Colorectal Cancer Awareness

We all know someone whose life has been touched by cancer. It’s a scary diagnosis that is generally followed up with treatment plans, support groups, and a journey of making peace with all the potential outcomes. By definition, cancer is a disease in which some of the body’s cells grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body. Unfortunately, there are many types of cancer, and they can attack anywhere inside the body, which only adds to the terror surrounding the diagnosis. Many people, understandably, don’t want to talk about cancer. Much less, specific cancers like colorectal cancer. 

Colorectal cancer is a disease where the cells in the colon or rectum grow out of control. Before a person is even aware, it can move from one stage to the next, causing treatments to become more intense and high-risk. Our greatest ally in fighting this cancer is early testing. At Any Lab Test Now®, we have a variety of screening options.

According to the CDC, risk factors include:

  • Inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.
  • A personal or family history of colorectal cancer or colorectal polyps.
  • A genetic syndrome such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP).

And lifestyle factors like:

  • Lack of regular physical activity
  • A diet low in fruit and vegetables
  • Poor diet with higher amounts of fats
  • Overweight
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Tobacco use

Colorectal cancer typically occurs in people ages 45 and older, but in recent years, the disease has begun to affect younger people as well. Every year, about 150,000 Americans are diagnosed with this disease, with an estimated 50,000 deaths. Often known as the silent killer, colorectal cancer may develop without symptoms.

According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is one the most common types of cancer in men and women. It is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Routine testing can help prevent or find cancer at an earlier stage when it might be easier to treat. If found early, the five-year survival rate increases by more than 90 percent, meaning many lives could be saved by the awareness that comes with increased testing. 

Testing that Works For You

Remember, at Any Lab Test Now®, we make testing easy for you. You do not need a doctor’s note to get lab testing done. We invite you to walk in for same-day testing during work-friendly hours.

The lab tests we provide are confidential, affordable, and convenient. You own the results, and you choose how to proceed with them. But we do encourage you to consult with a provider for further details to make the best decisions about your health. If you do not have a primary care physician, Any Lab Test Now® has partnered with Dial Care, a service that helps you find a provider licensed in your state.

 

What’s Your Cellular Age?

JUL newsletter SMALL telomeresAs 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.

Now Means Now

We are a society that craves convenience. We don’t like to waste time, but when waiting for something we need and/or something we’re paying for, like healthcare, we usually don’t have a choice.

Based on the 2022 Survey of Physician Appointment Wait Times and Medicare and Medicaid Acceptance Rates, it takes about 26 days to get in to see a doctor if you’re a new patient. That number can increase exponentially for a specialist appointment. This information is based on research conducted regarding physician appointment times in 15 United States metropolitan cities.

Part of the reason it’s taking so long is due to the mass exodus of healthcare workers since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Workers are spread thin and overtaxed, making appointments hard to come by because so many workers have left the healthcare industry, including physicians, specialists, and nurses. What that means for patients is that they may not be receiving the timely help they need when it comes to health and wellness.

A Convenient Solution

The good news is, at Any Lab Test Now®, you can receive prompt and efficient care concerning your healthcare needs. You do not need to make an appointment and we strive to get you in and out in 15 minutes or less. Some visits might be more involved and take a little longer, but care and convenience are our bottom line.

Any Lab Test Now® provides more than 8,000 lab tests. Those include anything from routine bloodwork to diagnostic and risk assessment tests. We can streamline any regular monitoring tests you need for acute and chronic conditions. For example, if you are on blood thinners and need weekly tests, or if you require testing before prescriptions can be refilled, or perhaps you are interested in monitoring your health and wellness.

What You Need to Know

At Any Lab Test Now®, we are dedicated to providing quality care on your time.

  • Typically, results are ready in 24 to 72 hours; by mail, fax, or in some cases, email.
  • Test results belong to you. You may choose to discuss the results with your provider. 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.
  • Transparent pricing, HSA, FSA accepted, no insurance accepted.

But Wait, There’s More

Any Lab Test Now® is a committed partner in helping you manage your healthcare. That’s why we ensure a professional, compassionate, and non-judgmental environment. Your privacy is priority-one, and all test results are confidential. We only share results when you give written permission to do so.

We know the demand for better healthcare is growing. Taking care of health and wellness has never been a bigger priority for Americans. Data from McKinsey & Company shows wellness is taking precedence in daily life, with about half of U.S. consumers pushing it to the top spot. Any Lab Test Now® is here to help. We provide the opportunity to take control of your health and wellness and empower you to make educated decisions that directly affect your quality of life.

