Study Suggests Unnecessary Tests at Doctor’s Office

COLUMBIA, S.C. (CNN) – You may want to think twice before having that test run at the doctor’s office. A new national report suggests many tests are overused. Here’s a list of the top five it included: – A C-T scan or M-R-I scan after fainting – especially if your behavior is normal and you have no seizures or neurological problems. – An annual cardiac stress test – health officials say if you’re healthy it’s unlikely to change the course of your treatment. – A chest x-ray before outpatient surgery is not necessary if you have a moderate to good functioning heart and you’re only going in for a low-risk surgery. – A back scan within the first six weeks of lower back pain – doctors say it won’t find the source if an outright physical exam didn’t find it either. – And repeat colorectal cancer screening – start them at age 50 and doctors say if the results are normal, you’ll only need them every 10 years. Doctors say reducing those tests and others will help save money in the health care system.