What’s Your Cellular Age?

JUL newsletter SMALL telomeres As much as we’d all like to flee from aging, it is inevitable. Just as your car or a favorite clothing item will wear out over time, so too does the human body. Of course, the rate at which aging happens is different for each person and is based on a number of factors such as genetics, diet, exercise and stress.

On a cellular level, however, the rate of aging is measurable. Measurement is possible because of the telomeres that are connected to the end of your cells. Every time cells divide, the length of the telomere becomes shortened. The shorter the telomere is, the more times that particular cell has been copied. Over time, the telomere becomes so short that the cell no longer reproduces and is “retired”. This shortening of the telomere is known as cellular aging.

Through the use of a telomere test, labs are able to measure the length of the telomere in one’s body. This measurement is then compared to the expected length of telomeres in those of a similar age bracket, which helps determine overall cellular age.

While cell division and its subsequent retirement are natural processes, there are ways in which one can slow the process down. Among these are:

Minimizing consumption of processed, surgery or fatty foods.
Reducing body fat to 22 percent for women and 16 percent for men.
Exercising for at least an hour a day.
Reducing stress.
Quitting smoking and other tobacco consumption.
Sleeping eight hours a night.
Increasing consumption of raw fruits and vegetables, Omega-3 fatty acids, vegetable protein, cold-water fish and fiber.
Evaluating the need for nutritional supplements.

Next time you worry about getting older, consider monitoring the rate at which your cells age. With monitoring, you will be better able to make the lifestyle choices that are necessary to slow cellular aging, and potentially the onset of age-related diseases. Walk-in to Any Lab Test Now to ask for your Telomere Test today.

Take Control of Your Health During Allergy Season

Kick hay fever to the curb by learning your triggers to stay healthy when pollen counts are high.

As the leaves sprout and flowers bloom, millions of Americans start sneezing. Up to 50 million Americans, including millions of children, suffer from allergies. At least one in five Americans has an allergy, and more than 26.1 million have seasonal allergies. An allergy is your immune system’s response to a trigger, such as pollen. In people with allergies, the body produces antibodies against common environmental substances and foods that create the typical allergy symptoms, such as itchy eyes and skin, sneezing, nasal congestion, wheezing, and rash. The antibodies produce histamine, which causes the allergic response. Allergic rhinitis, commonly known as hay fever, affects 6.1 million children and 20 million adults, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America reports.

While seasonal allergies can make people feel miserable, they are mostly not life-threatening. Allergies to food and insect bites are more likely to cause anaphylactic shock and death in severe cases. The number of people who have severe allergies has risen dramatically in the past 20 years.

Seasonal allergies send employee productivity spiraling, according to a study of 600 people conducted by Ohio State University. The study revealed that workers on average missed an hour of work per week during the peak allergy season; or 4 million workdays annually. Study participants cited lack of sleep and a negative impact on their overall health as the two main reasons for missing work due to seasonal allergies. Ohio State University experts recommend allergy testing and proper treatment to reduce sick days during allergy season.

Know Your Seasonal Triggers

Understanding the triggers that cause your nose to run and your eyes to water is essential for conquering pollen season. Some of the most common seasonal allergy culprits are tree, grass, and weed pollen, according to the AAFA. Avoiding the allergy is the best way to manage the problem, Mayo Clinic reports. Testing can help you learn the correct treatment for your allergy. An easy way to learn the cause of your seasonal stuffy nose is to visit Any Lab Test Now and order the Basic Allergy Panel.

You can access a simple blood test to determine what you are allergic to and prevent a severe allergic reaction or save money on only the allergy shots you need. Any Lab Test Now offers a Basic Allergy Panel that tests for 32 different environmental substances as well as foods.

