Blood Tests: What Are the Most Common Tests That Diagnose Diseases?
Have you ever been at the mercy of vague symptoms such as tiredness, headaches, and malaise? Instead of giving you a straight answer, most doctors will give you a slip requesting a battery of tests to be done first. Most of us would readily agree that a simple blood test is all we need to know what is wrong with us.
In this post, we will be talking about what exactly a blood test is, and what your doctor is trying to establish by recommending one. We will also discuss why so many people in Ateli Mandi are taking up blood tests here instead of having to go elsewhere for the same.
Blood Tests: What Are the Most Common Tests That Diagnose Diseases?
Why blood?
While it may seem counterintuitive, blood is the window to the human body. Blood runs through all of our organs and tissues, carrying and relaying information such as the amount of glucose in the blood, the workload of the liver and kidneys. Much more. This is why most doctors will ask for your CBC (complete blood count) first; it is an initial screening test that can help establish the presence of anemia, infection, or other issues related to blood cells.
Other common tests that you may find recommended by your doctor include:
- • Blood sugar: fasting, post-meal, and HbA1C
- • Lipid profile: total, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides
- • Liver function tests: SGOT, SGPT, and bilirubin
- • Kidney function tests: creatinine, urea
- • Thyroid tests: T3, T4, and TSH
- • Deficiency tests: Vitamin D and B12
- • CRP tests
For each of these tests, your doctor may have recommended them individually or as a panel based on your symptoms. Let’s briefly discuss the importance of each of these.
While fasting and post-meal blood sugar tests indicate your current levels of blood sugar, HbA1C is a better indicator of your average levels over the past 2–3 months. A high value on this test is often an eye-opener for people who have been negligent about their diet and lifestyle.
Most of us would have heard of lipid profile and cholesterol, which are often recommended for heart patients or those with a family history of heart disease. This test is also recommended for people with persistent fatigue and chest pain.
Liver function tests check for enzymes such as SGOT and SGPT in addition to bilirubin, which can be elevated in liver diseases. Since the liver is one of the largest and busiest organs in the body, it can accumulate damage before any symptoms are noticed. Similarly, the kidney function tests look at creatinine and urea levels, which are waste products that the kidneys are responsible for removing from the body. These tests are particularly recommended for diabetics, people with high blood pressure, and those experiencing puffiness around the face and legs.
Thyroid tests are recommended for those presenting with symptoms such as unexplained weight loss or gain, brittle hair, and fatigue. Thyroid dysfunction is far more common than you may realize, particularly for women, and can be the root cause of a long list of otherwise seemingly unrelated issues.
Tests for vitamin D and B12 deficiencies are increasingly common as well, as these deficiencies are becoming rampant due to our increasingly indoor-centric lifestyles. Deficiency in these can contribute to fatigue, joint pain, and even depression. Finally, a CRP test can help determine whether an infection or inflammation is the cause of your fever or body aches.
Why It Is Important to Do It Near You
If you have been recommended any of the tests mentioned above, you may have noticed that most require you to fast overnight and can only be done in the morning. Additionally, you may be expected to return the same day for the results. Such tests are very important to rule out certain conditions. Can be extremely taxing on your time and energy, requiring you to take a day off work and travel back and forth.
This is why many are choosing to get these tests done in Ateli Mandi rather than elsewhere. Not only can you get the tests done on the same day, but you can also avoid the hassle of traveling back and forth.
You Don’t Need to Wait for Symptoms to Appear
You have probably heard of conditions such as diabetes and thyroid dysfunction, which are fairly common and can have a significant effect on your daily life. What you may not know is that most of these have few or no obvious symptoms in their early stages. A simple and affordable set of tests such as a CBC, blood sugar, lipid profile, thyroid. Vitamin tests can uncover many of these issues before they become serious.
In the End
You may have noticed that most blood tests your doctor recommends are a quick and reliable way of investigating certain symptoms you may be experiencing. They can also serve as a baseline screening to detect certain diseases in their early and easily treatable stages. In fact, most diseases, whether they affect the heart, liver, or otherwise, tend to have few or no symptoms in their early stages, making it easy to overlook them until it is too late.
With the availability of a reliable blood test in Ateli Mandi, you no longer have any reason to put off that slip your doctor has given you.