You may look fit and fine from the outside, but to ascertain your inner health a simple blood test may be required. After all, a healthy outside starts from the inside. As most of you won’t know what to look for and how to interpret blood tests, we will guide you around these blood tests.
Get all the below six tests done the next time you go for a check-up to get to know your body better.
- The Basic Blood Test: CBC – The complete blood count test aims to evaluate an individual’s overall health and screens for a wide range of disorders and disease including anemia, infection and leukemia. It also helps in monitoring the effectiveness of the treatment after a diagnosis is established.
- Testing for Diabetes – The preferred method for diagnosing diabetes is blood glucose test (fasting) as it is easy to do, convenient and less expensive than other tests. Blood glucose test (fasting) is a one time reading of your blood sugar and hence it’s often accompanied with the HbA1c test which paints the picture of your average blood sugar level for the past 3 months. If your HbA1c ranges of about 7%, you will face less complication in your eyes, kidneys and your nerves. If you experience any pre-diabetes symptoms, go for OFTT test which can diagnose diabetes at an early stage.
- Keep a check on fats – Lipid profile is a panel of blood tests used to determine individual’s risk of heart disease. This test is used to screen abnormalities in lipids, such as cholesterol and triglycerides. Make sure your HDL (good cholesterol) is between 45-50 mg/dl and LDL (bad cholesterol) should fall under 150.
- Look for signs of inflammation – C-reactive protein (CRP) is a blood test marker for inflammation in the body. It helps the doctor to determine your risk for heart disease or stroke. C-reactive protein is a substance produced by the liver in response to inflammation. A high CRP count and high cholesterol put you at greater risk of having a heart attack. If you’re a smoker, your level of CRP may be increased.
- Last but not the least: Check your thyroid – although thyroid issues are more common in women, but men can get it too. Thyroid disorders can range from a small, harmless goiter that needs no treatment to life-threatening cancer. Stress and poor sleep are its main culprits. Go for a thyroid-stimulating hormone test (TSH) if you feel the need.
Congratulations, you have just upgraded your knowledge of these blood tests. Now you will know what tests are meant for which disorders and how to read your reports. Feel free to contact us for more information- 011-30611467/432. Also, you can book a home visit for getting tested at your home.