Eight common grasses and weeds, including ragweed
House dust mites. Pet dander for cats and dogs
Seven common fruits and vegetables
Three dairy products including cow’s milk, soft cheese, and eggs
Peanuts
Grains including wheat and soybeans
Meats including tuna, beef, and chicken
Sugar and chocolate

When the body experiences an allergy to a substance, it produces antibodies that are specific to the allergen, called immunoglobulin E, or IgE, which Any Lab Test Now’s laboratory partners can measure to determine what’s triggering your symptoms.

Treating Your Allergy
There are a variety of treatment options for seasonal allergies. Your doctor will advise you on the best treatment, depending on your trigger. Some of the common treatments for seasonal allergies are:

Oral or nasal antihistamines
Decongestants
Prescription eye drops
Allergy shots
Sublingual allergy therapy — small amounts of the allergen are placed under the tongue to develop an antibody response over time.

Natural Ways to Combat Allergies
If your allergy panel reveals you may have some allergies, there are natural steps you can take to prevent a runny nose and itchy eyes.

Close the window. Stopping unfiltered outdoor air from entering your home can prevent pollen from coming into the house.

Take a shower. When you enter your home at the end of a long day, you are bringing in allergens, like pollen, attached to your clothes. Taking a shower and putting on clean clothes can help reduce the severity of your reaction.

Eat healthy and drink water. Consuming a diet high in fruits and vegetables and hydrating can reduce allergy symptoms, according to reports.

Irrigate. Using a nasal rinse, like a Neti Pot, can remove excess mucus and may help improve symptoms.

Any Lab Test Now offers testing that can help you take control of your seasonal allergies. Visit an Any Lab Test Now near you to stop your sniffles today.

Helping Americans Make Health a High Priority

Enduring the daily grind at the office, sitting in traffic during your commute, running errands and shuttling kids to sporting events leave many Americans with very little time to spare. It’s no wonder lengthy doctor’s appointments move to the bottom of our crowded to-do lists.

Despite our busy schedules, staying healthy is important to us. Any Lab Test Now puts medical care into the hands of consumers and helps make health care a priority by offering hassle-free lab testing without a lengthy doctor’s appointment. Each retail location offers direct access to clinical lab tests, DNA tests, as well as drug and alcohol testing services.

“Americans are being more proactive about their health,” said Clarissa Windham-Bradstock, CEO of Any Lab Test Now. “They’re looking for things like allergy testing, food sensitivity testing, hormone testing — so that they can focus on wellness as opposed to coming to us when they are already sick.”

Convenience is key for busy consumers. Many Americans rely on grocery delivery services, stream blockbuster movies on our televisions and wear a bracelet to track our physical activity. Mobile phones give us easy access to a wealth of information with just a few clicks. Online retailers allow us to shop from the comfort of our sofas with delivery of our purchases in record time. Any Lab Test Now pioneered the direct access lab testing movement to meet consumer demands for convenience to help us keep up with our non-stop culture. It was the first retail lab-tester to offer franchises, and now has locations throughout the country.

High costs, lack of insurance and time constraints remain some of the biggest barriers to health care. Any Lab Test Now locations tackle all three of these issues head-on by offering patients a convenient service at the right price.

Retail lab testing saves time

Health care does not need to be a casualty of our busy lifestyle. Any Lab Test Now empowers consumers to take control of their health on their own terms and schedules. No appointments are required. Patients can walk in and get the tests they need to manage their health without a doctor’s visit. If you need to check your cholesterol or want to make sure your type 2 diabetes is under control, Any Lab Test Now offers a lab test to help you manage your health. And the news gets better — the average visit takes only 15 minutes. Most Americans spend longer sitting in the waiting room of a doctor’s office!

Cut health care costs

Not only does a visit to one of the more than 170 locations nationwide save patients time — it’s affordable. The rise in high-deductible insurance plans is giving patients sticker shock. Many patients are less likely to get preventative blood work done or book an appointment at a doctor’s office when they know they will have to pay a big bill out of pocket.

