Why Routine Lab Tests Are Essential After 60
Metabolism changes and organs may not function optimally with age. Blood work is the early warning radar, which allows you to find an imbalance and act on time before your body is hit by symptoms that alert you to an issue in senior apartments Phoenix. It is easier to make the necessary changes when you are just starting to get some off-point numbers on your blood work.
Here are some of the basic blood panels, which tell a lot about the condition of your heart, kidneys, liver, and endocrine system.
Complete Metabolic Panel (CMP) provides a look at your electrolytes, blood sugar, and kidney function. Catching mild kidney dysfunction early, when there are still enough kidney cells to improve with diet and medications, is a key intervention to try and maintain a higher filtration rate.
Lipid Profile looks at total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides. If there is a change in the numbers, you might be able to adjust your diet and medications, such as statins to lower your risk of a heart attack.
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) can tell you if your thyroid is not working well enough, which is a very common issue in older adults, as this gland slows down in many people. Left unchecked, an under-functioning thyroid can lead to fatigue, weight gain, hair loss, dry skin, depression, and other symptoms. In assisted living, with medication, you can get your energy levels and metabolism back to normal.
A1C. A1C is the 3 month average of blood sugar. Elevated A1C in people not diagnosed with diabetes can still be treated with diet and exercise to improve insulin resistance.
Complete Blood Count (CBC). It is a good idea to have an annual CBC to check for anemia and infection. If your hemoglobin is low, and you are fatigued for no apparent reason, your blood work might give you the answer. If your white blood cells or platelets are low or high, there could be an issue with your immune system that needs to be addressed.
Vitamin D and Vitamin B12. A blood test will let you know if you need supplements of these vitamins. Vitamin D deficiency is related to an increased risk of fractures and osteoporosis. Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause depression and memory loss and can mimic dementia.
How often?
How often you should get your blood work done depends on your medical history and age, and it’s best to discuss with your healthcare provider. For many people in senior living Phoenix, annual blood work is sufficient to get a broad picture of your health.
Once you have the results, it’s important to go over them with your doctor and take into account all of your numbers to see the trends, instead of focusing on one single result.