X-Ray, Ultrasounds and Clinical Tests

Chest X-ray

A basic imaging test that helps detect for some abnormalities found in the heart, lungs, blood vessels, airways, the bones of your chest and spine. It can also be helpful as an initial investigation for those with lung-related symptoms such as chronic cough and fatigue.

ECG

Also known as Electrocardiogram, this test checks the rhythm of your heart and its electrical activity. A resting ECG is a helpful initial test if you have a history of cardiac risk factors (e.g. hypertension, high cholesterol/diabetes) or factors predisposing to irregular heart rhythm (e.g. thyroid, electrolyte/kidney disorder based on your previous blood tests).

Tonometry

A quick scan that checks the intra-ocular pressure of your eyes to see if you are at risk of glaucoma, the number one leading cause of blindness. Glaucoma is a disease that damages your eye nerves over time, resulting in a loss of vision. Early screening would help to protect your eyesight and slow down the process of vision loss.

Digital Retinal Imaging

Also known as a fundus photo, it is a non-invasive, diagnostic tool that produces digital high-resolution, colored images of your retina, optic nerve and blood vessels in the back of your eye. It is able to screen for 3 main eye conditions which are the top causes of vision loss: Glaucoma, Diabetic Retinopathy and Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). This is helpful even before you have visual symptoms as these conditions may benefit from early intervention before further irreversible eye damage.

Bone Mineral Density

A heel ultrasound (non-radiation) screening test will be conducted to measure the calcium density in your bones. Together with Vit D test, it is helpful to advise on the need for supplementation to prevent the onset of osteoporosis – an irreversible bone calcium loss. A BMD is also highly recommended for ladies as they prepare to head into menopause.

Spirometry

A non-invasive test that is a part of lung function testing by measuring how much air you can breathe out in one forced breath. This is particularly useful in screening for chronic lung diseases such as COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). If you have not seen a Respiratory Physician recently and have symptoms, risk factors such as a history of smoking, asthma, persistent cough or recurrent unexplained breathlessness, you may benefit from a spirometry.

(N.B. Please refer to our Spirometry Patient Information Sheet for more details and when you should NOT do a spirometry)

Audiometry

Tests your ability to hear varying types of sound, based on their loudness (intensity) and the speed of sound wave vibrations (tone). This test is useful for adults of any age as it can detect hearing loss at an early stage (before any noticeable symptoms) or as part of an initial workup when you are experiencing hearing problems from any cause.