The Importance of Getting and Keeping Copies of All Your Lab Work

When taking a proactive stance towards your own health and wellness, one of the best habits you can develop is good record-keeping especially when it comes to the lab work done on you and your family. I highly recommend asking your doctor (at each visit) to write on your chart that you are to get a copy of all lab work. Sometimes doctors' offices will give patients a "run-around" about getting copies of lab work. However, it is your right to have a copy of all lab work and a friendly reminder to office people will usually make sure that your request is fulfilled. Remember that persistence pays off. Keep all copies in an organized file for each member of the family, along with any notes about comments from your healthcare provider.

There are many reasons why this is a good idea including:

• Having the information at your fingertips regarding what tests were taken and when.
• Being certain of the results -- having the hard numbers in front of you. This is invaluable when analyzing your provider's interpretation of results and their recommendations based on the results.
• Also necessary when doing your own research -- something highly recommended -- about what the results mean and how you should proceed.
• Such records also make it easy for you to track your health and any treatments or preventative measures you may have taken by changes in subsequent test results.
• It's also a great way to monitor the knowledge of your practitioner: do his or her recommendations match up with your own research regarding appropriate steps based on test results?
• Lab tests can be an excellent tool for understanding and diagnosing illness when symptoms arise, but perhaps even more importantly, they often can catch potential problems before they begin to exhibit symptoms, allowing for earlier intervention and preventative strategies.
• Certain core lab tests should be performed on a regular basis to monitor your overall health. Such knowledge allows you to take responsibility for your own wellness. Find a healthcare provider that encourages your participation and welcomes your own questions and suggestions about possible options. Knowing your lab results and how to interpret them is very much to your benefit when it comes to making healthcare decisions.
• Clearly understanding test results can also help you to spot lab mistakes, which unfortunately happens all too often. If a reading is way out of range or inconsistent when other results, you can question it and request to be re-tested. This can save you from unnecessary or potentially dangerous treatments.

Recommended Lab Work

There are literally hundreds of lab tests that can be taken, and many are prescribed based on specific symptoms or health histories. However, there are several that are excellent indicators of your general health and are very useful for preventative medicine as well (the best kind!). Here are a few I suggest getting regularly and monitoring for any changes:

• Complete Blood Count (CBC): This test measures the number of white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets that you have, as well as the relative balance between them. It gives a good reading on the condition of your circulatory system which is so vital for distributing oxygen and other nutrients and eliminating wastes.
• Liver Panel: The liver is one of your most crucial and hard-working organs -- the main filter of the body. The liver panel, also known as the Liver (hepatic) Function Test (LFT), is useful for gauging how the liver is functioning and is an early predictor of liver disease.
• Comprehensive Metabolic Panel: This test measures blood sugar, electrolytes, and the levels of various minerals, proteins, gases, and other substances in the blood. Measures kidney and liver functions.
• Lipid Panel: Analyzes the amounts and types of blood fats including HDL and LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. Useful for preventing cardiovascular disease.
• Iron Profile: Tells the total amount of iron in the blood, in the entire body, and if iron is properly bonding with proteins. Used to analyze anemia, and is particularly useful for young children and pregnant women. Make sure that Ferritin levels are also included.
• Thyroid Panel: The thyroid gland plays many important roles in your overall wellness. See my blog Balancing The Thyroid Naturally for more information on recommended tests.
• PSA (for men): Prostate-Specific Antigen testing indicator of prostate health. While there are continual raised-eyebrows about the accuracy of this test, it may be an indicator of possible disease.
• Vitamin-D Levels: Also called 25-hydroxyvitmain D test or 25(OH)D. Click here (Vitamin D) for more info.
• Fibrinogen: Gives info about how well your body is able to clot and can help prevent risk for coronary disease.
• Homocysteine: Tests for an important marker of potential heart disease, and measures vitamin B-12 and folate levels. Can be a blood and/or urine test.
• C-Reactive Protein (CRP): Excellent test for detecting the presence of inflammation in the body, an indicator of many disease processes.
• Urinalysis: Very basic, and gives a wide array of information about your overall health.
• Hormone Saliva Testing (men and women): Gives a comprehensive view of the balance of key hormones in the body. Click on this link for more information: Estrogen, Progesterone, Testosterone, DHEA Cortisol (morning & evening)

Keep in mind that a number of the above tests can be done through via blood spot or saliva testing in the privacy of your own home.