helsen AS, which sells these types of tests online.
– There is the possibility of incorrect results, says Mikkelsen.
People with a positive home test result are encouraged to see a doctor, which Jonis did as well.
There they confirmed normal blood tests, semen ok and nothing to worry about.
– I’m an impulsive hypochondriac. I was scared at the time, but now it’s going well. I trust the doctor, says Jonis.
– I usually only go to the doctor if I have symptoms, says Jonis Josef.
Photo: Tommy Gulliksen / Teddy TV / NRK
– Listen to the body
In the past, patients were afraid of being told they were sick. Now they become suspicious when the doctor tells them they are healthy. This is what Elisabeth Swensen, leader of the professional group against overdiagnosis, says.
– When I started working in the 80s, the waiting rooms were full of people who were clearly sick. They coughed, had a fever or pain. Now more people come in worried and symptom-free, he says.
He has clear advice for most people.
– What works best is listening to the body, following advice on taking vaccinations, and other knowledge-based health tips. Point.
Looking for diseases myself
More anxiety about health puts pressure on GPs and hospitals, says Ketil Størdal.
He is the spokesperson for “Make Smart Decisions,” a campaign that will cut down on tests and treatments that patients don’t benefit from.
– Many people look for diseases in private. Later, they expect a follow-up from the public when they find something. But it shouldn’t be about everything, says Størdal.
He says that discrepancies found in tests done for no reason are often false alarms.
– None of us are completely normal, if we look hard enough.
Watch Jonis Josef testing himself at home on this week’s episode of Folkeopplysningen:
We are getting healthier, but at the same time we are being told that we may be sick. Is a health checkup or home tests a good idea? Andreas Wahl investigates.