Call now to schedule an appointment at a location near you.

Check the Calendar: Use It or Lose It

As the year comes to an end, you might be reflecting on the last 12 months and deciding how you want to change things in the new year. Many of us use this opportunity to make a fresh start. For example, the most popular resolutions in 2022 were living healthier, personal improvement, happiness, and losing weight. Sound familiar? If your new year goals include boosting your health and wellness, Any Lab Test Now® can help you achieve those objectives.

This is a perfect time to get a snapshot of your overall health for two reasons:

  1. To start the new year knowing what health issues you’ve got to address to become the best version of you.
  2. Here’s your chance to utilize your HSA or FSA to pay for these health screenings — before you lose those savings.

Don’t Forget About That Piggy Bank

Providing answers about your and your family’s health through our screenings is a valuable tool for you to utilize. With the expenses of the holidays, you may be tempted to put these important health assessments off. But don’t. Remember, you’ve got that HSA health savings account or an FSA flexible spending account that you can use. Both are designed to help you cover your qualified out-of-pocket medical expenses with the available untaxed funds to reduce your healthcare costs. Screenings done at Any Lab Test Now® qualify.

Here’s the rub, most HSA plans will have the money you saved roll over into the new year. However, that is untrue with an FSA. With an FSA, you’ve got to use that money by the last day of December or lose the funds. Yep, check your account deadlines so you can use it or lose it!

Screening tests completed by Any Lab Test Now® are the ideal way to make use of those resources before the zero hour.

There is a plethora of specific tests you can schedule if you have concerns about particular health issues. But if you want a broader overall impression, consider some of the General Health Tests that Any Lab Test Now® can provide.

We offer a full range of clinical lab tests to support your well-being, all without having to spend time in a waiting room. From men’s and women’s health to hormone and fitness testing, our affordable wellness tests will fit your budget and lifestyle.

The Annual Check‐Up Panel is the perfect panel for evaluating your overall health. The panel consists of five tests typically ordered by a physician during an annual physical exam. These tests can establish your “baseline” consisting 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. Having this baseline means you can compare future levels to see how they are fluctuating.

Take Charge of Your Health

The answers you receive from your screening at Any Lab Test Now® are all part of our effort to help you be well-informed about the prevention and management of chronic and everyday illnesses and overall health for you and your loved ones. Increasing your health literacy puts you in the driver’s seat, better able to lead your health and wellness efforts.

Remember, at Any Lab Test Now®, the lab tests we provide are confidential, affordable, and convenient. You own the results, and you choose how to proceed with them, whether that means consulting with your provider for further details or perhaps the results give you the peace of mind you were seeking.

Obtaining lab testing through blood tests is a very precise indicator of your health. It tracks your overall well-being and can detect issues with organs or how well you are managing a disease. It is an important look at your overall wellness.

Any Lab Test Now® Has You Covered

As a reminder, with the holidays upon us, if you are traveling during the season or want to look out for the well-being of family and friends you visit, Any Lab Test Now® also provides testing for the most common respiratory ailments we see this time of year, including flu, strep, rsv, and COVID-19. Any services we provide are eligible under your HSA or FSA plan.

Call now to schedule an appointment at a location near you.

“The More You Know… Lab Testing for Every Need”

National Flu Vaccine Week

It’s that time of year, when news agencies tell us the number of daily flu cases, and we hear the sneezing and coughing from people around us. Flu season is in full swing, and it’s predicted to be a severe one, according to health experts.

How do officials figure this stuff out? It’s actually quite interesting.

It’s Gonna Be a Bad Flu Season

Infectious disease and public health experts in the Northern hemisphere generally look at what happened in the Southern hemisphere as a predictor of where things will go during our winter. The Southern Hemisphere goes first, and based on how Australia’s flu season was, it’s gonna be rough. Australia experienced their worst flu season in five years.

Health officials say what may be partly to blame is that for a few years now, we haven’t really been exposed to the flu virus because of masking and Covid-19 restrictions, so our immunity decreases.

What is the Flu Virus?

The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs. According to the CDC, it can be a potentially serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death.

During typical flu seasons, millions of people will become sick, hundreds of thousands of people are hospitalized and thousands to tens of thousands of people die from flu-related causes.

