Ten most important blood tests

• March 31 ,2023

Regular blood testing is vital in ensuring the overall physical well-being of every individual. Getting screened or tested at regular intervals can allow you to detect the way your body functions overtime as well as helping you to make proper decisions regarding your overall health condition.

In this article, we will be discussing the most important blood tests that people more than 40 years of age should have each year; they include the following:

1. Fibrinogen

Fibrinogen level can help predict the risk of heart disease and stroke in a patient. A high fibrinogen level is not only associated with an increased risk of heart disease in the body; they are also used to detect the inflammatory disorder in the body. An example of such inflammation includes rheumatoid arthritis and glomerulonephritis.

A recent study suggests that increased fibrinogen in a patient’s body has a high tendency of causing mortality in patients.

However,several factors can help improve or lower the level of fibrinogen in the body; they may include the following:

• Nutritional interventions: the use of specific diets can help reduce the level of fibrinogen in the body to its optimal level. Sometimes, fish oil, vitamins A niacin and folic acid are essential nutrients that can help reduce the presence of fibrinogen in the body. You can visit blood test clinic to schedule an appointment with a doctor, to guide you through the process.
• Lifestyle and behavioural changes: a proper combination of lifestyle and behavioural changes such as becoming more physically active can help lower the level of fibrinogen in the body. More so, some specific lifestyle changes have a substantial effect on the level of fibrinogen in the body. Such lifestyle changes include losing weight and quitting smoking.

2. Complete blood count and chemistry panel:

A routine complete blood test and chemistry panel is an important test, geared towards preventing unnecessary diseases in the body. You can quickly get a clear glimpse of your overall health condition, while different prevention will be proffered to you by your doctor. These tests provide a structural view and information regarding your blood cell, kidney, liver and vascular status. The test helps to measure the amount, variety, percentage, concentration and quality of platelets in the body, as well as screens the body for any infections, anaemia and other abnormalities in the body.

In summary, the chemistry panel can be used to test for the following:

• It helps to measure the blood glucose, which is used in detecting early-stage metabolic syndrome coronary artery disease and diabetes
• It provides information on the status of your cardiovascular system, by testing for total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein.
• It can help in the assessment of critical minerals in the body such as calcium, iron and potassium

3. Haemoglobin A1C:

Haemoglobin is a vitalmeans for assessing your glucose status. This test will measure blood sugar control of the patient for the last two to three months, and in fact, an independent predictor of heart disease risk in both patients with and without diabetes. Maintaining optimal haemoglobin level can help patients with diabetes prevent unnecessary complications of the disease.

Patients whose haemoglobin levels are high can easily optimise the levels using nutritional therapies. Visit blood test clinic, if you wish to discuss the available dietary or nutritional treatments that can be used to lower the level of haemoglobin in your system.

4. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA):

The prostate-specific antigen is a protein manufactured by the prostate gland in men. The test is specifically used in men for determining the presence of prostate cancer in the body. High PSA levels may indicate prostate inflammation, enlarged prostate or prostate cancer. Although the test may not necessarily depict prostate cancer or prostate cancer is not always accompanied by PSA, it has been used in the past to determine the presence of prostate cancer in the male organ.

According to the American cancer society, men between ages 50 and above have a high risk of prostate cancer and shouldbegin PSA testing at age 40-45, to avoid any form of abnormalities in the body. Research suggests that the following can help mitigate the risk of prostate cancer:

• Natural therapies can help reduce the risk of prostate cancer in the body
• Proper Mediterranean-type diet: most Mediterranean diet can help to proffer protection against prostate cancer and other types of diseases that are usually associated with old age.
• Sometimes, the use of nettle root extract, pygeum and saw palmetto can easily help mitigate against prostate cancer.

Regardless, it is ideal for cases tovisit blood test clinic, for possible solutions and guides regarding prostate cancer.

