People are rarely aware of the importance of regular blood testing, and they cannot treat most diseases because they are unaware of their symptoms. It is common for patients to learn about their disorders only at the end when the time for treatment is over. Regular blood tests are the only way to prevent this kind of condition. Let’s learn the benefits of regular blood testing in detail, so keep reading.
What Do You Mean By Blood Tests?
A blood test is the laboratory analysis of your blood sample that makes you aware of biochemical and metabolic changes in your body. An individual's blood tests only inform him whether any disease exists in his body and make it easier for him to make health decisions.
If someone does not get regular blood tests, he will never be aware of the adverse chemical and hormonal changes in his body. When most of the body's organs have been destroyed, he will find out about his disorder, but now it is too late. Alternatively, a person who gets regular blood tests will learn about his disturbed metabolism early and can easily treat it.
What Do Blood Tests Indicate?
Blood tests are conducted to diagnose the presence, size, concentration, and structure of different body cells, chemicals, hormones, and other substances in the blood. Analyzing all these substances gives a clear picture of any disturbances to bodily metabolism, and diseases can be identified quickly. The compounds that are commonly detected by blood tests include:
- Blood sugar
- Fats
- Cholesterol
- Different hormones
- Vitamin B12
- Vitamin D
- Oxygen
- Carbon dioxide
- Metabolized drugs
- Genetic markers
- Toxins such as mercury and lead
- Tumor markers, such as CA 125
- Blood cells including WBCs, RBCs, and platelets
- Minerals such as sodium, calcium, and iron
- Pathogens including bacteria, fungi, and virus
- Inflammatory markers such as antinuclear antibodies (ANA)
What Are The Different Types Of Blood Tests?
Various types of blood tests are conducted to determine how well the body's metabolic functions by measuring the concentrations or amounts of cells, hormones, and other components. Let’s have a look at some most common blood test often conducted by patients.
Complete Blood Count
This test checks the level of a wide range of components, mainly including white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets in the blood. Let’s look at what you can detect by a complete blood count test.
- Red Blood Cell Count (RBC)
- Hematocrit
- Hemoglobin
- Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW)
- White Blood Cell Count (WBC)
- Eosinophils
- Neutrophils
- Lymphocytes
- Monocytes
- Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)
- Mean Hemoglobin Volume (MHV)
- Platelets
Be comparing the amount of these substances you get thorough your test with the normal range you can find out abnormalities in your body. Here are mentioned the normal values of some of the above-mentioned components.
| Components | Normal Ranges |
| Red blood cells | 4.3 to 5.9 million/mm3 in males and 3.5 to 5.5 million/mm3 in females |
| White blood cells | 4500 to 11,000/mm3 |
| Plateletes | 150,000 to 400,000/mm3 |
| Hemoglobin | 13.5 to 17.5 g/dL in males and 12 to 16 g/dL in females |
| Hematocrit | 41 to 53% in male and 36 to 46% in females |
Lipid Panel
Lipid panel tests evaluate the values of two main types of lipids, including high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), in the blood. HDL, also known as good cholesterol, is needed by the body to remove the waste metabolites from the liver efficiently.
Whereas LDL, also known as bad cholesterol, is responsible for a major type of cardiovascular disorder as this cholesterol coagulate and leads to plaque formation in the arteries. Therefore, maintenance of both types of cholesterol is necessary to prevent the risk of metabolic disorders. You should fast for at least 8 hours before the test.
Normal values of blood cholesterol levels are as follows.
| Types | High-value | Low-Value |
| HDL or good cholesterol | >60 mg/dL | <40 mg/dL in males and <50 mg/dL in females |
| LDL or bad cholesterol | >160 mg/dL | <100 mg/dL (optimal) |
Thyroid panel
The thyroid panel is the test ensuring the proper functioning of the thyroid glands. It checks out the healthy production and release of thyroid hormones. The main thyroid hormones that are detected by this test include
- Triiodothyronine (T3),
- Thyroxine (T4),
- Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
All of these hormones are primarily responsible for regulating the heart rate, body temperature, and growth rate by maintaining the metabolism within the body. Here are mentioned the normal ranges of thyroid hormones.
| Thyroid hormones | Range |
| Triiodothyronine (T3) | 80–180 nanograms per deciliter of blood (ng/dL) |
| Thyroxine (T4) | 0.8–1.8 ng/dL in adults |
| Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) | 0.5–4 (mIU/L) |
Sex Hormonal Blood Test
Through this test, different sex hormones in males and females are detected. This test evaluates estrogen, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, progesterone, testosterone, luteinizing stimulating hormone, and many other sex hormones.
