A blood test can identify what happens in the body and check for the presence of a health abnormality. It can monitor and identify markers present in the early stages of an illness and provide detailed health assessments.
Getting a blood test is essential to monitor your general physical health. Routine blood testing can provide detailed information about your health over a certain period to help your doctor decide your health.
What does blood tests tell you?
Full blood count
The FBC blood test gives information on the different numbers and kinds of blood cells, including platelets, white blood cells and red blood cells. If any blood cell has an abnormal reading, you may have a medical condition.
- The white blood cells protect the body from foreign substances such as viruses, fungi, and bacteria and controls the body’s immune system
- The red blood cells have a component called haemoglobin, the protein that transports oxygen to all body tissues.
- Platelets that aid blood clotting by covering holes in damaged blood vessels
These blood cells play a vital role in the body’s function and help determine the overall state of your health.
Kidney function
The kidneys serve several functions, but an important function is filtering waste from the blood and removing them from the body via urine. The kidneys also control water levels and other essential body minerals.
You can carry out a blood test to check how well the kidneys are functioning through the levels of creatinine, urea and other dissolved salts in the blood.
Liver function
A liver blood test can check the liver’s integrity, giving a clearer picture to determine if there is inflammation or damage. A blood test can check the liver’s function by checking for proteins, enzymes, and other liver products.
The blood test for liver function measures bilirubin, a substance gotten when haemoglobin in old red blood cells gets broken down. The liver processes bilirubin mixes it into bile, and is stored in the gallbladder. The bile later release into the small intestine to digest fat.
Suppose bilirubin levels in the blood are high. In that case, your liver is not breaking down waste properly, which affects the rate of bilirubin getting cleared from your blood or your red blood cells breaking down at an unusual rate. The diagnosis may be liver disease or anaemia.
Blood tests for the liver also check for damages resulting from infections, like hepatitis B and C, check other signs of liver failure and monitor the effectiveness of certain medications.
Thyroid function
Getting a thyroid function blood test can show the thyroid’s performance. The thyroid is a small gland positioned in the front lower part of the neck. It regulates several body processes like mood, metabolism and energy generation.
The thyroid gland makes two main hormones: Triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). If the thyroid has issues and doesn’t produce sufficient amounts of these hormones, symptoms such as depression, reduced energy and weight gain will occur from hypothyroidism.
If the thyroid produces an excess of the hormones, high levels of anxiety, weight loss, sense of being on a high and tremors occur from hyperthyroidism.
Bone markers (phosphate, uric acid, calcium)
A bone profile test can analyse minerals, enzymes and proteins in the bones. These nutrients are essential in healthy bone development and structure. A blood test for bone profiling can determine how your metabolism affect your skeleton. Ageing can weaken the bone, leading to osteoporosis.
Inflammatory markers (CRP)
Inflammation in any body part can cause the release and circulation of extra proteins. A blood test can identify these proteins, including several inflammatory conditions, arthritis, tissue injury and abscess.
C-reactive protein (CRP), plasma viscosity (PV) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) can detect an increase in blood protein. Still, you may need further testing to identify the exact problem.
Vitamin D
A blood test for vitamin D can determine vitamin D concentration.
Triglycerides
Triglycerides are fat molecules in the body. When you eat more calories than required by your body, they are converted into triglycerides then stored in fat cells. If the triglyceride level in your body is high, you may be at risk of heart disease.
Cholesterol
High blood cholesterol levels pose a high risk for coronary heart disease. Getting a complete cholesterol test, sometimes called a lipid profile or lipid panel, will measure the amount of triglyceride and cholesterol in your blood.
The test result can identify if you are at risk of building plaques in the arteries that result in blocked or narrowed arteries in the body, a condition called atherosclerosis.
Ferritin/ total iron-binding capacity/iron
Iron deficiency is among the most prevalent nutrient disorder. An iron test using blood will check the number of red blood cells in your blood and if they are within the standard range, depending on your age and gender.
CK/muscle enzyme LDH/Cardiac
Cell damage can cause the release of enzymes into the bloodstream. This blood test can identify the following enzymes.
- LDH is the enzyme released due to cell injury. This enzyme is a late marker for heart attack and maybe elevated due to kidney and liver disease, malignancy, megaloblastic anaemia, pulmonary emboli and progressive muscular dystrophy.
- Increased CK-MB is found when heart damage occurs
Glucose level
The blood test to check glucose level can measure the amount of blood glucose at a certain time. Glucose is a simple sugar, the primary energy source in the body. Glucose testing is common in people with gestational diabetes, type I and type II diabetes.
Elevated blood glucose levels characterise these conditions. A hormone known as insulin controls blood sugar levels. Still, people with diabetes do not produce enough insulin, or the insulin doesn’t function correctly.
The blood glucose test can also be necessary to check for hypoglycaemia, a condition characterised by low blood glucose levels.
London GP Clinic offers you a wide range of blood tests to check your overall body function.
