No one can
deny that a blood test is one of the most common tests healthcare providers use
to monitor your overall health or help diagnose medical conditions.
There are
many different blood tests. Some tests focus on your blood cells and platelets.
Some evaluate substances in your blood such as electrolytes, proteins and
hormones. Others measure certain minerals in your blood.
Whether
you’re looking to identify and treat an ongoing illness, or just want to
optimize and maintain your health, these essential blood tests are a great
place to start.
Complete
blood count (CBC)
This is the
most common blood test that includes several specialized tests. It measures
different features of your blood, including red blood cells, white blood cells,
platelets, hemoglobin, and hematocrit.
It will find
anemia, which is common among menstruating women, and it's also a screening
test for immune system issues and different types of cancer. High or low levels
can provide insight into whether you are having issues with your bone marrow,
immune system or if you’ve been affected by a virus or other environmental
issues.
Read more: 7 Signs of weak immune system without realizing it
Comprehensive
metabolic panel (CMP)
It reveals
information about your overall metabolism, including kidney and liver function
and type 2 diabetes risk. They are vital to understanding a person’s
electrolyte and hydration status, kidney function, liver function, and blood
cell values. These values would also tell us if someone is fighting an acute or
chronic infection, has anemia, or clotting issues.
This test
reveals information about how your liver and kidneys are functioning and
details about your electrolytes, potassium, sodium and calcium, which are
indicators of whether you are dehydrated. It includes fasting blood glucose,
which can be an indicator for predicting diabetes risk or blood sugar
imbalances.
Hemoglobin
A1C (HbA1C)
This is one
of the best tests for getting information about blood sugar issues, insulin
resistance and prediabetes. The higher your A1C, the higher the estimated blood
glucose. An elevated A1C may indicate your body is not producing enough insulin
(or your insulin isn’t working effectively) to move the glucose from the blood
into your cells, a sign of prediabetes or diabetes.
Read more: 12 Early Cancer warning signs without realizing it
Standard
lipid panel
This
measures your HDL (good) cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides.
A baseline should be done between the ages of 35 and 40 unless you have a
family history of obesity or heart disease. Optimal levels include total
cholesterol under 200, triglycerides under 150, an HDL of 39 to 60 and an LDL
of 130 or below.
Thyroid
Panel
Your provider
may want to order this test if you have high blood pressure or have complained
of tiredness, lack of energy, focus or heart palpitations. Thyroid issues are
fairly common, affecting 1 in 10 women and about 60% of people with a thyroid
problem are unaware of their condition and thus, unable to manage it
appropriately.
Inflammation
(hs-CRP, homocysteine)
Inflammation
is a vital part of your immune system’s response to injury and infection. It is
the signal to your immune system that healing and repair are needed, or that
defense against things like viruses and bacteria is required.
Even mild
increases in hs CRP are associated with increased risk of things like cardiac
events or depression. An elevation can tell us that there is an inflammatory
response happening in the body that should be addressed, whether it be from
physical trauma, emotional stress, oxidative stress, environmental toxicity,
allergy, sedentary lifestyle, or food sensitivities.
Read more: Read more: World's oldest verified living woman reveals her secret to longevity in 2024