If you’ve ever had the flu, you know you feel crummy for about 7-10 days. But there are times when it can develop into further health problems. Complications from the flu  can include bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes. Health officials warn–serious complications from the flu are more likely in babies and young children, pregnant women, older adults, and people with certain long-term health conditions.

Get Your Annual Flu Vaccine

But you can prevent the flu or the severity if you get your flu shot. Many people will get their flu vaccine beginning in September. You want protection to last through the peak of flu season which is February. This not only protects you but your loved ones and the community.

During National influenza Vaccination Week (December 6-12, 2022), the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) is urging everyone age 6 months and older—if you haven’t already gotten your flu vaccine, it’s not too late, especially for those who are considered high risk, health-wise. The NFID is concerned, because a recent survey indicated that  only 49% of US adults plan to get a flu vaccine during the 2022-2023 flu season. 

That’s why it’s important to know that the best way to prevent flu is by getting a flu vaccine each year. The seasonal flu shot can lower the risk of getting the flu by about half. While some people who get a flu shot may still get sick with influenza, flu vaccination has been shown in several studies to reduce severity of illness. Contrary to what some may believe, the flu vaccine cannot cause the flu.

Protection with the Flu Vaccine

The Flu shot causes antibodies to develop in the body about two weeks after vaccination. These antibodies provide protection against flu illness.

Seasonal flu vaccines are designed to protect against the influenza viruses that researchers believe will be most common during the upcoming season. All flu vaccines in the United States are “quadrivalent” vaccines, which means they protect against four different flu viruses: an influenza A(H1N1) virus, an influenza A(H3N2) virus, and two influenza B viruses.

Officials say there are some new vaccines this season, designed for people 65 years and older that are recommended over standard dose.

The Flu Vaccine is Not Made for Everyone

There are some people who should not get the flu shot.

  • Children younger than 6 months of age
  • People with severe, life-threatening allergies to any ingredient in a flu vaccine (other than egg proteins).
  • People who have had a severe allergic reaction to a dose of influenza vaccine, previously
  • If you ever had Guillain-Barré Syndrome (a severe paralyzing illness, also called GBS). Talk to your doctor about your GBS history.
  • If you are not feeling well, talk to your doctor about your symptoms.

Any Lab Test Now® Can Test for Flu

If you suspect you may be sick with the flu, or if you are travelling this holiday season and want to protect your friends and family members, Any Lab Test Now® is a resource for you. With so many different causes for similar illnesses, it can be difficult to know what the cause of any respiratory illness symptoms might be.

To determine if you have the flu or not, we provide our rapid flu influenza test. Results are available to you in 10 to 15 minutes and can help identify if symptoms are due to an infection with the influenza virus or not.  No matter the results, if you are sick with a respiratory virus, it’s always best to follow up with your healthcare provider to get appropriate treatment. If you need a provider, we’ve teamed up with DialCare to provide virtual licensed physicians at your fingertips.

Schedule an Appointment Today

Any Lab Test Now® is a resource you can use for your family’s health and wellness.  The lab tests we provide are confidential, affordable, and convenient. If you are feeling under the weather, get your flu test and the answers you need. Call now to schedule an appointment at a location near you.

The Importance of Knowing Your Family’s Health History

Ever notice every time you go to see a doctor, you’re tasked with filling out a bunch of forms about not only your health, but also your family’s health? There’s a good reason for that. Knowing the medical history of your family can improve the quality of your care.

To ensure you and your loved ones are communicating about various medical conditions that may run the family, healthcare professionals have developed National Family Health History Day. Coincidentally, this event lands on Thanksgiving Day. The idea is that while you are gathering with family to count your blessings and enjoy your turkey dinner, it’s a perfect opportunity to compare notes and discuss family health issues.

Some of the topics you should discuss include:

  • First-, second-, and third-degree relatives
  • Age for all relatives (age at time of death for the deceased)
  • Ethnicity (some genetic diseases are more common in certain ethnic groups)
  • Presence of chronic diseases

Once you’ve gathered the info, you can store it using a free software for your family’s health history, created by the Surgeon General’s office, called “My Family Health Portrait.” It’s easy to complete and make accessible to family members and your healthcare team.

