Ten Tests
If you are over 40 there are some important blood tests that you should have done on a regular basis that will help us keep you healthy. Remember there are many individuals under age 40 who also need these tests also. Here are the top ten tests that Caring Medical has found that can contribute to health and well being.

1 and 2. Diet Typing:
This is actually two tests. Measuring sugar metabolism via a 90 to 180 minute glucose insulin tolerance test and a blood acidity panel are the most important tests of all. We call it diet typing because we use these tests as the basis for prescribing a custom tailored nutrition plan for our patients. Giving your body the right proportion of carbohydrates, fats, and protein is critical for efficient bodily functions and optimum health. What's more this testing protocol is the most definitive test for ruling out and diagnosing the metabolic syndrome. This is a very common metabolic disorder related to adult onset diabetes which causes a huge amount of morbidity and mortality in this country. Knowing whether your glucose metabolism is normal is far more important than knowing your cholesterol level, and having your acidity level balanced may reduce your risks of cancer..

3. Fibrinogen level:
I just wrote about fibrinogen in a recent Dr Bob article. It is an important risk factor (a blood clotting precursor) which promotes slowing of the circulation, and it can be a catalyst to the arteriosclerosis process. High levels also seem to correlate directly with the risk of death from coronary disease, and also reflect the presence of inflammatory processes within the body and its blood vessels. When it is present in amounts over 300mg/dl, it also causes sludging of blood elements that will increase the viscosity of the blood and impair the circulation.

4. Adrenal and sex hormone levels:
Anyone that wants to enjoy maximum youthful vitality into their later years must consider seriously the advantages of natural hormone replacement therapy. Salivary or blood levels will guide therapy which can be expected to notably and safely slow the aging process and improve the quality of life. Besides maintaining muscle and skin tone, these hormones help support bone health, sexual vitality, and brain function. The included DHEA level helps establish adequacy of this crucial precursor hormone, mood stabilizer, and coronary risk reducer. Midlife can hit men as hard as women, and personality and energy levels not uncommonly are found to be due to dropping hormone levels. Have them checked.

5. CRP:
This test reflects the presence of what is now felt to be the primary driver of the arteriosclerosis process, namely an inflammatory reaction inside the blood vessel walls, and elsewhere. Like fibrinogen, CRP level is an excellent predictor of the risk of coronary events and coronary deaths, type 2 diabetes, and age related macular degeneration (a major cause of blindness in the elderly).

6. Chemistry panel with CBC
A multi-test panel of standard blood tests is still a good idea. This test will screen for blood fat, kidney, liver, and mineral imbalances as well as the adequacy of the blood cell elements. Yes, cholesterol levels should be monitored, but I disagree with the aggressive lowering of the standards of desirable ranges, and the associated overuse of statin drugs.

7. PSA (men only):
Some urologists don't think so, but most physicians believe that yearly screening for prostate cancer using the PSA test along with a digital rectal exam is good medicine that will save men's lives. Certainly if you are over 50 or have signs of prostate disorder, you should be monitored regularly. Levels over 4 are definitely of concern.

8. Homocysteine:
This is another very well validated independent risk factor for coronary disease that is almost universally ignored by orthodox physicians. Elevated levels in someone already taking vitamins B12 and folic acid may be a tip off to a malabsorption problem.

As with the other mentioned coronary risk factors, elevated levels can be managed and risks reduced through natural therapies.

9. TSH:
Thyroid disease, especially under activity, is a huge problem in our country. What makes it worse is the tendency of orthodox physicians to ignore patient symptoms and prescribe only on the basis of very abnormal lab work. My experience has taught me that in a patient with many of the symptoms of under active thyroid, a "normal" TSH over 2.5 may indicate the need for a trial of thyroid therapy. Many lives have been improved by such an approach, and many full blown thyroid problems have been picked up by this simple blood test. It should be part of your blood test routine.

10. ESR:
A simple test, the ESR gives us an idea of how thin or viscous (thick) the blood is. Like the CRP, it is elevated in states of inflammation, but when the values are reduced, the test is pointing to thick blood or overly coagulable blood. Low levels would indicate the need for additional testing to determine the right type of treatment. keeping the blood flowing smoothly and freely is crucial to good health and mental functioning.

Take the bull by the horn and practice preventive medicine. Get these tests done about once a year if you are over 40. Everything we test for here, including these top ten, are done because we have safe and natural ways of regulating the blood test results, and thereby improving our patients' risk profiles.