IMPORTANT BLOOD TESTS ALL ADULTS SHOULD GET DONE FREQUENTLY AND WHY
Blood tests are an important marker of your health. Not only do they help a doctor identify a variety of health conditions like infections, cholesterol, deficiencies of nutrients, organ failure, HIV, cancer, and diabetes, but also analyze the behavior of substances like proteins, cells, or chemicals in your blood.
The overall studies of your blood can give experts a clear picture of your health and help them diagnose diseases, monitor chronic conditions, and determine your immune system strength.
Which tests should be done regularly? Related News |
Regular blood testing, done every six months, helps a doctor determine how different organs in your body are working. A few important tests you must get done as an adult are:Complete blood count or CBC
A routine blood count test helps check for at least ten different components of every major cell in your blood, which include white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. Related News |This test measures your red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit, all of which are important markers to know if you are anemic, have clotting issues, have nutritional deficiencies, or even have blood cancer.
Basic metabolic panel
A basic metabolic panel or BMP is carried out to check for levels of at least eight compounds in your blood, which include:- Calcium
- Glucose
- Sodium
- Potassium
- Bicarbonate
- Chloride
- Blood urea nitrogen
- Creatinine
Lipid test
This test, which also needs you to fast for eight hours, is important to check the levels of cholesterol – High-density lipoprotein or good cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein or bad cholesterol.According to experts, you can measure optimal HDL cholesterol at 60 milligrams per deciliter or above as heart-healthy, while under 40 mg/dL is a major risk factor for heart disease.
For LDL cholesterol, 100 mg/dL or below is optimal for good health, while 160 mg/dL or over is dangerously high.
Thyroid test
A thyroid function test or TFT, is done to check how well your thyroid produces and reacts to certain hormones like:- T3 or triiodothyronine, which regulates your heart rate and body temperature
- T4 or thyroxine, which regulates your metabolism and growth patterns
- TSH or thyroid-stimulating hormone, boosts the levels of hormones your thyroid releases
Any abnormality in the levels of these hormones indicates various conditions like low protein, thyroid disorders, and abnormal levels of testosterone or estrogen.
C-Reactive protein test
This test indicates problems with your liver when tissues in your body are inflamed.According to doctors, a higher level of c-reactive protein in your body means there is a risk of heart disease.
CRP levels, which are more than normal, also indicate inflammation from a variety of causes, including infections, autoimmune diseases like Lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, and even cancer.
Sexually transmitted diseases
Many sexually transmitted infections and diseases can be diagnosed through blood tests. According to experts, you can simply combine it with urine samples for more accurate diagnoses of conditions like:- Herpes
- HIV
- Syphilis
- Hepatitis C
Blood test procedure
To get a basic blood test done, a nurse or a phlebotomist will perform the following:- Clean the area on your arm from where the blood will be drawn
- Tie a band to your upper arm to help make your veins more visible
- Put a needle attached to a tube gently into a vein to draw blood
- Remove the needle and take the rubber band off your arm when the collection is complete
- Cover the drawing site with a bandage or clean cotton and medical tape
Always ask for a sterilized needle and clean cotton swab for the procedure's completion.
2024-04-10T07:22:50Z dg43tfdfdgfd