Five essential blood tests for women
Even if you believe you are in optimal health, it is essential for every woman to undergo regular blood tests. To ensure that everything is functioning properly under the chassis, much like a tune-up for a vehicle. Blood tests determine how well your body is functioning and whether you have been unknowingly suffering from a disease such as diabetes or heart disease. According to medical experts, there are five blood tests that are ideal for diagnosing deficiencies or diseases in females.
1.Primary Metabolic Panel
A basic metabolic panel (or BMP) consists of eight distinct tests that provide information about your body’s fluid balance, electrolyte levels, including sodium and potassium, and kidney function.
The eight exams include:
1. Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) is a kidney-filtered waste product. If your BUN level is elevated, you may have abnormal kidney function, liver disease, or cardiac failure. A lower quantity could indicate that you suffer from malnutrition.
2. Creatinine is a waste product produced by the muscles and filtered out of the blood by the kidneys, which indicates the health of your kidneys. A high value would indicate a decline in kidney function, while a low value would suggest a lack of muscle mass or malnutrition.
3. Sodium one of the main salts in the body’s fluids, is essential for nerve and muscle function and water balance. A high value would indicate a significant problem, such as kidney dysfunction, dehydration, or Cushing’s syndrome, while a low value would indicate the use of diuretics, diarrhea, or adrenal insufficiency.
4. Potassium is essential for cellular metabolism and muscle function. A high value may indicate a variety of health problems, such as kidney failure, Addison’s disease, diabetes, or dehydration. Low levels indicate the use of diuretics or corticosteroids.
5. Chlorine regulates the quantity of fluid in the human body. A high value denotes dehydration, Cushing’s syndrome, or kidney disease, whereas a low value suggests emphysema or kidney disease.
6. Carbon Dioxide Your electrolyte levels are determined by your carbon dioxide levels. A high level denotes lung disease, while a low level indicates kidney disease, toxic exposure, or severe infection.
7. Calcium is essential for the development of healthy bones and teeth, as well as muscle, nerve, and blood clotting functions. A high value indicates the possibility of developing kidney disease, hyperparathyroidism, malignancy, or excessive vitamin D intake. A low value may indicate a calcium, magnesium, or vitamin D deficiency, malnutrition, pancreatitis, or neurological disease.
8. Glucose is the body’s primary source of energy. A glucose test is used to determine whether your body’s glucose level is stable. Extreme changes in this level may indicate diabetes.
2.Lipid Exam
The lipid test measures cholesterol levels. This is crucial because cholesterol can obstruct arteries, leading to heart disease or stroke. This examination requires the insertion of a needle into a vein in the limb. The vein will capture a small blood sample that will be placed in a tube and sent to a laboratory for analysis. Although the test can be done at any time, it is recommended that you fast for eight to 12 hours before the test.
The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends that healthy adult women undergo their first lipid test at age 45. If you are at risk for heart disease, have a certain disease (diabetes, heart disease, stroke, or excessive blood pressure), or have a history of heart disease in your family, you should undergo the procedure earlier. If the results of your test fall within the normal range, you should be retested in five years. In the event that this is not the case, your doctor will advise you on the dietary and lifestyle modifications necessary to resolve the issue.
3.Vitamin D evaluation
The primary purpose of a vitamin D test is to detect and track bone disorders. It is used to check vitamin D levels in individuals with chronic illnesses, such as asthma, psoriasis, and certain autoimmune diseases, to ensure they are not vitamin D deficient. Low vitamin D levels can be caused by a lack of solar exposure, dark skin, obesity, etc. A person with a vitamin D deficiency may exhibit symptoms such as bone weakness, bone softness, malformation of the bones (in infants), and fractures. If you are at a higher risk for vitamin D deficiency, your doctor will order a vitamin D test. Some factors that may place you at risk are bone disorders (such as osteoporosis), gastric bypass surgery, older age, or difficulty absorbing fat in your diet.
4.Complete Blood Cell Count
A complete blood count (also known as CBC) is a blood test that evaluates the cells that make up your blood, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Your doctor may order a complete blood count (CBC) to test for anemia, determine if another health condition can explain your symptoms, monitor an existing blood condition, or assess how medications or treatments are affecting your blood.
A CBC examination can assess the following:
• White blood cells (WBCs): WBCs aid in fighting infection. Your white blood cell count indicates your body’s readiness to fight infections.
Red blood cells (RBCs) are responsible for transporting oxygen and carbon dioxide throughout the body.
• Hemoglobin (Hb/Hgb): an oxygen-carrying protein in the organism.
• Hematocrit (Hct): The hematocrit value indicates the proportion of red blood cells in your blood.
• Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV): The size of your red blood cells on average.
• Platelets assist with blood coagulation.
5.Test for hypothyroidism