New Year, New You
Early in the new year, it’s the perfect time to start fresh with new goals and make some changes, especially when it comes to self-care and your health. If you resolved to make you and your family’s wellness a priority this year, Any Lab Test Now® is excited to partner with you to get on track and stay on track all year.
The starting point is figuring out what you’re working with — what’s your baseline? This begins with having some testing done to get a snapshot of your overall health. This will give you an idea of how things are working, and if anything may require further testing.
The tests we provide at Any Lab Test Now® are quick, easy, and accessible while serving as a screening and often a diagnostic tool to help you manage your health.
Your Starting Point
To start the new year off right, there’s no better glimpse of your overall health than to start with our Annual Check-Up Panel. The panel consists of five tests typically ordered by a physician during an annual physical examination. Those tests include:
- Complete Blood Count (CBC)
- Cholesterol Lipid with Ratio (Lipids Panel)
- Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
- Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
- Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1C)
This is a baseline screening test. Your baseline consists of all the numeric test results (levels), including your blood counts, kidney function, liver function, electrolytes, total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, LDL, and thyroid function values. Empowering you with the knowledge of these numbers gives you a sense of whether or not changes need to be made or if further testing is needed.
Another Significant Test to Consider
You’ll notice that in the Annual Check-Up Panel, one of the items examined is the TSH, or thyroid stimulating hormone, because it’s vital to your body functioning properly.
The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped organ located in the front of your throat. Endocrine experts say the thyroid releases hormones that control your body’s metabolism; the way your body uses energy and keeps all the other systems in your body working correctly. When the thyroid doesn’t function properly, it can set off a chain of issues like breathing, heart rate, weight, body temperature, etc. When numbers indicate that levels are too low or too high it can cause hypothyroidism, an underactive thyroid, or hyperthyroidism, an overactive thyroid.
Any Lab Test Now® provides a Comprehensive Thyroid Panel, which includes five tests that determine how well the thyroid is functioning by looking at specific hormones. This is an important panel of tests to determine if there is an imbalance in your body. Thyroid disorders are more common in women, and they often occur with changes in other hormone levels, such as with pregnancy or with older age.
You Are What You Eat
Pardon the pun, but the Basic Nutritional Panel we offer is like the charcuterie board of testing in that it looks at a little bit of everything when it comes to your nutritional health. Perhaps you are trying to lose weight or feel like you may have a vitamin deficiency — this is an effective screening test that will provide the answers you’re looking for.
Especially at a time when your health and the strength of your immune system is top of mind, knowing if your body is receiving proper nutrition is beneficial knowledge to have, not just for your health but for your wallet as well. This panel from Any Lab Test Now® gives you a look at 11 different components that will tell you if your body is getting the nutrition it needs to operate efficiently.
Start the New Year off Right
Test results belong to you. However, we strongly encourage you to have a conversation with your provider about the results. If you do not have a primary care physician, Any Lab Test Now® has partnered with Dial Care. This service helps you find a provider licensed in your state to discuss results and any further testing or changes you may need to make to achieve your health goals.
There is no better way to kick off the new year than being dedicated to your health and wellness. Any Lab Test Now® is your partner in health, providing tests to help keep you and your family healthy all year long. Ready to get started with your resolution? Call now to schedule an appointment at a location near you.
Testing Promises A Healthy New Year
Kickstart your health this year by steering clear of fad diets and opt to make lifestyle changes based on your nutritional needs.
The end of the holiday season marks the time when people take a close look at what they are eating and how much they exercise. Weight loss is a $72 billion industry, and there is no shortage of trendy diet options, according to a report published by Research Markets, a Dublin, Ireland-based market research firm. Dieters who opt to follow a keto, paleo or low-carbohydrate diet see immediate results by slashing calorie intake. Weight loss from quick-fix diets is typically short-lived. Despite 44.5-million Americans starting a new diet each year, two-thirds of the U.S. population is obese, reveals Boston Medical Center. Most dieters gain back the weight they lost and even add a few extra pounds within two years, John Hopkins Medicine reports.
Get informed at ANY LAB TEST NOW
Medical experts agree. The key to good health is not the number on the scale. Make stopping by your local Any Lab Test Now location for a Basic Nutritional Panel a top priority in your healthy living journey. The panel includes a variety of tests that can give you a good idea if your body — particularly your metabolism — is functioning properly. It can reveal signs of anemia, infections, or other factors that may cause fatigue, as well as reveal deficiencies in the most common vitamins and minerals. Getting your nutrition tested is a necessary step to changing unhealthy patterns.
The Basic Nutrition Panel includes:
- Complete Blood Count – A CBC measures the number of each of the different types of blood cells. Abnormal blood cell counts can indicate anemia or infection.
- Comprehensive Metabolic Panel – The CMP reveals liver and kidney function and glucose and electrolyte levels. It also measures protein levels in the blood, which are key to ensuring healthy muscles, bones and organs, according to WebMD.
- Iron – An iron deficiency could be causing a lack of energy.
- The Basic Nutritional Panel tests a number of vitamin levels responsible for boosting your immune system and building strong bones.
Problem with diets
Trendy diets seem like an easy way to lose weight rapidly. But drastically cutting calories can have a negative impact on your health.
Dehydration. Quick-fix diets often result in loss of water weight. Your body needs sufficient water to function normally. Dehydration may cause fatigue, dizziness and even confusion, Mayo Clinic said.
Exhaustion. Depriving the body of calories can cause weakness and make you tired.
Headaches. Low blood sugar as a result of fasting or eating less increases your risk for headaches.
Constipation. Many fad diets cut out foods necessary to facilitate proper digestion. Lack of fiber can cause constipation and stomach pain.
Inadequate vitamin and mineral intake. The body needs the right amount of vitamins and minerals to function at an optimum level. Depriving your body of necessary nutrients can cause damage that appears later in life.
Resolve to adopt a healthy lifestyle
Hop off the diet bandwagon this year and make a new year’s resolution to commit to a healthy lifestyle. Set small weight loss goals and focus on your overall health.
Eat a balanced diet. There’s no need to count calories or cut carbs. Eat small portions with plenty of fruits and vegetables. Avoiding processed foods and servings with added sugar and salt is important.
Keep a food journal. Medical experts advise keeping a food journal to record your consumption. Knowing what you put in your body and how much food you need to feel satisfied will help you set limits and understand your vices.
Get moving. Exercise is the key to keeping your body working properly. The American Heart Association recommends at least five hours of exercise per week, including muscle strengthening and aerobic activity. Spend less time sitting and more time moving this year.
Eat small meals throughout the day to help boost metabolism. Try eating small meals six times per day to help provide energy and prevent hunger.
Eat that treat. If you crave chocolate before bed, indulge in a small piece, rather than an entire candy bar. If fried chicken is your favorite, put this crispy dinner on your menu once a month, instead of weekly. Incorporating foods you love into your diet will keep you from feeling deprived, and help you reach long-term weight loss goals.
ANY LAB TEST NOW offers fast and affordable lab testing without a prescription. Visit your local ANY LAB TEST NOW location to fulfill your new year’s goals.
