Regular health screening can help find potential health issues before they become a problem, when you go to doctors regularly, they will be able to detect health conditions or diseases early. Early detection gives you a chance for getting the right treatment quickly and avoids complications.
There are some diseases that are very insidious and their progression can’t be known and tracked unless the patient has regular health screening, so regular screening tests make you ensure that you don’t miss out on identifying any life-threatening diseases.
During a regular health screening, a doctor may ask you to do a blood test; regular blood testing is one of the most important ways to help doctors check for certain diseases and conditions, and help you to check the function of your organs and show the effect of treatment and how it working.
8 Essential Blood Tests to Schedule Regularly
1. Complete Blood Count (CBC)
A routine complete blood count (CBC), known as a full blood count, is a set of medical laboratory tests that provide information about the major cells in a person’s blood: white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets.
The results of CBC is related to sex and age, in the following table the normal range of the important components:
| Component | Normal Range |
|---|---|
| Red blood cells (RBCs are the cells that are responsible for carrying oxygen throughout the body). | Male: (4.70-6.10) x 10^12/L Female: ( 4.20-5.40) x 10^12/L |
| White blood cells (WBCs are immune system cells in the blood ). | Male & female: (4.500-10.000) x 10^9/L |
| Platelets (the substance that controls the clotting of the blood ). | Male & female: (150-450) x 10^9/L |
| Hemoglobin (protein within the red blood cells that carries oxygen to organs and tissues, and carbon dioxide back to the lungs). | Male: (14.0-18.0) gm/dl Female: (12.0-16.0) gm/dl |
| Hematocrit (percentage of blood made of red blood cells). | Male: (42.0-54.0) % Female: (37.0-47.0) % |
Abnormal levels of these components can be caused by:
- Nutritional deficiencies, such as vitamin D or B12
- Anemia (Iron deficiency)
- Clotting problems
- Blood cancer
- Infection
- Immune system disorders
2. Kidney Function Tests (KFTs)
kidney function tests (KFT): are biochemistry tests that help you understand whether your kidneys are working efficiently or not by examining how effectively your kidneys are removing wastes from your body.
KFTs are eight tests:
- Creatinine
- Urea
- Uric acid
- Calcium
- Phosphorus
- Sodium (Na)
- Chloride (Cl)
- Potassium (K)
Abnormal results can be indicating of:
- Kidney diseases such as kidney stones, polycystic kidney, and kidney failure.
- Diabetes
- Hormone imbalances (blood pressure)
3. Liver Function Tests (LFTs)
Liver function tests are blood tests that measure different substances produced by your liver, including proteins, enzymes, and bilirubin, that help you to diagnose and monitor liver disease or damage.
LFTs are eight tests:
- (GOT/AST): SGOT test may be used to help your doctor diagnose liver damage or liver disease. When liver cells are damaged, SGOT leaks into the bloodstream, raising your blood’s level of this enzyme. used to evaluate liver health for people who are already known to have conditions that affect their liver, such as hepatitis C. SGOT is found in several areas of your body, including your kidneys, muscles, heart, and brain. If any of these areas are damaged, your SGOT levels may be higher than normal.
- (GPT/ALT): is the other essential liver enzyme. Unlike SGOT, it’s found in the heaviest concentrations in the liver. An ALT test is often a more definitive indicator of potential liver damage.
- Alkaline phosphatase (ALK): This is an enzyme in the blood that helps break down proteins. An ALK test measures how much ALK is circulating in the bloodstream. Unusual ALK levels may be a sign of liver problems, a bone disorder, some types of cancer, and various other health conditions.
- GGT: is an enzyme found throughout the body, but it is mostly found in the liver. When the liver is damaged, GGT may leak into the bloodstream, and GGT tests can’t diagnose the specific cause of liver disease.
- Total protein: measures the amount of protein in your blood. Proteins are important for the health and growth of the body’s cells and tissues. These are albumin and globulin.
- Albumin: helps prevent fluid from leaking out of blood vessels, also Albumin carries substances such as hormones, medicines, and enzymes throughout your body. It can be used to diagnose kidney and liver diseases.
- Bilirubin (Total/Direct): Bilirubin is a yellowish substance made during your body’s normal process of breaking down old red blood cells. Bilirubin is found in bile; a fluid your liver makes that helps you digest food. If your liver is healthy, it will remove most of the bilirubin from your body. If your liver is damaged, bilirubin can leak out of your liver and into your blood. When too much bilirubin gets into the bloodstream, it can cause jaundice, a condition that causes your skin and eyes to turn yellow.
4. Lipid Panel
The lipid panel is a panel of blood tests used to find abnormalities in lipids, such as cholesterol and triglycerides. The results of this test can identify certain genetic diseases and can determine approximate risks for cardiovascular disease
The lipid profile is five tests:
- Total cholesterol: the measure of the total amount of cholesterol in your blood. It includes both low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.
- Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol: “Bad cholesterol”, the main source of cholesterol buildup and blockage in the arteries.
- High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol: “Good cholesterol”, helps remove cholesterol from your arteries.
- Triglycerides – another form of fat in your blood that can raise your risk for heart disease, especially in women.
- Fasting blood sugar: measures your blood sugar after an overnight fast (not eating).
You should get a cholesterol test depends on your age, risk factors, and family history.
What affects my cholesterol levels?
- Diet.
- Weight.
- Age.
- Smoking.
- Family history.
Also, you’ll have to test your glycoside hemoglobin every three months to check on your diabetic level.
5. Thyroid Panel
The thyroid is a tiny gland in your neck, it helps regulate bodily functions like your mood, energy, and overall metabolism, thyroid panel checks how well your thyroid is producing and reacting to certain hormones such as:
- Triiodothyronine (T3): T3 regulates your heart and body temperature
- Thyroxine (T4): T4 regulates your metabolism and how you grow
- Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH): TSH help regulate the levels of hormones your thyroid releases
6. Cardiac Biomarkers:
Cardiac biomarkers help health providers know if symptoms are due to a heart attack (myocardial infarction), angina, heart failure, or another problem.
There are three cardiac biomarkers:
- Troponin I: this enzyme leak into your blood resulting in heart injury.
- Creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB): this enzyme is found in blood, and increases in blood after a heart attack or other heart injury.
- Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH): is used to screen for tissue damage.
7. Tumor Markers:
Tumor markers are proteins made by both normal cells and cancer cells, but they are made in higher amounts by cancer cells.
| Tumor Markers for Males | Tumor Markers for Females |
|---|---|
| CEA | CEA |
| CA19-9 | CA19-9 |
| Total prostate (T-PSA) | CA125 |
| Free prostate (F-PSA) | CA15-3 |
8. Vitamins & Minerals:
Vitamins and minerals measure the levels of essential vitamins and minerals to help prevent or manage deficiencies. A vitamin or mineral deficiency can have wide-ranging effects including fatigue, low energy, and depression.
Vitamins and minerals to be tested regularly:
- Vitamin B12.
- Vitamin D.
- Folic Acid.
- Magnesium.
- Iron.
- Ferritin.
- Transferrin.
- Total Iron Binding Capacity.
- Zinc.