Consumers turn to Any Lab Test Now because it is typically less expensive than going to a doctor’s lab. There are no hidden fees or insurance documentation required. Cutting out the need for insurance helps the company keep costs low for consumers. Even better, Any Lab Test Now lists all of its prices up front. The price of every test is posted at www.anylabtestnow.com.

Need results fast?

There’s no waiting for a busy doctor’s office to call with the results of your test. Most test results are available within 24–72 business hours after your visit. Patients can pick up their test results at their convenience. Test results can also be mailed or faxed to their home.

Trusted results

Any Lab Test Now delivers results you can trust by partnering with high-quality labs to perform its testing services. In 2018, the company’s commitment to excellence was honored with a Franchise 500 Award from Entrepreneur magazine.

Any Lab Test Now provides the convenience customers deserve, coupled with the ability to manage their health care on their own terms. Save time, cut costs and get results fast by visiting your local Any Lab Test Now .

What’s the One Blood Test All Student Athletes Are Required to Have?

It is no surprise that student athletes participate in high intensity workouts. Whether it’s for conditioning, during practice time or game time, an athlete is continuously placed in situations where they need to raise their heart rate and push their bodies to the limit. Because of this, it is extremely important for school athletic directors and coaches to make sure that their student athletes are healthy and that their bodies can endure the physical activity expected of them.

There is one health condition in particular that could hinder a student athlete from truly competing to their best ability. This condition is known as sickle-cell trait. Inherited from a parent, sickle-cell trait can cause red blood cells to sickle and block blood vessels, denying oxygen to muscles and organs. If a student athlete with sickle-cell trait over-exhausts their body due to physical activity, their health could be put in serious danger if their oxygen supply iscut-off.

In order to ensure that this risk never becomes a reality, colleges require their NCAA student athletes to receive a sickle-cell trait blood test. Fortunately, as long as the coaches are aware of the diagnosis and take proper precautions with their diagnosed athletes,those athletes can still enjoy a successful and healthy athletic career. And all the student athlete readers said, “Whew!”

If you are an aspiring athlete and want to check on your health before heading into your college career, especially if attending a Division I or Division II school, contact your local Any Lab Test Now® today and let us help you get the answers you need. Our Sickle Cell Anemia Screen will test you for the sickle-cell trait and give you fast, quality results that you, your doctor, and your coach can use to ensure that your athletic career has a bright and long-lasting future.

OBESITY, DIETS, AND MALNUTRITION: HOW THE THREE ARE CONNECTED

We all have an image in our minds about malnutrition and what that looks like. But, malnourishment isn’t just an issue for the very poor in third world countries. It can affect all people, both rich and poor, both hungry and satisfied, in cities around the world. What connects malnutrition to all of these different groups? More and more often, we’re finding that obesity and diets share a connection. That’s why Any Lab Test Now believes it’s now more important than ever for you to be certain you are getting enough nutrition, because you certainly cannot judge by looks alone.

What is Malnutrition?

Let’s start by making sure we understand exactly what malnutrition is. According to the World Health Organization (WHO): “Malnutrition refers to deficiencies, excesses, or imbalances in a person’s intake of energy and/or nutrients.” It covers two broad areas. The first is “undernutrition.” Undernutrition includes underweight and micronutrient deficiencies or insufficiencies. The other is overweight and obesity. In plain speak, you can be malnourished even if you’re overweight, underweight, or even perfect weight, if you aren’t eating enough of a wide variety of nutritious foods. This can happen particularly if you are overweight or if you are on a diet or choosing a lifestyle that restricts or even abolishes certain foods.

Obesity and Malnourishment

Many people could look at themselves and think: “I can’t possibly be malnourished. I am getting more than enough to eat!” It has been said that Americans are overfed and undernourished. Diets of fast food and convenient processed products make life easier but aren’t able to provide a steady source of the nutrition our bodies need. But more and more, people are eating calorie dense/nutrient-poor diets. Evidence is mounting that despite excessive dietary consumption, obese individuals have high rates of micronutrient deficiencies which also appears to play an important role in the development of diabetes. Poverty also can play a role. Many of the cheapest foods available are often the highest in calories and the lowest in nutrition.