Family Health = Your Health

This is important because knowing what diseases or health conditions family members may have directly connects you to being susceptible to those ailments. As the CDC describes it, since your family shares similar genes, there is a greater likelihood that you may be predisposed to certain genetic conditions. You may also have behaviors in common, such as exercise habits and food preferences. Perhaps you live in the same area and encounter similar environmental issues. Family history includes all these factors, any of which can affect your health.

See Your Board-Certified Doctor

Understanding your family’s health risks will make the questions from the doctor a whole lot easier. If you are choosing a new physician or have a trusted practitioner, many people like to know if the doctor is board-certified.

Doctors are required to have a state medical license to practice medicine. But, according to the National Institutes of Health, board certification is a higher standard that doctors may choose as an extra step, demonstrating their mastery. Board-certified doctors demonstrate their desire to practice at the top of their profession and deliver high-quality care to their patients. About 87% of American physicians are certified.

Knowledge is Power

On your next trip to the doctor, you can understand why it’s essential for your physician to have an up-to-date patient health history. It means there are essentially more tools in the toolbox at their disposal to identify your risk factors for certain diseases and take preventative measures to reduce that risk. By being aware of early warning signs you can make the necessary lifestyle changes.

Doctors are especially zeroing in on diseases like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and cancer. If you have a family member with a chronic disease, you may be more likely to develop the disease. If there is a history of heart disease in your family, for example, your physician will encourage you to avoid risk factors like smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, and a poor diet. Plus, keeping it on the radar through medical testing like preventative screenings could detect an issue and catch it early — giving you a better chance of living longer, with quality of life. Your doctor may routinely check blood pressure and do medical tests like cholesterol screenings and blood glucose testing.

Medical Testing to Improve Your Health

At Any Lab Test Now®, you can take the lead with your health and wellness by having these medical tests done on your own. You have direct access to thousands of lab tests that can screen for issues relating to family history. Like the CBC Panel, which provides a snapshot of your health, and the Comprehensive Metabolic Panel which gives a clear picture of your overall health. Plus, you could include the Lipid Panel to determine if you are at risk for heart disease.

Additionally, the Healthy Weight DNA Test is a scientifically-based weight-management test and program that identifies your unique genetic makeup and provides diet and exercise strategies specifically tailored to your genotype. Any Lab Test Now® examines your DNA and analyzes various genetic markers that are known to be associated with your weight, metabolism, and body type. These are the basic tests everyone needs because they provide conclusive answers about your health.

The benefit of using Any Lab Test Now® as your family’s health center is that you own the test results and may choose to use the results in the manner of your choosing. Perhaps you will share with your family to shed light on family health history.

As you prepare to visit your family this holiday season, don’t forget Any Lab Test Now® can help keep your family gatherings safe by providing COVID-19 testing.

Call now to schedule an appointment for any of these tests at a location near you.

Malnutrition Awareness Week

For most of us, when we hear the term malnutrition, we think of undernourished or starving people. But we’re only half right. Therefore, to improve health literacy, it’s important to fully understand the term malnutrition — because it can be lifesaving.

There’s been a worldwide push to improve awareness of malnutrition so that we can combat the issue. Malnutrition Awareness Week was launched in 2012 by The American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN), a nonprofit organization whose members are involved in providing clinical nutrition therapies.

Healthcare professionals are tasked with the prevention, early detection, and treatment of malnutrition but it’s an eye-opening, global issue that we should all know more about.

You or your family may be malnourished, and you may not even realize it.

Malnutrition refers to deficiencies, excesses, or imbalances in a person’s intake of energy and/or nutrients. Understand, this refers to any time your dietary intake is not serving your body well, and that can cause a number of harmful health conditions.

Malnutrition Has Two Groupings

  1. Group 1: Undernutrition – This group can include the following conditions:
  2. Stunting or low height for age
  3. Wasting or low weight for height
  4. Underweight or low weight for age
  5. Micronutrient deficiencies/insufficiencies or a lack of important vitamins and minerals
  6. Group 2: Overweight – This group can include the following conditions:
  7. Obesity
  8. Diet-related noncommunicable diseases, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer

Malnutrition affects people in every country. Did you realize that:

  • 1.9 billion adults worldwide are overweight
  • 462 million are underweight
  • 41 million children under the age of 5 are overweight or obese
  • 159 million children are stunted

Effects of Malnutrition

Plain and simple, when you are lacking the proper nutrition, your body does not function at its optimal level. It’s hard to believe this remains a problem in the 21st century, but the truth is that it is a global issue occurring in both wealthy and poverty-stricken counties. Malnutrition is problematic for several reasons.

