Do you roll your eyes and wonder how much it’s going to cost you every time your doctor tells you that she wants to draw blood? If so, you aren’t alone. Rather than worry about their health, many people worry about their budget. The next time your doctor wants to draw blood, consider the test they want to run before you say no. Here are five of the most common blood tests and why they are so important:
1. Complete Blood Count
Commonly referred to as a CBC, the chemistry panel and complete blood count is an all encompassing test. The CBC is relatively inexpensive and will give you and your doctor a quick glimpse into your overall health. With a CBC, your doctor can check the overall condition of your liver, kidneys, blood cells, vascular status, glucose, triglycerides and cholesterol. The test will also provide an assessment of the amount of minerals like potassium, calcium and iron coursing through your veins.
2. Fibrinogen
Fibrinogen levels in your body are important indicators of tissue inflammation. If your doctor is concerned that you may have, or are at risk for, heart disease, this test is vital. Testing fibrinogen levels will also give your doctor a better idea of your risk for stroke. Other inflammatory diseases, like kidney inflammation and rheumatoid arthritis, can be more easily diagnosed by checking fibrinogen levels in a patient’s blood.
3. Hemoglobin A1C
The hemoglobin A1C test is crucial if you are diabetic or at risk for the disease. Research has shown that diabetics who undergo hemoglobin testing over a two to three month period are better able to control their disease. The test is also a predictor of heart disease and can help diabetics prevent some of the more serious complications brought on by both types of diabetes, but particularly type I.
4. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)
DHEA is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands in men and women. In your twenties, levels of DHEA peak and then begin to decline dramatically. People with normal levels of DHEA have healthier immune systems, better moods, higher libido, better bone density and an overall healthier body composition. Low levels of DHEA contribute to erectile dysfunction in men and a higher risk of heart disease, cancer and diabetes in both genders. Low levels of the hormone are also seen in people who suffer from non-major depression.
5. Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA)
This blood test is only for men but is incredibly important. Elevated levels of PSA in the blood can suggest prostate inflammation, an enlarged prostate or even prostate cancer. Because early detection in prostate cancers can save a patient’s life, this test is vital for men beginning at age 50. Men who are in a higher risk category for prostate cancer should begin this annual testing as early as age 40.
The next time you visit your doctor for your annual physical, don’t be surprised if she wants to run a blood test or two. Changes in body chemistry are often the first indicator of disease. Instead of worry about your wallet, consider that the early detection of disease that these tests can provide may just save your life!
Liz Sherfield lives and writes in Baltimore, MD. She writes for www.healthtestingcenters.com where you can find more information on health insurance.