Diet and Malnourishment

On the flip side is our obsession with dieting and so-called “lifestyle diets.” Whatever you call it, many of these diets/lifestyles depend on the elimination of certain foods or even whole food groups! If you choose to follow one (or find that it’s medically necessary to follow one) it’s very important that you make sure you find acceptable sources to provide you with all the nutrition you need. Let’s take vegan/vegetarian as an example. Eating a plant-based diet offers health benefits, but if you do not make an effort to replace crucial nutrients found in meat, you can find yourself facing nutritional deficiencies.

Where do YOU Stand?

Take a critical look at your diet; if it includes a lot of fast foods, processed foods or if you are following a diet that includes food restriction you might want to consider a Basic Nutritional Panel from Any Lab Test Now. The Basic Nutritional Panel includes a variety of tests that can help you determine if you are getting enough nutrition, including:

Complete Blood Count (CBC)
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
Iron and Total Binding Capacity (TIBC)
Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)
Folate
Vitamin D
Vitamin C
Zinc
Ferritin
Homocysteine

Remember — malnutrition may not “look” the way you expect. Some common signs are fatigue, dry hair, thin or spoon-shaped nails, dental problems, constipation, confusion or depression, and a weak immune system. The Basic Nutritional Panel offered by Any Lab Test Now can provide you with a broad picture of your health and should be considered if you are working toward a healthier diet — and a healthier self!

Also at Risk: The Elderly

It’s worth noting that our senior citizens are also prone to malnutrition for a variety of reasons. It could be because they have trouble getting to a store or a lack of money. Some seniors may feel lonely and isolated and have no desire to cook a proper meal for just themselves. Loss of appetite can also be a side effect of medications or a symptom of an illness. Any Lab Test Now encourages everyone to keep an eye on family, friends, and neighbors who may be at risk.

Remember, getting a test at Any Lab Test Now is easy. You don’t have to make an appointment and you don’t need a doctor’s orders. We are private, affordable, and convenient and there’s no better way to take control of your health.

The Preventable Cancer; A Take-Home Test Takes The Fear Out of Colon Cancer Screening

Most people don’t like to talk about (whisper) cancer.

Even more people don’t want to talk about colorectal cancer.

But here at Any Lab Test Now, we’re going to have this uncomfortable talk, because it’s a talk that could save your life. That’s because, with early screening and testing, colon cancer is preventable, treatable, and beatable for anyone. Any Lab Test Now is very pleased to provide you with a potentially life-saving option.

The Colon Cancer Screening (FIT) Test is a simple, non-invasive test that will check for blood in your stool. That’s the best way to provide you with early detection of polyps that could result in colon cancer. Research has shown that early detection is the key to winning the battle against this very treatable disease. Making this option even more of a game changer — you can conduct it in the privacy of your own home, with no special preparations.

A SILENT CANCER

Colon cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer, according to the Colon Cancer Coalition. It’s also the second leading cause of cancer death. Anyone can get it. It seems to affect men and women equally as well as people of all races and nationalities. The disease is most often defined by the development of colorectal polyps. The polyps can sometimes turn into cancer. And here’s what makes early detection so crucial: colorectal polyps and colorectal cancer don’t always cause symptoms, especially at first. That’s why regular screening for colorectal cancer is so important.

IF you do have symptoms, officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say they are most likely to include:

Blood in or on your bowel movements.
Changes in bowel movements including constipation or diarrhea.
Stomach pains, aches, or cramps that don’t go away.
Unexplained weight loss.

There are some risk factors you should be aware of, and a family history of colon cancer tops that list. People suffering from ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease also appear to be at an increased risk, as are those living with diabetes.