For many families, nutritious foods are financially out of reach. Face it, fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, and dairy products are expensive. It’s often cheaper to satisfy hunger with higher-calorie foods that are typically high in fat, sugar, and salt. This can cause you to be obese and lack the proper vitamins and nutrients to keep your body running efficiently.

For those with little access to food and water, or a condition that stops their body from obtaining the right balance of nutrients, their health can be severely impacted. In some cases, this can become life-threatening. It can stunt proper growth in children and cause short and long-term health issues.

For example, without proper nutrients, your body will take longer to heal wounds, and there is a higher risk of infection. A lack of vitamin A causes vision problems, and a lack of vitamin C can cause scurvy.

People who have issues with swallowing, digestive problems like nausea or diarrhea, mental health issues, eating disorders, mobility challenges, those who are socially isolated, and older adults may also have to deal with malnutrition.

There are some telltale signs of malnutrition.

Symptoms include:

  • Weight loss
  • Lack of appetite or interest in food or drink
  • Fatigue and irritability
  • An inability to concentrate
  • Always feeling cold
  • Depression
  • Loss of fat, muscle mass, and body tissue
  • Higher risk of getting sick and taking longer to heal
  • Longer healing time for wounds
  • Slow development in children physically and mentally
  • Over time, heart failure

How Any Lab Test Now® Can Help

In an effort to educate you about how to best prevent and manage chronic and everyday illnesses, Any Lab Test Now® has a number of nutrition tests that help you determine if you are receiving the proper nutrients to keep your body functioning effectively. Tests look at your nutrition at two levels. First, the Basic Nutritional Panel. This panel helps you rule out malnutrition and adrenal gland disorders. It screens for the systemic or macronutrient level of nutrients the body needs in large amounts to provide energy, like carbs, proteins, and fats.

Micronutrients, on the other hand, are nutrients at the cellular level that our bodies need, but in smaller amounts, like fat-soluble vitamins and minerals. Our Micronutrient Test measures your body’s ability to absorb vitamins, minerals, and nutrients.

At Any Lab Test Now®, we provide a safe and confidential environment that is convenient for you and your family to have nutritional testing done. You own the results and can choose to share them with your provider if the results show any abnormalities.

Schedule an Appointment

Malnutrition is a serious condition that may be affecting you or your family — and you may not even realize it. That’s why looking out for your health through blood work at Any Lab Test Now® is vital to you living a healthy life.

We have more than 200 locations across the country. Click here to find the nearest Any Lab Test Now® location and schedule an appointment.

Don’t Rely on Luck, Act Now to Protect Your Kidneys

March, the month when the ice begins to melt and the sun starts to shine through the heavy clouds of winter. The first day of spring encourages outdoor dining and lazy hammock lounging as we welcome the warm weather after the months of cold that have become all too familiar. In addition to looking forward to warmer weather, March features St. Patrick’s Day, National Reading Month, and an important one, National Kidney Month. Kidneys aren’t usually what comes to mind when you think of the third month of the year. However they’re hard at work the entire calendar year, so it’s only fair to recognize their efforts. 

Let’s Start With The Facts

Kidney disease affects 1 in 3 American adults, that’s 37 million adults! The unfortunate reality is that most people don’t even know it. Right now, 100,000 people are on the kidney transplant list. According to the World Health Organization, kidney disease is the 10th leading cause of death globally. 

What Is Kidney Disease?

Chronic kidney disease, or chronic renal disease, is a condition where you suffer from a gradual loss of kidney function over time. The disease includes conditions that damage your kidneys and decrease their ability to keep you healthy by filtering wastes from your blood. Kidney disease increases your risk of having heart and blood vessel disease. When kidney disease progresses, it can eventually lead to kidney failure, which requires dialysis or a kidney transplant to maintain life. 

If your kidneys worsen, you may start to feel sick and develop symptoms like:

  • High blood pressure
  • Anemia
  • Weak bones
  • Poor nutritional health
  • Nerve damage

Risk Factors for Kidney Disease

Several factors can lead to kidney disease. Diabetes and high blood pressure are responsible for two-thirds of chronic kidney disease cases. Diabetes occurs when your blood sugar is too high. Over time, if unmanaged, it can cause damage to your kidneys, heart, blood vessels, nerves, and eyes. High blood pressure occurs when your blood pressure against the walls of your blood vessels increases. If poorly controlled, it can be a leading cause of heart attacks, strokes, and chronic kidney disease. Additionally, kidney stones or tumors can possibly lead to kidney damage, a well.

