BETEC Level 3 Extended National Diploma in Sport Development, Coaching and Fitness
Unit 7: Fitness testing for sport and exercise
Assignment 2: Health Screening
Health
Screening
Health screening tests are done to determine the
possible presence of a disease or other health problem. Health screenings often
are conducted routinely as a preventive measure, or may be done when there is
reason to suspect a particular health problem exists.
Screening refers to a test or exam done to find a condition before symptoms begin. Screening tests may help find diseases or conditions early, when they are easier to treat. Health screening is the consultation form which talks
Screening refers to a test or exam done to find a condition before symptoms begin. Screening tests may help find diseases or conditions early, when they are easier to treat. Health screening is the consultation form which talks
about you medical, lifestyle and information about
you. I will also be using two clients to do the test and work out there current
level.
Heart rate
measure how fast the heart is beating. The
concept is expressed by the number of beats or pulses over a given amount of time,
such as beats per minute. It can vary with as the body's need for oxygen
changes, such as during exercise or sleep. Knowing the rate
at which the heart is beating can be important to
athletes as a measurement of exertion, but may also be useful to doctors in
understanding the health of a patient.
The heart
beats faster when the body needs more oxygen. The need for oxygen can change
based on a variety of factors, such as current activity, heart condition, or general health. An example of this
would be when you are playing a sport such as doing the marathon you would need
a lot of oxygen to keep on running. Monitoring this rate
can allow a person to know how hard the heart is
working to provide oxygenated blood throughout the entire body.
There are a variety of ways to
measure the rate of heart
beats, though many basic methods provide only a general range of rate. The easiest way to measure BPM is by finding a
pulse point on the body. The most easily located are generally on the wrist
directly below the first finger, or on the side of the throat. These points are
on shallow arteries that reacts when blood passes through them, creating a
steady beat, or pulse. To measure heart rate using a pulse point, count how many beats occur in
sixy seconds. Multiply that number by ten, and it will give a good estimate of
the BPM.
When the body is at rest, such
as when you are sitting or sleeping for a long period, heart
rate tends to be low. This is called the resting
heart rate, and in most people it is between 60-100 BPM. Some athletes or very
fit may have a lower resting rate, which is
usually a sign of excellent health. People with an unusually low heart rate may have a
condition called bradycardia,
which can cause health problems, Those with an unusually high resting rate may suffer from tachycardia, which may increase the
risk of heart attack or stroke.
For athletes, measuring heart rate helps keep
track of their personal level and performance. Heart
rate training for exercises involves finding out
what the maximum healthy heart rate is for
someone's age and fitness level, then trying to keep the heart beating at a certain percentage of the maximum
during a workout.
Blood pressure
Blood pressure is a
measurement of the force of blood against the
arterial walls when the heart pumps. The pressure
is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and is given as two numbers. The
optimal blood pressure
for an adult is 120 over 80, or 120/80. The top number, called the systolic pressure, measures the highest pressure
exerted when the heart contracts. The bottom number, called the diastolic
pressure, shows the minimum pressure against the
arteries when the heart rests between beats.
Blood pressure is measured
with a cuff and stethoscope while the arm is in a resting position. The cuff is
placed about one inch above the bend of the wrist, and is inflated until the
mercury dial reaches 30 points higher than the person’s usual systolic pressure, or 210 if previous data is not available. A
stethoscope is placed on an artery in the inside of the elbow, and the air is
slowly allowed to escape from the cuff. The point at with the sound of the
pulse is first heard is the systolic pressure
number; the point at which the sound disappears is the diastolic number.
Several factors can affect blood pressure, so one
high reading does not necessarily mean that a person has high blood pressure. If a high
reading has occurred, and one of these factors is present, then the person
needs to be monitored repeatedly over a period of time to determine if this is
a keeps happening and is an persistent condition.
A pressure
reading of 120 over 80 or lower is known to be healthy. If the systolic number
ranges above 120 to 139 or the diastolic number ranges above 80 to 89, a person
is considered to have pre-hypertension. Systolic measurements of 160 or above
or diastolic measurements of 100 or above indicate the severe condition of
stage 2 hypertension.