As with many cancers, there are associated lifestyle risks as well. People who eat a lot of fat and cholesterol and very little fiber should be more aware. Drinking excessive alcohol, smoking, obesity, and sedentary lifestyle are all potential risk factors.

EARLY DETECTION — POSITIVE OUTCOMES

The American Cancer Society recently updated their guidelines for colorectal cancer screening. According to the new recommendations, screening should begin at the age of 45 for people at average risk, possibly sooner for those with a family history. With the Colon Cancer Screening (FIT) Test from Any Lab Test Now, you can take the test when it’s convenient for you. You don’t need a doctor’s orders or even an appointment. Simply come by one of our convenient locations and pick the test up.

Many people let embarrassment stop them from getting a colonoscopy, or they have heard horror stories about the prep work required for that test. The Colon Cancer Screening (FIT) Test removes both of those hurdles. It’s a test that you conduct for yourself in the privacy of your own home. And, there’s no fasting involved. Simply pick up the test, follow the instructions, and return the test for processing. Results generally take no longer than five to seven business days.

TALK ABOUT COLON CANCER SCREENING

Share your results with your doctor and see what the best course of action is for you. Remember, colon cancer is usually preventable, treatable, and beatable if detected early. Don’t let embarrassment or fear get in your way. The easy to use “take at home” Colon Cancer Screening (FIT) Test from Any Lab Test Now is worth talking about.

When Food Becomes The Enemy; Why Proper Testing Is Important

Can you imagine living in fear of a bread crumb?

It sounds crazy, but it is a sad reality for millions of Americans. One in every 133 people suffers from celiac disease, and most of them haven’t even been properly diagnosed. That can lead to long-term health complications.

Researchers are working on vaccine therapy to help those with celiac disease, but the first step is spreading awareness and getting a proper diagnosis. Any Lab Test Now can help with that. The Celiac, IBS, Crohn’s Test can help you determine if you have celiac disease or some other gastrointestinal disorder so that you can treat your symptoms properly.

What is celiac disease?

Celiac disease is NOT an allergy — it’s an autoimmune disorder that’s triggered when a sufferer eats gluten. That culprit is a protein that you’ll find in a lot of foods and in some other very unexpected places. It’s found in wheat, barley, rye, and other grains, so people most often think of breads, dough, cakes, pasta, and cereals. But celiac sufferers have to be real detectives! That’s because gluten can be found in a wide range of ingestible stuff, like medications and toothpaste — even lipsticks and envelope glue!

When someone with celiac ingests something with gluten, their body overreacts and their intestines are ground zero. They’ll often experience stomach pain and nausea, but the reaction can also include:

Diarrhea or constipation
Headaches and fatigue
Bone and joint pain
Heartburn
Itchy rashes
Anemia
Mouth ulcers

What’s happening inside your small intestine is slow to develop, but devastating over time. The villi that line your small intestine are damaged with every reaction. Eventually, they won’t be able to absorb nutrients from your food.

The damage to the undiagnosed.

For the millions of people walking around with undiagnosed celiac disease, the damage is growing. The Celiac, IBS, Crohn’s Test (sometimes referred to as the CICA Test) measures your gut health on the genetic, antibody, and cellular levels, taking these often hard-to-diagnose diseases down to the most in-depth levels so you can get to the bottom of your symptoms. The CICA includes the following tests:

Genetic – HLA Typing for Celiac Disease (HLA-DQ2.5 AND HLA-DQ8; ATB16L1 + N0D20) – The genetic testing portion of the profile determines the likelihood that what you are suffering is celiac disease, as opposed to gluten intolerance. 95 percent of people who have either the HLA-DQ2.5 OR HLA-DQ8 genes will have celiac disease.

Antibody/Serological – This test will indicate whether specific antibodies are missing and others have developed. This could cause damage to the small intestine and can indicate the presence of celiac disease as well as differentiate between ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, both of which have similar symptoms to celiac disease.

