6 blood tests that can tell you how your body is doing

Although Blood tests Not what you would call fun activities (especially if you’re not a fan of needles or… blood), they are an important part of staying healthy, and provide valuable insights into how your body works. These tests can also help detect some diseases early and provide your doctor with the tools he needs to help you perform at your best.

How often you need blood tests depends on several factors, including your age and health condition. Your doctor can help you figure out this frequency and which tests you need. However, so she can prepare with basic knowledge, we reached out to doctors to determine which blood tests are most important to her Monitor your health.

1. Complete blood count (CBC)

A routine complete blood count test provides a quick overview of the body’s blood production and immunity. The test measures a variety of blood components, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

Dr. Soma MandalA CBC test is “recommended for individuals of all ages as part of a routine health screening or when symptoms indicate a potential health problem,” says a board-certified internist at Summit Health in New Providence, New Jersey.

Dr. Maria Noblemedical director Medical certificate in the United KingdomHe agrees that this basic test is appropriate for many patients. She says the test is ideal for anyone undergoing a routine health checkup. However, she advises that you may want to get it if you “experience symptoms such as persistent fatigue, unexplained bruising, or recurring infections.”

A CBC blood test can indicate a lot of things, including:

• Allergies
• Anemia
• Some types of cancer
• My heart disease
• Immune system disorders
• infection
• ignition
• Iron deficiency
• Leukemia
• Low platelets (can affect blood clotting)
• Risk of clotting and bleeding
• Vitamin deficiency

Mandal explains that each lab may have slight variations in what it considers “normal” test results. The ranges usually accepted as normal for adults are:

Red blood cells: 4.5-5.9 million cells per microliter (men), 4.1-5.1 million cells per microliter (women)

White blood cells: 4500-11000 cells per microliter

Hemoglobin: 13.8-17.2 grams per deciliter (men), 12.1-15.1 grams per deciliter (women)

Hematocrit: 40.7%-50.3% (men), 36.1%-44.3% (women)

Platelets: 150,000-450,000 platelets per microliter

2. Fat pad

Lipids are fats and fatty substances found in the blood. One type of fat is cholesterol, which is used as a source of energy. Too much “bad” cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein, or LDL) can damage your heart.

You may need to have this test if you have cardiovascular disease or other risk factors. Mandal says this test is essential for anyone “at risk for cardiovascular disease, including those with a family history of heart disease, smokers, people with high blood pressure or those who are overweight.”

Noble explains that the lipid panel measures total cholesterol and also breaks it down into HDL/LDL:

• Triglycerides
• LDL (bad cholesterol)
• HDL (good cholesterol)

“High LDL levels are associated with an increased risk of heart disease, while high HDL levels are generally protective,” she says. “High triglyceride levels can also indicate heart disease risk and may be associated with other conditions such as diabetes.”

Normal parameters of the lipid panel in adults are:

Total cholesterol: Less than 200 mg/dL

Bad cholesterol: Less than 100 mg/dL

Good cholesterol: 40 mg/dL or higher (men), 50 mg/dL or higher (women)

Triglycerides: Less than 150 mg/dL

3. Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP)

The basic metabolic panel (BMP) measures what Noble calls “critical aspects of your body chemistry.” This includes glucose, calcium, and electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, and bicarbonate. The test also looks for indicators of kidney function, such as blood urea nitrogen and creatinine.

“Glucose levels provide insight into blood sugar control,” Noble explains. “Electrolyte imbalances can reveal problems with dehydration, kidney disease, or metabolic imbalance. Abnormal calcium levels can indicate problems with bone health or thyroid function.” BMP is often part of routine testing. It may also be recommended for patients with diabetes, kidney disease, or those at risk for these conditions.