Sometimes patients have pressure readings that are lower than 90 over 60, which
is what is considered the bottom of the normal range. This condition, called
hypotension, may cause nothing more than a sense of dizziness when moving
quickly from a sitting to a standing position. However, hypotension can be
indicative of an underlying medical condition, such as heart failure,
infection, severe diabetes, shock, gland disorders or dehydration. Alcohol,
anti-anxiety and anti-depressant medications, diuretics, painkillers, and some
other medications may also cause hypotension. A person’s blood pressure can change
over time, so periodic monitoring should be a part of everyone’s preventative
health care.
BMI
BMI or Body Mass
Index is the method use to determine if someone is a healthy weight. Body Mass Index takes into account a person's height and weight
to determine levels of body fat. BMI is typically
used in individuals over 20, children and adolescents require a different
formula to determine if they are a healthy weight.
Body mass is determined by doing a calculation weight in
pounds multiplied by 703, divided by height in inches, squared. For people
comfortable working with metric measurements, the calculation is more
straightforward, weight (Kg), divided by height (M.), squared.
Body Mass Index calculations
provide an objective assessment of weight. People with a BMI lower than 18.5
are underweight, those whose BMI is between 18.5 and 25.9 are in the healthy
range, people with a BMI of 25 to 29.9 are overweight, and those with a BMI of
30 or higher are obese.
Charts and calculators to
determine your BMI are easily found on most health and diet sites. Of course,
these calculators are rough translations of true percentages, and there are a
number of factors that might influence whether or not your BMI is a true
reflection of your total body fat. 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5297790.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5297790.stm
For instance, muscle is denser
than fat and takes up less space. Therefore a heavily muscled person might
weigh more than a same sized over-weight person, or two individuals with
identical BMI might have widely different percent body
fat. In this case, calculating your percent body-fat
might require more equipment.
Women typically carry more
subcutaneous fat than men do, particularly in the breast and hips, so their
percent body fat may be higher without it
necessarily being reflected in their BMI or having any adverse health effects.
Very low body fat, which may or may not show up
in a BMI, depending on the individual's musculature, might be unhealthy as well.
Your body needs some stores of fat to draw upon
for energy and if fat is absent, the body will
begin to consume muscle mass to keep
itself going. Athletes who over train may find themselves losing strength
rather than gaining strength, for instance: BMI, for all its approximation, is
a good tool to use in determining whether you need to lose weight, gain weight,
or congratulate yourself for being just right.
Lung Function
Lung
function tests measure how well your lungs are working. You will be asked to
perform various type of breathing
exercises using a number of instruments which measure different aspects of your
lung function. Normally, lung function tests take about one hour to complete.
During this time you may be asked to take part in the following tests. Routine
lung function tests include Spiromentry, lung volumes and gas transfer.
Lung function
tests, also called pulmonary function tests, measure how well your lungs work.
These tests are used to look for the cause of breathing problems, such as
shortness of breath. Lung function tests measure:
·
How much air you
can take into your lungs. This amount is compared to that of other people your
age, height, and sex. This allows your doctor to see whether you're in the
normal range.
·
How much air you
can blow out of your lungs and how fast you can do it.
·
How well your
lungs deliver oxygen to your blood.
·
The strength of
your breathing muscles.
Waist to hip ratio
Waist to hip
ratio is the ratio of the circumference of the waist to that of the hips.
It is calculated by measuring the smallest circumference of the natural waist,
usually just above the belly button, and dividing by the hip circumference at
its widest part of the buttocks or hip. The ratio is applied both to women and
men.
The WHR has been
used as an indicator or measure of the health of a person, and the risk of
developing serious health conditions.
The
waist to hip ratio test job is to measure body fat distribution above and below
the waist. It is calculated simply by dividing an person's waist girth by
their hip girth. Your waist to hip ratio indicates your body type and
determines your risks for heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and stroke.
Find out your body type using this simple calculator and work towards
decreasing your risks.
Things that you need to follow which is:
· Don't pull too tight or keep it too
loose.
· Similarly measure the widest part of
your hips.
· Use a 50 cms or 100 cms measuring
tape and measure in cms.
· Measure your waist at the narrowest point (usually
around your belly-button)
· Measure your hips at the widest circumference
(usually around the bony prominences)
· Perform the following calculation:
Doctors
mainly use this test and appreciate that the Waist-to-Hip Ratio can reveal much
about a person - it not only tells you how much body fat you have, but also where
your body fat is stored. The latter is significant, as those who store more fat
around their waists than around their hips and thighs have an increased risk of
chronic diseases, including high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart
disease, and stroke.
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