Regular blood tests play a crucial role in maintaining your health and catching potential issues before they become serious problems. These tests provide valuable insights into your body’s functioning and can help you and your healthcare provider make informed decisions about your well-being. In this article, we’ll explore why annual blood testing is essential and discuss five key types of blood tests you should consider getting every year. Also, these days there are apps that allow you to book a blood test at home. So, it should be extremely easy and convenient to make a booking for the procedure.
Why does Annual Blood Testing Matter so Much?
Many people share a common experience when visiting their primary care doctor. Despite expressing physical, mental, or emotional complaints, they often receive a response stating that their health is completely normal since the blood test results are normal as well. This can be pretty frustrating since they mean something else when they are saying it.
In medicine, there is often a lack of incentive to take a proactive approach. Doctors may lack the time required for a more comprehensive assessment, and there can be financial incentives to provide quick fixes, such as prescribing medications. As a result, extensive lab work that offers a deeper understanding of your health can be challenging to obtain. However, routine blood testing, which monitors essential health markers known as biomarkers, can be the key to identifying underlying issues and maintaining your well-being.
During your initial visit, which lasts for 60 minutes, your doctor has ample time to get to know you, understand your habits and health goals, and assess your symptoms. Based on this assessment, your doctor will order advanced blood tests to gain a comprehensive view of your health. This comprehensive blood panel covers various aspects, including inflammatory markers, allergens, autoimmunity, hormone levels, and more. The information obtained from these tests allows your doctor to create a personalized health plan, which may include lifestyle or dietary changes, supplements, and, when necessary, prescriptions to optimize your well-being.
Routine blood testing serves as an essential tool for staying on top of your health, catching potential issues before they escalate, and monitoring your progress as you work toward your health goals.
Five Essential Blood Tests to Consider Annually
- Broad Thyroid Panel: Standard primary care often checks only a few thyroid markers, such as thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and total T4. However, these markers provide an incomplete picture of thyroid function. At Parsley Health, we routinely assess six additional thyroid-related values, including Free T4, Total T3, Free T3, Reverse T3, anti-TPO Ab, and anti-Thyroglobulin Ab. Evaluating these markers allows for a more accurate assessment of thyroid health, enabling early intervention to prevent thyroid dysfunction or disease.
- Essential Nutrients: Iron, ferritin, vitamin D, vitamin B12, and magnesium are vital for optimal bodily function but are often overlooked during routine primary care visits. Deficiencies in these nutrients can lead to a range of symptoms, from fatigue to kidney damage. Therefore, it is essential to check these levels and address deficiencies through supplementation. Optimal nutrient ranges, rather than merely normal ranges, are important for overall health.
- CMP &CBC: These two essential blood tests are typically included in a primary care annual physical. They provide valuable information about electrolyte and hydration status, kidney function, liver function, and blood cell values. These tests can also reveal signs of infection, anaemia, or clotting issues. Even when liver enzyme levels fall within the normal range, elevated levels at the upper end may indicate liver inflammation or detoxification issues that require immediate attention.
- Metabolic Markers: Haemoglobin A1c, fasting glucose, insulin, and lipid panel tests are essential for understanding how your body processes macronutrients. A basic lipid panel and glucose level are typically part of yearly check-ups, and some individuals may also undergo haemoglobin A1c testing. For those at higher risk of heart disease, more extensive lipid panels are recommended to determine actual heart disease risk. Optimizing these markers is very important, as elevations indicate improper glucose processing, increasing the risk of conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease.
- Inflammatory Markers: Inflammatory markers, such as hsCRP and homocysteine, are rarely checked during routine primary care visits. hsCRP reflects your general inflammatory status, and even mild increases are associated with higher risks of conditions like cardiac events and depression. Elevated hsCRP levels can indicate various sources of inflammation, including physical trauma, emotional stress, oxidative stress, environmental toxicity, allergies, a sedentary lifestyle, or food sensitivities. Homocysteine is an amino acid that, when elevated, can signal risks of stroke, heart disease, and other health issues, making it important to maintain optimal levels through appropriate supplementation.
Conclusion
While annual blood tests are a valuable starting point for optimizing your health, having healthcare professionals you trust to interpret the results and develop proper plans is also important. Whether you seek to address a chronic illness or simply aim to lead a healthier life, these essential blood tests provide valuable tools for you and your healthcare team to make informed decisions and work together toward achieving your health goals.
Regular monitoring and proper management can help you maintain your well-being and catch potential health issues early, ultimately contributing to a healthier, happier life. So, make an appointment for your annual blood testing with a blood test app right now and see the results.