Regular monitoring of one’s general health status is very important. Often people with MS and their carers spend so much time coping with the disease that they have little time to dedicate to preventive health.

The table lists screening examinations that a person should have regularly, based on advice from their doctor. The need for and frequency of these examinations may depend on age, medical history, ethnic group and family history. Since internationally accepted recommendations are not available for most of these procedures, a primary care doctor should be consulted.

Blood pressure check
A procedure that uses a small, portable instrument called a blood pressure cuff (sphygmomanometer), which registers the blood pressure in units called millimetres of mercury (mm Hg).

Breast self-examination (BSE)
A visual and physical examination of the breasts to detect changes in colour, the appearance of dimples, lumps, and other abnormalities.

Chest x-ray
A safe radiology test that involves exposing the chest briefly to radiation to produce an image of the chest and the internal organs of the chest.

Colonoscopy
A procedure using a viewing tube that enables an examiner to evaluate the appearance of the inside of the colon (large bowel).

Complete blood count
A calculation of the cellular elements of blood, a major portion of which measures the concentration of white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets in the blood.


Complete skin examination
A procedure performed by both the healthcare professional and the individual, to detect new growths, sores that do not heal, changes in the size, shape, or colour of any moles, or any other changes on the skin.

Coronary artery disease screening (CAD tests)
A screening procedure to detect blood flow-limiting blockages in the coronary arteries that involves stressing the heart under controlled conditions.

Digital rectal exam (DRE)
An examination to detect abnormalities that can be felt from within the rectum – the healthcare professional inserts a lubricated, gloved finger into the rectum and feels for anything that is not normal.

Dual X-ray absorptiometry or DEXA (bone density scan)
A test that uses a machine (DX scanner) that produces two x-ray beams, each with different energy levels. One beam is high energy while the other is low energy. The amount of x-rays that pass through the bone is measured for each beam and depends on the thickness of the bone. Based on the difference between the two beams, the bone density can be measured.
Electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG)
A non-invasive test that positions electrical sensing devices on the body to reflect underlying heart conditions by measuring the electrical activity of the heart.

Faecal occult blood tests
Special chemical tests performed on stool samples to detect traces of blood (undetectable to the naked eye) that may be due to slow bleeding from colon polyps or cancers.

Fasting blood glucose
A method for learning how much glucose (sugar) there is in a blood sample taken after not having eaten for a period of time, usually overnight, commonly used in the detection of diabetes mellitus.

Flexible sigmoidoscopy
A procedure to examine the rectum and the lower colon for rectal bleeding or other abnormalities, using a flexible tube gently inserted into the anus and advanced slowly into the rectum and then the lower colon.

Liver blood enzymes
A blood test that determines the presence of certain liver enzymes in the blood stream rather than only in the cells of the liver.

Mammogram
An x-ray test that produces an image of the inner breast tissue on film, visualising normal and abnormal structures within the breasts.

Oral examination
A procedure to detect changes in the colour of the lips, gums, tongue, or inner cheeks, and for scabs, cracks, sores, white patches, swelling, or bleeding.
Cervical smear (Pap test)
A procedure in which a sample of cells from
a woman's cervix (the end of the uterus that extends into the vagina) is collected and smeared on a microscope slide. The cells are examined under a microscope in order to look for changes that may indicate cancer.

Prostate specific antigen (PSA)
A blood test that measures the amount of PSA (a protein produced by the prostate gland) present in the blood stream, which is used to screen for cancer of the prostate.

Testicular self-examination
A procedure for detecting the early signs of testicular cancer that involves checking the testes visually and physically for new swelling or other changes.

Thyroid scan
A nuclear medicine procedure that takes an image of the thyroid gland as it accumulates radioactive material that is ingested by mouth.

Tuberculosis Skin Test (PPD Skin Test)
A procedure that injects a purified derivative of tuberculosis into the skin to determine if there has been prior infection, which is confirmed when a hard, raised area at and around the injection site appears.

Urinalysis
An analysis of the urine that can detect evidence of diseases, even some that have not caused significant symptoms.

Visual field test
A method of measuring an individual’s entire scope of vision, mapping the visual fields of each eye, in order to detect any signs of glaucoma, damage to the optic nerve and/or damage to the retina.