6 Essential blood tests everyone should have annually

 

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

Shortly, your blood plays a big role in your overall health and contains a lot of information about what may be going on in your body.