Let's be honest, the routine blood work you are getting at your yearly wellness exam is a waste of time. The standard of care for medical testing in the U.S. has not evolved with the science nor is it including preventative testing to paint a more comprehensive picture of a patient's health over the long term. Here is a list of foundational lab tests I would recommend annually to all my patients regardless of their symptoms, family and medical history, lifestyle, environment, occupation, age and gender:
Standard
CMP
CBC
Urinalysis
Heart and Inflammation
Lipoprotein(a): this is the only exception because usually this is a once-in-a-lifetime test. Read here to find out more.
ApoB
Lipid panel
hsCRP
homocysteine
Nutrients and Electrolytes
Vitamin D
Vitamin B12
Zinc
Magnesium
Iron/Ferritin
Metabolic
Fasting glucose
Fasting insulin
HbA1c
Thyroid
TSH
TPO
anti Thyroglobulin Ab
Free T3 and T4
Take this list in with you to your next visit and have your doctor order and interpret these for you. Remember you want optimal ranges, not normal (aka average). Read this blog post to learn more about optimal lab ranges and good doctors. The Healthspan Journal provides a list of optimal ranges for specific tests and allows you to track your lab results.
Disclaimer
The content on this site is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not substitute professional medical advice from your healthcare professional.
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