Total Serum IgA

Tissue Transgluatminase Antibody (tTG) – IgA and IgG

Deamidated Gliadin Peptide (DGP) Antibody – IgA and IgG

Anti-Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Antibody (ASCA)

You don’t need a doctor’s order to take the test, but if your CICA Test comes back indicating celiac disease, it’s a good idea to share those results with your doctor so you can get professional guidance on how to best move forward.

What you don’t know can hurt you.

Celiac disease can develop at any age. If you leave it undiagnosed and untreated, you could leave yourself open to some additional serious health problems down the road. These include:

Type 1 diabetes
Multiple sclerosis
Osteoporosis
Infertility
Miscarriage
Epilepsy
Migraines
Intestinal cancers

If you’re suffering from abdominal discomfort or have a family history of celiac disease, it may well be worth considering the Celiac, IBS, Crohn’s Test at your nearby Any Lab Test Now. There may not be a cure, but with a proper diagnosis, there can be relief.

DNA Testing Explodes In Popularity

Ancestry DNA testing was a huge seller this past Christmas, with more and more people buying into figuring out their most basic life question: who am I? Any Lab Test Now is happy to offer a wide range of DNA testing services, including ancestry, but we take it a step further… providing more information and more detail than any other consumer DNA test available.

Any Lab Test Now offers the GPS Origins Ancestry Test. The GPS Origins test is more than just percentages. It offers a deeper dive into your unique human history. The GPS Origins Ancestry Test will test for your story of human migration, your genetic origin percentages and history, and your ancestral migration routes — all in convenient digital form.

How it all works

For something that provides such complex and detailed information, taking the GPS Origins Ancestry Test is rather simple; all you do is swab your cheek to collect your DNA, return it to us, and we’ll do the rest of the work! You don’t have to fast, and you can rest easy knowing that your information (and your privacy!) will remain confidential, unless you want to share it!

The hunt for your heritage

The science behind the GPS Origins Ancestry Test is what makes it different from other consumer ancestry tests. It’s simply the most advanced autosomal test, and it is so targeted it may even indicate down to the town or village where groups of your ancestors met, building a vibrant picture of the migration journeys that formed your genealogical heritage. Any Lab Test Now uses your DNA sample to test more than 80,000 unique genetic markers. We then cross check that information across dozens of gene pools and more than a thousand reference populations to create a detailed report about where your family originated and how it migrated around the world to where YOU are today.

Your journey of self-discovery

You’ll receive maternal and paternal migration routes and more specific information rather than just broad estimates of ethnicity. GPS Origins even provides detailed stories that might help explain DNA mixture events, such as wars, famines, and migrations. The GPS Origins Ancestry Test can be a great beginning to understanding your family history or help you fill in gaps in existing history.

Get to know your family’s ancestral origins with the GPS Origins Ancestry Test, available at Any Lab Test Now. You don’t have to make an appointment — you can walk in to any one of our convenient locations and ask for the test. A quick visit to your local Any Lab Test Now is your first step in your journey of self-discovery.

Too High Or Too Low: The Danger Behind Cortisol Levels

Every day, every hour, every minute, your body is performing a delicate balancing act. Levels of nutrients, water, hormones, it doesn’t take much for one imbalance to throw the whole thing off. That’s the case with the hormone cortisol.

Cortisol is commonly referred to as the stress hormone because it’s the hormone produced by the adrenal glands and is best known for helping with your body’s “fight or flight” instinct. But it’s responsible for so much more than that — everything from blood pressure to blood sugar is affected by cortisol, which is why it’s so important that you keep this hormone in balance. Any Lab Test Now can help you take control of your hormone health with a wide range of tests that can provide you with information vital to your daily wellbeing. Since it touches so many body functions, the Saliva Cortisol Test is a good place to start if you are showing symptoms of an imbalance

Stressed-Out Symptoms!

