BLOOD TESTS: THE TOOL FOR OPTIMAL HEALTH
Have you ever thought that blood tests are a key part of preventive healthcare? Because they are. Bloodwork checks for many things- from nutritional deficiencies- health optimization processes- and other medical conditions like diabetes to heart disease. Many people get tested only when they’re feeling under the weather—but regular blood work can help prevent serious health problems from developing in the first place! Via MYAIU- Atlantic International University seeks to improve the human condition and encourage the optimal development of individuals beyond academics. Preventative care addresses Body and Energy which are 2 of the 13 key areas targeted in MYAIU.
Are Blood Tests The Secret To Anti-Aging?
There is more to aging than just wrinkles and wisdom. Hormones and other biomarkers can determine how quickly and gracefully you age. You can get an anti-aging blood test to measure:
- Hormone levels
- Vitamins and minerals
- Cancer antigens
- Inflammation markers and more
These biomarkers will help diagnose and treat conditions associated with aging- such as menopause- osteoporosis and low T.
The aging process is largely determined by the levels of estrogen and testosterone in women and men respectively. These hormones- which can be identified through testing and analysis- can profoundly affect overall health and appearance in later years.
By assessing- through blood testing- the particular hormones that are not being produced adequately and replacing them- signs of aging can be slowed or halted.
Blood Testing and Chronic Disease: What’s The Connection?
Chronic illnesses are the most common causes of death worldwide- which include heart disease- diabetes- kidney disease and autoimmune conditions.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States- and stroke is in the top 5.
You may ask yourself- what are some of the biomarkers I should add to my regular blood work to prevent heart disease? Start with these:
- Total cholesterol
- High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
- Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
- Triglycerides
- Very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)
- C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
→ Here’s Why You Should Measure Your Blood Sugar
Diabetes is a chronic condition where sugars build up in your bloodstream as they can’t be used as energy. Diabetes- when left untreated- can result in complications like heart and kidney disease.
Blood sugar testing can help you diagnose and manage diabetes to help you keep your sugar levels in top-notch condition. This will help prevent complications from developing later on down the line.
Some of the biomarkers you will want to add to your blood test for diabetes are:
- Hemoblogin (Hgb) A1c
- Insulin
- Glucose
→ Detecting Autoimmune Disease
You’ve probably heard of autoimmune diseases before- but did you know that common conditions like Type I Diabetes is one of them? Autoimmune diseases are disorders in which the immune system fights against healthy cells and tissues of the body which causes otherwise normal body functions to go whack.
Some of the most common forms of these diseases are:
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Lupus
- Type 1 Diabetes
- Hashimoto’s Disease
- Grave’s Disease
- Multiple sclerosis
You can start by getting these to check for any autoimmune problems:
- Antinuclear Antibodies
- C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
- CBC
- Thyroid Peroxidase Antibody (TPO)
Having routine blood tests can help you diagnose heart disease- diabetes and autoimmune diseases (in addition to liver and kidney disease- to name a few) and prevent you from adding to the statistics.
Hormones: They Can Tell You A Lot
Ever wondered why you’re so tired all the time- or why you don’t find happiness in the things you used to enjoy? Hormone imbalances can be the culprit- and they can be easily measured with a blood sample.
For example- tests for thyroid function can detect whether a person’s thyroid gland is working properly or needs medication because it’s not producing enough hormones. These hormones are crucial for regulating metabolism- which affects weight gain or loss as well as cardiovascular health.
If you think you might have an underlying hormonal imbalance that has not yet been diagnosed with anything specific- consider doing blood work to check hormone levels before going for any treatment. Make sure to keep an eye on the following biomarkers:
- Total and Free T3
- Total and Free T4
- Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
CBC: Understanding Your Blood
Ever wondered what a doctor means when he prescribes a CBC on your lab tests? A Complete Blood Count (CBC) is a blood test in which the different components of your blood are measured. It is one of the most commonly used blood panels in routine testing. This test can help diagnose:
- Coagulation disorders
- Anemia
- Infections
- Other serious illnesses such as cancer
White blood cells are a type of cell that helps fight infections and- therefore- can be used to understand an infectious process in your body. These are often used to diagnose certain types of cancer such as lymphoma and leukemia.
Red blood cells are another type of blood component and these are mostly used to diagnose:
- Anemia
- Sickle cell disease
- Increased risk of clots
- Hemophilia (coagulation disorder)
Getting a CBC can allow you to identify many blood disorders and receive proper and early treatment if any anomalies are found.
Blood Testing: A Tool To Optimize Your Fitness and Wellness Journey
Ever wondered if you are eating nutritiously- or if your fast-food diet is going well? A simple blood test can tell you if you are deficient in certain nutrients or on the contrary- have an excess of any vitamin- mineral- or other nutrient. As with many things- balance is key! Too much or too little of anything can wreck your health. Lifestyle changes can be monitored through this type of testing and will usually reflect your gym and mindfulness efforts. Who doesn’t want to know if their hormones are ok- or if they have to step up their game? Getting your blood biomarkers checked can help you achieve all your goals that much faster.
University students and professional alike can stay focused on their work & passions by monitoring their health proactively. AIU students access MYAIU as a tool to address this and all aspects of their wellbeing and optimal development. It is also incredibly important and useful for bodybuilders and fitness enthusiasts to monitor their anabolic steroid use and prevent common side effects that accompany this practice. Blood testing is also important for these athletes since having optimal health and energy is vital to push out those last few reps and reap all the gains.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a way to stay healthy or optimize your health- blood testing is a great place to start! Many of your health problems can be traced back to biomarkers in our bodies that we are not aware of. Getting regular blood work done is an easy way to catch these problems before they become serious- or even fatal. It also gives us an insight into the nutrients we need to optimize our fitness and wellness journeys! You can get your tests without visiting a doctor with an online provider of state of the art labs- Private MD Labs.