Your BMP results can indicate:

• drought
• Deteriorating bone health
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Kidney disease

For adults, Mandal says the normal ranges for results for this test are:

Bicarbonate: 23-30 mEq/L

Blood urea nitrogen (BUN): 7-20 mg/dL

Calcium: 8.5-10.2 mg/dL

chloride: 96-106 mEq/L

Creatinine: 0.6-1.3 mg/dL

Glucose: 70-99 mg/dL (fasting)

Potassium: 3.5-5.0 mEq/L

Sodium: 135-145 mEq/L

4. Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c)

Hemoglobin A1C test, also called HbA1c, is a blood test that measures your average blood sugar level over the past 2-3 months. It is primarily used to diagnose and monitor diabetes and prediabetes, Mandel explains. If you are overweight, have symptoms of diabetes, have a family history of diabetes or are over 45 years old, your doctor says you may You also want to get this test. Daily sugar testing gives you a short-term look at your blood sugar level. On the other hand, this test is a long-term view of how well your body is managing glucose.

Taking an HbA1c test may reveal a few things about your health:

• Diabetes
• Poor blood sugar control (higher risk of diabetes-related complications)
• Pre-diabetes

Normal ranges for test results are:

natural: less than 5.7%

Pre-diabetes: 5.7% to 6.4%

Diabetes: 6.5% or higher

5. Thyroid function tests

If you experience fatigue, weight changes, irregular heartbeat, hair loss, or mood swings, you may want to have a thyroid function test. Usually prescribed Only if you have symptoms Like those mentioned previously, this test measures the amount of thyroid-stimulating hormone in the blood. Your doctors can use the results to see how well your thyroid (a small gland that secretes hormones in the front of your throat) is working. Mandal tells us this test is commonly included in routine health checkups, especially in women older than 60.

Your blood test may indicate:

• High TSH levels/hypothyroidism (hypothyroidism)
• Low TSH levels/overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)
• Abnormal levels of T3 and T4 (other thyroid disorders)

Doctors usually consider the following normal ranges for test results in adults:

TSH levels: 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-Hydroxyvitamin D

According to Mount Sinai, a hospital system in New York, some Older patients may benefit from having a 25-hydroxy test performed To check it Vitamin D Levels. People over the age of 65, who have osteoporosis, have limited sun exposure and/or have celiac disease, Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis may benefit from the test.

Most people get plenty of vitamin D from the sun. Skin production and intestinal absorption of the vitamin decrease as we age. It’s important to know if you have enough vitamin D because it helps with everything from bone health to immunity and energy levels.

25-Hydroxy Vitamin D will reveal two things:

• 25 Hydroxyvitamin D3 (cholecalciferol)
• 25 Hydroxyvitamin D2 (Ergocalciferol)

There is some disagreement among doctors about the healthy range for vitamin D, but the generally accepted range is 20 and 40 ng/mL.

Blood test questions and answers

Why are blood tests important?

Blood tests are important because they can help doctors monitor your health and the effectiveness of treatment. They can also help doctors diagnose various medical conditions and determine the best course of treatment.

If my blood tests are normal, can I still get cancer?

Routine blood tests may not detect most types of cancer, so even if your blood tests come back normal, you could still have cancer. Cancer also requires additional diagnostic and laboratory tests for confirmation. If you’re concerned about a particular type of cancer, discuss it with your doctor.

What blood tests should be done while fasting?

According to Harvard Health, Fasting is often recommended Before performing tests such as glucose (blood sugar) and triglycerides, the latter of which is part of the cholesterol or lipid panel. Consult your doctor if you are confused about how long you should fast before having blood tests.

Bottom line

It is always important to discuss your health and any related concerns with your doctor before requesting any type of testing. Depending on your personal condition and health plan, your doctor may order blood tests not on this list or say you do not need some of the tests listed above.

As a general rule, many people can benefit from screening a CBC, lipid panel, BMP, and hemoglobin A1C even without any symptoms. Also, thyroid function tests and vitamin D should be taken into consideration if you are experiencing any symptoms. If you are older, you may also want to talk to your doctor about absorbing vitamin D.

If your labs are abnormal, you may need additional testing and more frequent labs. If your tests are normal, you may need to repeat them only once a year during your annual checkup with your primary doctor.