Unfortunately, chronic kidney disease can impact individuals at any age.
You could have an increased risk if you:

  • Have a family history of kidney failure
  • Are older in age
  • Belong to a group with a high rate of diabetes or high blood pressure


Symptoms of Kidney Disease

Detecting chronic kidney disease can be tricky because the signs and symptoms of the disease typically occur later as the disease progresses. Something to also be mindful of is how symptoms can progress differently in men and women. For instance, urinary tract infections are more common in women, if the UTI travels to the kidneys it could put some women at greater risk for chronic kidney disease. In contrast, there are some cases where men may progress to end-stage renal disease or kidney failure faster.

While watching for late-stage symptoms won’t help with early detection, it’s important to be aware of the signs:

  • Feeling exhausted, less energy
  • Trouble concentrating
  • Poor appetite 
  • Trouble sleeping 
  • Muscle cramping at night
  • Swollen feet/ankles
  • Puffiness around your eyes, especially in the morning 
  • Dry, itchy skin
  • Frequent urination, especially at night

Steps to a Healthy Kidney

Early detection and treatment can often keep kidney disease from getting worse. Now is the best time to make a commitment to yourself to keep your kidneys healthy. Any Lab Test Now’s Renal Function Panel is a group of tests used to evaluate kidney function.

This panel provides an affordable, convenient option for you to maintain your health. Minerals, electrolytes, proteins, and glucose are measured as part of this test. A simple blood draw is required, and no appointment is necessary. At Any Lab Test Now ®, we pride ourselves on being accessible to the working person, so our locations have business-friendly hours. 

New Year, Better You!

There are many components to being diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. The root could come from several conditions like getting older, an autoimmune disease, or inherited diseases, but something you can do is get ahead of it. With early detection, you can save yourself from severe illness or even death. 

Once you get your test results, you can work with your primary physician to treat and improve the health of your kidneys. As we continue to battle COVID-19 fatigue, it’s easy to write off testing, especially for something that isn’t at the forefront of your mind. However, it’s vital to make your kidney health a priority. As a new season welcomes us, spring into action to care for your kidneys so you can live your life to the fullest. 

Any Lab Test Now ® has more than 200 locations across the country. You can make an appointment online, by phone, or just walk in. Don’t rely on luck for good kidney health, click here for your nearest location. 

STD Testing: Love Your Loved Ones Safely

It’s been nearly two years since COVID-19 first made headlines, and with the stay-at-home orders and lockdowns, many people turned to each other for entertainment. Whether it’s boredom or intentional family planning, there’s a lot of baby announcements popping up on social media feeds everywhere. While that’s the positive side to people getting busy, on the flip side, there’s a grim epidemic currently plaguing the nation. Sexually transmitted diseases are on the rise as fewer people are getting tested and treated.

The numbers are staggering. A recent 2021 study from the CDC states that the rate of STDs has hit a record high for the sixth consecutive year. More than 2.5 million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis were reported in 2019. This year, the city with the highest STD rate was Jackson, Mississippi, knocking last year’s titleholder, Baltimore, Maryland, to second place. Sexually transmitted diseases can have devastating effects. Now is a good time to stop the profusion of STD cases and make our sexual health a priority.

What better way to love yourself and your partner than making sure you’re in the best possible health to be intimate? It’s the ultimate self-care. There are many STDs to be aware of and protect yourself against. At Any Lab Test Now®, we offer a Comprehensive STD Panel that tests for all major STDs at the same time for one low price. It’s all completely confidential. 

This includes:

STDs often have symptoms that mirror other diseases, making them hard to diagnose. Sometimes they have no symptoms at all. Even if you have no visible symptoms, you still have an STD; and without treatment, it can lead to several complications, some life-threatening. This increases the importance to check this test off your New Year’s to-do list as soon as possible. This way, you can focus on quality time with your partner(s) without fear of what you could be spreading without even knowing it. 

It’s unfortunate that many of the side effects of sexually transmitted diseases are not felt until later in life. It is estimated that chlamydia is one of the leading causes of infertility, with at least 20,000 women experiencing this tragedy each year. However, if caught early on, chlamydia can be easily treated with antibiotics. Antibiotics can also treat gonorrhea and syphilis, but if left untreated, these STDs put people, including newborns, at risk for chronic pain, severe life outcomes, and HIV. 