These male and female sex hormones maintain fertility and primary characteristics in both genders, respectively. Alteration in even a single hormone can lead to chronic conditions; even infertility can result.
Heavy Metal Blood Test
This blood test measures the levels of minerals and heavy metals in the body. One mineral deficiency can affect the whole body's metabolism and lead to chronic illnesses.
Excessive levels of minerals, most commonly sodium, potassium, and calcium, are not considered healthy since they can lead to serious health issues, primarily renal disorders. Heavy metals in excess can cause blood toxicity, such as mercury toxicity or lead toxicity. Heavy metal toxicity destroys livers and kidneys, leading to many other serious disorders.
The following compounds are usually evaluated during heavy metal and mineral blood tests:
- Arsenic (As)
- Bromine (Br)
- Cadmium (Cd)
- Copper (Cu)
- Iodine (I)
- Lithium (Li)
- Magnesium (Mg)
- Mercury (Hg)
- Selenium (Se)
- Zinc (Zn)
Benefits Of Regular Blood Testing
People who are concerned about their health constantly undergo regular blood tests. Regular blood tests are the only way to prevent illness and maintain good health. Keeping a check on the proper functioning of vital organs such as the heart, kidneys, and liver through blood tests reduces the risk of chronic disorders to a greater extent. Let’s discuss the benefits of regular blood testing in detail.
Benefits Of Complete Blood Count
Undergoing a complete blood count test can make you aware of different health problems, as mentioned below.
- Vitamin B6 deficiency
- Vitamin B12 deficiency
- Iron deficiency
- Anemia
- Blood disorders
- Bacterial or viral infection
- Autoimmune disorders
Analyzing the result of your test, the experts will indicate the kind of disease you are suffering from. On your doctor's recommendation, you can easily go for the exact treatment very early and recover without losing much.
Benefits Of Lipid Panel Blood Test
The benefits of regular blood testing for lipid analysis include the identification of cardiovascular disease risk factors. Similarly, cholesterol levels in the blood can be used to predict atherosclerosis risk. Knowing the increasing cholesterol level warns the patient to control fat intake; otherwise, chronic diseases can develop.
Benefits of Thyroid Panel Blood Test
Following medical conditions can be easily detected by thyroid panel blood test:
- Hypothyroidism
- Hyperthyroidism
- Autoimmune disorders
Adverse alteration in thyroid hormones give a warning about the malfunctioning of the thyroid glands. Proper medications taken on time with the doctor's recommendation will help the patients recover from the upcoming disorders efficiently.
Benefits Of Sex Hormonal Blood Test
Through the evaluation of the sex hormonal test, females can find out reasons for
- Menstrual cycle disturbance
- Heavy or scanty blood flow during menstruation
- Excess hair growth on the body
- Irregular periods
- Pregnancy complications
Males should also go for this test, as analysis of male sex hormones can indicate
- Erectile dysfunctioning
- Male infertility
- Low sperm count
- Premature ejaculation
Benefits Of Heavy Metal And Mineral Blood Tests
This test can inform patients about the causes of
- Anemia
- Hypothyroidism
- Hyperthyroidism
- Renal failure
- Metabolic disorders
- Muscle weakness
- Osteoporosis
- Heavy metal poisoning
It is easy for patients to determine whether they are suffering from mineral deficiency through this test. By increasing the intake of specific minerals through supplements or natural diets, patients can prevent or completely recover from the disorder.
How To Undergo Various Blood Tests?
You can visit any nearby laboratory to avail the benefits of regular blood testings. However, if you find it challenging to schedule an appointment, go to the laboratory, give a sample, and then wait for results, you can do your blood tests at home. Several online platforms offer home blood tests. But which one of them is one? Let's resolve this issue as well. Home blood tests are made easy with Lab.Me, one of the most trustworthy online platforms.
Lab.Me offers a wide range of blood tests with accurate and verified results. Among the various blood test provided by Lab.Me, some main ones include
- At-Home Complete Blood Count
- At-Home Baseline Health Test
- Crucial At-Home Health Test
- At-Home TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone)
- At-Home Testosterone Test
- At-Home Toxicity Test
You just have to send the blood sample carefully to the laboratory according to the instructions you get along with your specific kits. Depending on your blood test, you can view your results online within 2 to 7 days. Afterward, you can get expert opinions about your blood test reports and get treatment accordingly.
Conclusion
Regular blood tests are crucial for reducing the risk factor of chronic disorders. Going to a laboratory to give a sample and collect results can be exhausting. Using Lab.Me, you can gain the benefits of regular blood testing from the comfort of your home. Providing accurate and reliable results for a variety of blood tests, Lab.Me is one of the best ways to maintain your health.
