Prior to becoming nutrient deficient myself, I had never ever had a blood screening. What I didn't realize: having a blood panel and keeping baseline measurements on health protocols can go a long way toward preventing illness later. When potential issues arise on a blood panel or in your diagnostics, they are much easier to fix than when they become manifest into illness. When left unattended, small issues in the body can grow larger, causing problems and sometimes irreversible damage. It’s just that simple. Sure there are margins of error. Yet, in my mind, getting a baseline blood panel (and a few other simple diagnostics) is just one more way to have an eye on internal health, and be better able to navigate it now and in the future.
With that in mind I’ll keep today’s lesson brief yet concise. What numbers do you need to know to learn more about your health?
Before you visit your doctor or natural health professional, educate yourself on the diagnostic tests available. There are many. Based on the answers to your questions in the last lesson, do your homework and have a working knowledge of the numbers you want to keep on file with regard to your health. If you’ve found a doctor who is willing to prescribe your lab work, many times this service is covered by insurance.
In a perfect world, you should always check with your clinician to decide which diagnostic tests are right for you. This is the best case scenario. However, sometimes when taking an active role in discovering your path to wellness, you may need to take matters into your own hands and ask for what you need. Regardless, you will keep your health care providers honest if you familiarize yourself with the testings available in addition to the basic panels suggested. Here are three of my favorite resources: Metametrix: http://www.metametrix.com/ Genova Diagnostics: http://www.gdx.net/ or The Life Extention Foundation: www.lef.org.
Some Basic Diagnostic Screenings Include (but are in no means limited to):
>Blood Pressure
>Resting Pulse
>Cholesterol and Triglycerides
>Comprehensive Metabolic Panel : Kidney function, Electrolytes, Liver function, Complete Blood Count (CBC)
>Gyn Screening For Women
>Weight / Body Fat Analysis
>Flexibility and Fitness
>Thyroid function
>Nutrient Deficiencies (surplus)
-- Iron (ferritin)
-- Folate
-- Magnesium
-- B-12
-- Vitamin D
-- Zinc
Others:
>Cortisol / DHEA
>Homocysteine
>Highly Sensitive CRP
These are just the basics. If your intuitive sense calls you to search deeper into a particular issue, dig deeper. Have your doctor order your labs then sit down with you to help you to interpret the results. All normal ranges are available to you online, as well. In addition, and based on the information you gathered about yourself in the last lesson, do some extra research into what extra tests you may want your doctor to perform. To do this, go to www.gdx.net . Next, click on the “Patients” tab. Search by “Wellness Goal” (or any other criteria that is important to you), then “Anti-Aging.” This database will help to provide you with other tests available to help usher your doctor through your anti-aging progress. As always, keep notes in your journal based on your findings.
This should keep you busy! In the next lesson, I’ll show you how to create your own personal plan to help you gain / maintain and keep your health for years to come. Once you've charted your course, I'll be deluging you with information on each facet of integrative health that I feel will help you, as well as tools to continue on this journey for a lifetime. Thank you for your readership!
Blessings,
*Laura*
email: laura@beauty-and-body.com
web: www.beauty-and-body.com
Bonus Articles:
> More Information On Cortisol
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