If you haven't drawn blood for years, it's probably time to talk to your primary doctor about it. Your work with blood can tell you a lot about your health, revealing the truth about everything from your kidney function to cholesterol levels. How often do you need to analyze your blood work depends on your age, on Type of blood test and your personal health.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, most healthy adults just need to have their Cholesterol tested every four to six years. Meanwhile, the organization says people should get their own A1C tested at the age of 45 And then every year or two if they are pre-diabetic or if they have risk factors for an appetizer and type 2 diabetes. Some tests, like hepatitis B, are just Recommended once for a lifetime For adults aged 18 and older, unless you have symptoms or you are pregnant.
With all these different types of blood tests, it can be confusing to know what to get and when. To simplify things, we talked to two doctors who explained what blood tested the average person to think about getting and why.
1. Complete blood count
The complete routine blood counting test provides a picture of blood production and the immunity of your body. The test measures different components in the blood, including red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.
Dr -Soma MandalInternist Certified Board at Summit Health in Newoo Providence, Newoo Jerseyers, says getting a CBC test is “Recommended for people of all ages as part of a routine health examination, or when symptoms suggest a potentially health issue”.
Directed by Maria KnabelThe medical director of medical certificates UK agrees that this basic test is suitable for many patients. She says the test is ideal for anyone who passes a routine health examination. However, she advises that you may want to get it if you “experience symptoms like constant fatigue, unexplained bruises or frequent infections.”
CBC's blood test can indicate many things, including:
- Anemia
- Infection
- Allergies
- Leukemia
- Inflammation
- Heart disease
- Iron deficiency
- Certain cancers
- Lack of vitamin
- Disorders of the immune system
- Risk of clots and bleeding
- Low platelets (may affect blood clots)
Mandal explains that each laboratory can have minor variations on what they consider to be “normal” test results. The Worlds are 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: 4500-11,000 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. Lipid panel
Lipids are fat and fatty substances in the blood. A type of lipid is cholesterol, which is used as a source of energy. Too much “Bad” cholesterol (Lipoprotein with low density or LDL) can damage your heart.
You may need to get this test if you have cardiovascular disease or other risk factors. Mandal states that this test is essential for any “at risk of cardiovascular disease, including those with family history of heart disease, smokers, people with hypertension or overweight”.
Knöbel explains that the lipid panel measures total cholesterol and also breaks it in HDL/LDL:
- Triglycerides
- LDL (bad cholesterol)
- HDL (good cholesterol)
She says: “Increased levels of LDL are associated with an increased risk of heart disease, while high HDL levels are generally protective. Increased triglycerides can also indicate a risk of heart disease and may be associated with other conditions such as diabetes. ”
Normal lipid panel parameters in adults are:
Total cholesterol: Less than 200 mg/dl
LDL cholesterol: Less than 100 mg/dl
HDL cholesterol: 40 mg/dl or higher (men), 50 mg/dl or higher (women)
Triglycerides: Less than 150 mg/dl
3. Basic metabolic panel
The basic metabolic panel measures what Kuubel calls “critical aspects of your body's chemistry”. This includes glucose, calcium and electrolytes such as sodium, potassium and bicarbonate. The test also requires kidney function indicators, such as nitrogen and urea blood creatinine.
Knabel elaborates, “glucose levels provide insight into blood sugar control. Electrolyte imbalance can detect problems associated with dehydration, kidney disease or metabolic imbalances. Abnormal level of calcium may indicate bone health problems or parathyroid function. ” BMP is often part of a routine exam. It may also be recommended for patients with diabetes or kidney disease or those at risk for these conditions.
The results of your BMP could indicate:
- Diabetes
- Dehydration
- Hypertension
- Kidney disease
- Deterioration of bone health
For adults, Mandal says the normal ranges for the results of this test are:
Glucose: 70-99 mg/dl (fast)
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
Nitrogen of blood urea (bun): 7-20 mg/dl
Creatinine: 0.6-1.3 mg/dl
4. Hemoglobin A1C
The A1C hemoglobin test, also called HBA1C, is a blood test that measures the average blood sugar level over the past 2-3 months. Mandel explains that it is primarily used to diagnose and monitor diabetes and pre-diabetes. If you are overweight, you have symptoms of diabetes, you have a family history of diabetes or over 45 years old, your doctor says you can You also want to get this test. The daily sugar test gives you a short -term overview of blood sugar levels. On the other hand, this test is a long -term view of how well your body is managing glucose.
Getting a HBA1C test can reveal a few things about your health:
- Diabetes
- Pre-diabetes
- Bad blood sugar control (greater risk of diabetes -related complications)
The normal ranges for the test results are:
Normally: Less than 5.7%
Pre-diabetes: 5.7% to 6.4%
Diabetes: 6.5% or higher
5. Thyroid function tests
If you are experiencing fatigue, changes in weight, improper heartbeat, hair loss or mood swings, you may want to get a thyroid function test. Usually prescribed Only if you show symptoms As mentioned, this test measures the amount of hormone that stimulates the thyroid gland in the blood. Your doctors can use the results to see how well your thyroid (small, hormone -releasing hormones in front of the throat works). Mandal tells us that this test is usually involved in routine health screenings, especially in women over 60 years.
Your blood test may indicate:
- High level of TSH/Hypothyroidism (non -lactate thyroid)
- Low level of TSH/Hyperthyroidism (excessive thyroid)
- Abnormal levels of T3 and T4 (other thyroid disorders)
Doctors usually look at the following normal ranges for adult test results:
TSH levels: 0.4-4.0 miu/l
Free levels of T4: 0.8-1.8 ng/dl
Free levels of T3: 2.3-4.2 pg/ml
6. 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D.
According to Sinai Mountain, a hospital system in Newouort, some Older patients may benefit from getting a 25-hydroxy test to check their Vitamin G. levels. People over the age of 65, have osteoporosis, receive limited sun exposure and/or have Crohn's disease, celiac disease or ulcerative colitis can benefit from the test.
Most people get enough vitamin D from the sun. And the production of skin and the absorption of the intestines of vitamins are reduced as we age. It is important to find out if you do not have enough vitamin D because it helps everything from bone health to immunity and energy levels.
25-Hydroxy Vitamin D will reveal two things:
- 25 Hydroxy Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol)
- 25 Hydroxy Vitamin D2 (Ergocalciferol)
There is some disagreement with doctors about what a healthy range for vitamin D, but one generally accepted range is 20 and 40 ng/ml.
Ultimately
It is always important to talk about your health and all related problems with your doctor before asking for any test. Based on your personalized state and health plan, your doctor may seek blood work, not on this list or say that you do not need any of the above tests.
As a general rule, many people can benefit from CBC, lipid panel, BMP and hemoglobin A1C even without any symptoms. Also, thyroid function and vitamin D tests should be considered if you have any symptoms. If you are older, you may want to talk to your doctor about your vitamin D absorption.
If your laboratories are abnormal, you may need additional screening and more frequent recurrence laboratories. If your laboratories are normal, these laboratories may only need to be repeated once a year while doing your annual exam with your primary doctor.