6 Important Blood Tests for Comprehensive Health
If you haven’t drawn blood for years, it may be time to chat with your primary doctor and it’s done. Your blood work can tell you a lot about your health, revealing everything from kidney function to cholesterol levels. How often should you do an analytical blood test frequency depends on your age, Blood test type and your personal health.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, most healthy adults only need to have Cholesterol is tested every four to six years. Meanwhile, the group says people deserve their A1C was tested at 45 years old If they are risk factors for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, they are available every year or two years. Some tests, such as hepatitis B, are just It is recommended to be once per student For adults aged 18 and older, unless you have symptoms or are pregnant.
With all these different types of blood tests, know what you should get and when. To simplify things, we talked with two doctors who explained what blood tests the average person should consider and why.
1. Complete blood count
Complete blood count routine tests provide snapshots of the body’s blood production and immunity. This test measures a variety of components in the blood, including red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.
Dr. Soma MandalBoard-certified physician at Summit Health in New Providence, NJ said taking the CBC test “is recommended as part of routine health checks for people of all ages or when symptoms raise potential health issues.”
Dr. Maria NobelMedical Director of UK Medical Certificate agrees that this basic test is suitable for many patients. She said the test is ideal for anyone who has a routine health checkup. However, she advises you that if you “experience symptoms such as persistent fatigue, unexplained bruises, or frequent infections” you may wish to get it.
A CBC blood test can indicate a lot of things, including:
- anemia
- Infect
- allergy
- leukemia
- inflammation
- heart disease
- Lack of iron
- Certain cancers
- Vitamin deficiency
- Immune system diseases
- Risk of coagulation and bleeding
- Low platelets (which can affect blood clotting)
Mandal explained that each lab may have a slight difference in what they think is a “normal” test result. The normal range of adults is usually considered to be:
Red blood cells: 45,000-5,900 cells (male), 41,000-5,100,000 cells per microcolumn (female)
leukocyte: 4,500-11,000 units per microcolumn
Hemoglobin: 13.8-17.2 grams per decomposition device (male), 12.1-15.1 grams per decomposition device (female)
Hematocrit: 40.7%-50.3% (male), 36.1%-44.3% (female)
Platelet: 150,000-450,000 platelets
2. Lipid panels
Lipids are fat and fatty substances in the blood. One type of lipid is cholesterol, which is used as an energy source. Too many “Bad” cholesterol (LDL or LDL) can damage your heart.
If you have cardiovascular disease or other risk factors, you may need to undergo this test. Mandal noted that the test is crucial for “risk of cardiovascular disease, including a family history of heart disease, smokers, people with high blood pressure or people with overweight.”
Knöbel explained that the lipid panel measures total cholesterol, which also breaks down into HDL/LDL:
- Triglycerides
- LDL (bad cholesterol)
- HDL (good cholesterol)
She said: “Elevated LDL levels are associated with an increased risk of heart disease, while high HDL levels are often protective. Elevated triglycerides may also indicate a risk of heart disease and may be associated with other diseases (e.g. Diabetes) related. ”
The normal parameters of adult lipid panels are:
Total cholesterol: Less than 200 mg/dl
LDL cholesterol: Less than 100 mg/dl
HDL cholesterol: 40 mg/dl or higher (male), 50 mg/dl or higher (female)
Triglycerides: Less than 150 mg/dl
3. Basic metabolic panel
The basic metabolic panel measures what Knöbel calls “a key aspect of body chemistry.” This includes glucose, calcium and electrolytes such as sodium, potassium and bicarbonate. The test also looks for indicators of renal function, such as blood urea nitrogen and creatinine.
“Glucose levels provide insight into blood sugar control. Electrolyte imbalances can reveal problems related to dehydration, kidney disease, or metabolic imbalances. Abnormal calcium levels can point to problems with bone health or parathyroid function.” BMP is usually done on a regular exam Part of the part. Patients with diabetes or kidney disease or patients at risk for these diseases may also be advised.
The results of BMP may indicate:
- diabetes
- Dewater
- hypertension
- Kidney disease
- Bone health deteriorates
For adults, Mandal said the normal range of the test results is:
glucose: 70-99 mg/dl (fasting)
calcium: 8.5-10.2 mg/dl
sodium:135-145 MEQ/L.
Potassium:3.5-5.0 meq/l
Bicarbonate:23-30 meq/l
chloride:96-106 MEQ/L
Blood urea nitrogen (BUN): 7-20 mg/dl
Creatinine: 0.6-1.3 mg/dl
4. Hemoglobin A1c
The hemoglobin A1C test (also known as HBA1C) is a blood test that measures the average blood sugar level over the past 2-3 months. Mandel explained that it is mainly used to diagnose and monitor diabetes and prediabetes. If you are overweight, have symptoms of diabetes, have a family history of diabetes, or are over 45 years old, the doctor says you can Want to take this test, too. Daily sugar tests allow you to appreciate your blood sugar levels in the short term. On the other hand, the test is a long-term view of the body’s level of management of glucose.
Having an HBA1C test may reveal some things about your health:
- diabetes
- Before diabetes
- Poor blood sugar control (higher risk of diabetes and higher risk of complications)
The normal range of test results is:
Ordinary: Less than 5.7%
Before diabetes: 5.7% to 6.4%
diabetes: 6.5% or higher
5. Thyroid function test
If you are experiencing fatigue, weight changes, irregular heartbeat, hair loss, or mood swings, you may need to have a thyroid function test. Usually prescription Only symptoms are shown As mentioned earlier, the test measures the amount of thyroid stimulating hormone in the blood. Your doctor can use the results to see the function of your thyroid gland (the small gland that releases hormones in the front of your throat). Mandal told us that the test is often included in routine health screening, especially in women over the age of 60.
Your blood test may indicate:
- High TSH levels/hyroidism (insufficient thyroid activity)
- Low TSH levels/hyperthyroidism (hyperactivity of thyroid)
- Abnormal levels of T3 and T4 (other thyroid diseases)
Doctors usually consider the following normal ranges for adult test results:
TSH level: 0.4-4.0 miu/l
Free T4 levels:0.8-1.8 ng/dl
Free T3 levels: 2.3-4.2 pg/ml
6. 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D
According to Mount Sinai of the New York Hospital System, some Elderly patients can benefit from obtaining 25-hydroxyl tests Check them out Vitamin D level. People over 65 years of age may benefit from osteoporosis, limited exposure and/or Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, or ulcerative colitis.
Most people get plenty of vitamin D from the sun. As we age, the skin production and intestinal absorption of vitamins decrease. It is important to determine if you don’t have enough vitamin D as it helps everything from bone health to immunity and energy levels.
25-hydroxyvitamin D will reveal two things:
- 25 Hydroxy Vitamin D3 (cholesterol)
- 25 hydroxyvitamin D2 (Ergocalciferol)
There are some differences among doctors about the health range of vitamin D, but one generally accepted range is 20 and 40 ng/ml.
Bottom line
It is always important to discuss your health and any related issues with your doctor before asking for any type of test. Depending on your personalized situation and health plan, your doctor may ask blood to work outside of this list, or that you do not need the above tests.
Generally, many people can benefit from CBC, lipid panels, BMP, and hemoglobin A1C even without any symptoms. Also, if you experience any symptoms, you should consider thyroid function and vitamin D tests. If you are older, you may also want to talk to your doctor about your vitamin D absorption.
If your lab is abnormal, additional screening and more frequent repeat labs may be required. If your lab is normal, these labs may only need to be repeated once a year while performing annual exams with the primary doctor.