5. DHEA

Dehydroepiandrosterone is a precursor to sex hormones found in both male and female glands. A DHEA test helps to detect sexual disorders in both male and female organ. Research suggests that elevated levels of DHEA in the body may indicate congenital adrenal hyperplasia; a group of diseases that results from the impaired ability of the adrenal glands to produce glucocorticoids. Natural therapies can help optimise DHEA levels, while patients with estrogen-related cancers such as prostate cancers or breast cancers are advised against using DHEA.

6. Homocysteine

The homocysteine is formed in the body during the metabolism of methionine. High levels of homocysteine indicate an increased risk of heart attack, poor cognitive function and bone function. High levels of homocysteine are also identified as an independent risk factor for bone fractures in both men and women. Natural therapies and vitamins like vitamin B6 and B12 can also help to optimise homocysteine levels in the body.

7. C-reactive protein

Past research suggests that inflammation within the body system can lead to varieties of life-threatening diseases such as coronary heart diseases, cognitive decline and muscular degeneration. C-reactive protein is one of those tests that help in detecting systemic inflammation within the body. It is a sensitive marker of systemic inflammation, which has emerged as a powerful predictor of coronary heart diseases and other diseases of the cardiovascular system.

According to past studies, elevated C-reactive protein was associated with increased ten-year risk of coronary heart disease irrespective of the presence and absence of cardiac risk factors. Increased levels of C-reactive protein are often linked with a higher risk of developing type II diabetes. It is also an independent risk factor for the progression of age-related macular degeneration.

8. Thyroid Stimulating Hormone

Thyroid stimulating hormone helps to control the secretion of thyroid within the body. When blood levels are low, below average, this indicates an increased thyroid activity in the body, while when blood levels are below normal; this suggests a low thyroid activity in the body. Measuring stimulating thyroid hormone is, in fact, the best test for assessing thyroid function in the body. Nevertheless, natural therapies can help to support thyroid health and optimise TSH levels, especially in situations where the thyroid functions are below average.

9. Testosterone

Testosterone is formed within the male testes, the ovaries in women and the adrenal glands of both men and women; This signifies that men and women are likely to be affected by a decline in testosterone levels that specifically occur when ageing. The role of testosterone may vary between men and woman.

For men: free testosterone level can be used to evaluate if there are sufficient bioactive testosterone in the body, for protecting against abdominal obesity, mental depression, heart diseases and osteoporosis. The level of testosterone often declines with age. When this occurs, it is often associated with varieties of health conditions, including metabolic syndrome, erectile dysfunction, and increased abdominal fat, loss of muscle tone, depression and low libido. Research suggests that a low level of testosterone are a risk factor for ischemic heart diseases.

For women: for women, on the other hand, low levels of testosterone are often associated with low libido, depression and reduced healthy living. After menopause, the levels of testosterone may reduce significantly, along with a reduction in their mood, libido and general well-being. Although women are known to produce a low amount of testosterone, evidence shows that the amountproducedhelps women to maintain sexual functions and muscle strength in the body. Optimal testosterone levels may support healthy mood, libido and cardiovascular wellness in the female system. Visit blood test clinic, for more information regarding supplements that are essential for increasing testosterone to an optimal level.

10. Estradiol

Just like testosterone, estrogens are needed by most men and women for varieties of physiological function. The primary role of estradiol is to circulate estrogens within the body; it is an indicator for hypothalamic and pituitary function. Men are known to produce estradiol in much smaller quantity compared to women.

However, while estradiol is produced from adrenal steroid hormones and testosterone in men, women produce estradiol in ovaries, adrenal gland and peripheral tissues. Studies suggest that a diminished level of estradiol depicts the low level of bone mineral density in women, while older men with low levels of estradiol are linked with an increased risk of vertebral fractures. You may need to visit blood test clinic to determine the necessary prescription therapies that can be helpful to you.

Summary

Routine blood testing may sound strenuous, yet they are a powerful strategy to help you take charge of your current and future health condition. Adequate blood screenings can help you thoroughly assess your state of health as well as to detect vital signals which may not display any signs at its initial stage.

Visit blood test clinic today to ensure you stay healthy.