Since you can’t rely on symptoms to be a sure sign you have an STD, routine testing is vital to maintaining your sexual health and peace of mind. Once you get tested, if it’s negative, you’re encouraged to practice safer sex by doing any of the following to reduce your risk of contracting an STD in your future:

  • Use condoms
  • Communicate with your partner about their sexual history
  • Vaccinations (HPV vaccine is available and safe)

New Year, Better You!

Any Lab Test Now® provides transparent and inexpensive prices for customers who have no insurance, high deductible insurance, or simply want to monitor their health proactively. Any Lab Test Now® is committed to helping you prioritize your health this year. We encourage you to maintain your New Year’s resolutions. There are enough scary germs circulating around as you go about your daily life, don’t let STDs also be one that affects you. For the new year, have your sexual health take precedence as you make your way to a better you.

Book an appointment online or walk into any of our more than 200+ Any Lab Test Now® locations. 

Getting a Gauge on Your Stress Levels

Let’s talk about the many faces of stress. Stress is being burned out at work, but feeling like you must persevere because of the pile of unpaid bills on the kitchen counter. Stress is making a family decision, knowing your in-laws will criticize it. It’s being stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic while already 30 minutes late to an appointment. It’s realizing you have to figure out what you need to eat for dinner tonight and every night for the rest of your life. Many factors contribute to stress, so it’s best to stay aware of how your body is reacting to it.

For the last two years, our stress levels have heightened in the wake of the global pandemic. According to a new study from the American Psychological Association, 32 percent of Americans said they are so stressed about the pandemic that they struggle to make fundamental decisions such as what to wear or what to eat. It’s completely derailed many of our daily routines, making work and personal life infinitely harder to navigate. As our lives become more complicated, our bodies adjust, and not always in the healthiest way. 

We’ve all experienced it — whether an argument with your spouse or a work assignment that just isn’t going your way, our stress symptoms start as a response. Your heart starts racing, your muscles tighten, you get a stomachache. During a time like this, a hormone called cortisol (hydrocortisone) is going to work. Cortisol is released to help your body deal with stress, but it can be more harmful than helpful if your cortisol levels are too high or too low.

Cortisol is released by your adrenal glands, which are right above your kidneys. It also helps our bodies manage how we use carbohydrates, fats, proteins and controls our wake and sleep cycles. A study released one year after The World Health Organization announced the global pandemic states 67 percent of Americans reported unwanted changes in their sleep patterns. Cortisol suppresses what your body doesn’t need in a “fight-or-flight” situation. Essentially, it kicks in your instincts and is crucial to our survival. Of course, all things require balance, especially when it’s within your own body, so let’s look at what happens when your cortisol levels are unbalanced.

Too much cortisol can cause conditions like: 

  • Hyperglycemia
  • Obesity
  • Decreased bone density
  • Increased blood pressure
  • Damage to the heart

Too little cortisol can cause the opposite effect:

  • Weight loss
  • Fatigue
  • Diarrhea and vomiting
  • Low blood pressure
  • Loss of consciousness

Any of those symptoms above would add undesired effects to your life. If you’re currently experiencing any of these issues, it’s time to find out what’s going on. According to a 2021 health study, since the pandemic began, nearly half of Americans, a whopping 47 percent, said they have delayed or canceled their healthcare services. 


A Simple Solution

Any Lab Test Now® is the best choice for a fast and safe health experience. We provide the doctor’s order so you can walk in without an appointment and choose from thousands of testing options.

 Our facilities offer affordable lab testing options to help both you and your doctors monitor your body’s response to stress. The Cortisol Lab Test is a blood test used to measure the level of cortisol in the blood. This test can provide an indication if your cortisol levels are too high or too low. Or try the Saliva Cortisol Test, which can determine your cortisol level via a saliva sample. 

New Year, Better You!

We’ve developed many unhealthy habits as COVID-19 has deterred us from being our best mentally and physically. However, you can make that change today. It’s time to focus on a new year and a better you! Take the first step towards better health in 2022 by testing your cortisol levels. Any Lab Test Now® has more than 200 locations available nationwide.

Click this link to find your nearest Any Lab Test Now and schedule an appointment.