Early detection of the disease is important to treat it successfully. The information necessary for a good diagnosis and treatment is obtained through medical history, physical examination and complementary examinations.
- Medical history. When a person attends their first visit due to any symptoms or discomfort or as a result of the screening programme, the doctor, before carrying out any tests, will ask many questions related to their health, previous illnesses, illnesses of family members and certain lifestyles, such as dietary habits, work situation, smoking and alcohol consumption, etc. In addition, medical staff ask questions such as: What is wrong with you or how do you feel, in other words, they ask about the symptoms you have and how they affect your everyday life (number of symptoms, main symptom, when you last had it, when and how it started, what makes your symptoms worse and what improves them, along with other related questions.
- Physical examination. It is based on the direct screening of the body, through auscultation, palpation, percussion and observation, to identify signs of the disease. Depending on the result of the examination and depending on the possible diagnoses, the doctor will suggest, if necessary, performing a series of tests.
- Complementary examinations or tests. Depending on the medical staff's assessment of both the interview and the physical examination, they will request any tests that may be necessary in order to make, confirm or rule out a specific diagnosis and establish the most appropriate treatment.