When it comes to cortisol levels, they naturally rise and fall throughout the day, usually associated with your sleep pattern. Basically, you would find your highest levels in the morning when you are waking up… and the lowest levels dropping off after midnight when you are sleeping. Signs that you may have a cortisol imbalance are pretty common symptoms of other things as well, making diagnosis difficult, but basically here are symptoms you might experience:

Too Much Cortisol

*Obesity *Excessive thirst *Excessive urination *Muscle weakness *High blood pressure *Increased blood sugar *Headaches *Backaches *Depression

Too Little Cortisol

*Fatigue *Muscle weakness *Dark patches on the skin *Hypoglycemia *Diarrhea *Constipation *Vomiting *Weight loss

If you are experiencing unusual, unexplained symptoms, then the Saliva Cortisol Test may provide information that will help you and your doctor diagnose your condition.

Cortisol Related Conditions

There’s still a lot of research being conducted on how cortisol imbalances affect our bodies. Obviously being in a constant state of stress will increase your cortisol production and lead to a cascade of health problems including heart disease, sleep problems, obesity, and depression.

Cushing syndrome is a condition that occurs when your body begins to make too much cortisol. It’s a condition associated with obesity and diabetes. On the flipside, Addison’s disease occurs when your body isn’t making enough cortisol. It is often characterized by skin changes, weight loss, low blood pressure, and fatigue. Researchers are also beginning to connect high cortisol levels with memory loss which makes it all the more important to know where you stand.

Get the Low-Down on Your Levels

Any Lab Test Now makes it easy for you to know your levels. The Saliva Cortisol Test is, as the name implies, a simple saliva test. You will have to fast at least twelve hours prior to collecting your specimen. You don’t need a doctor’s orders to take any test at Any Lab Test Now, putting you in control of your own health. You don’t even need an appointment! Just walk in to your closest Any Lab Test Now location. You’ll be greeted by a professional staff member who can help you make the most informed choice for your health.

This Valentine’s Day: A ‘Test’ Of True Love

What will you do this Valentine’s Day to show the one you love the most how much you really care? How much money will you spend? How long will it last? Roses fade, chocolates are devoured, and the memory of a romantic night out fades away. So what can you do that will show how much you care?

On the surface, we admit that a heart health lab test from Any Lab Test Now might not seem like the grandest romantic gesture, but it really is the perfect way to let someone you love know just how important their heart is to yours!

But first, a little background

Remember, February isn’t just about Valentine’s Day; it’s also American Heart Month. The annual celebration began in 1963 as a way to encourage Americans to join in the battle against heart disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. Every year, 1 in 4 deaths are caused by heart disease. Many of those deaths can be prevented if people know where they stand heart-health wise. They can begin to make healthier choices to manage their conditions and take control of their health.

For that special someone

Consider a gift of his and hers lab tests from Any Lab Test Now this Valentine’s Day. The Comprehensive Male and the Comprehensive Female Panels both provide an abundance of information about your overall health, including important details about your heart. Both of the panels include the Cholesterol (Lipid) Panel — which can determine if you have abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels. Both are important because they can help you and your doctor determine if you’re at risk for heart disease or any other coronary illnesses.

Both the Male and Female Comprehensive Panels also include the Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) test. Many people don’t realize the crucial role that their thyroid (and the hormones it produces!) plays in their heart health. A dysfunctional thyroid creates imbalances in your body that could make you more susceptible to heart disease.

An array of other tests are included in the Comprehensive Male and Female Panels which will round out a complete picture of your overall health and set you and your doctor in the right direction and help you keep your ticker in tip-top shape.

Cupid in a lab coat

So, this Valentine’s Day give a gift of romance AND good health. Head to your nearest Any Lab Test Now location and pick from any of our heart-healthy options. Hold off on the chocolates, champagne or fancy dinners, as you’ll have to fast for this test. It’s true love available in a test.