Colorectal Cancer Awareness

Cancer is a daunting diagnosis that touches many lives, often leading to complex treatment plans, support systems, and an emotional journey of coming to terms with possible outcomes. By definition, cancer involves the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells in the body. The multitude of cancer types, affecting any part of the body, contributes to its fearsome reputation. Conversations around this subject are tough, particularly with more specific forms like colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer is characterized by the uncontrolled growth of cells in the colon or rectum. Often progressing silently from one stage to the next, it demands increasingly intense and high-risk treatments. Early detection through screening is our strongest asset in combating this disease, and at Any Lab Test Now®, we offer a variety of screening options to assist in early identification.

Understanding Testing Options

Testing Options at Any Lab Test Now:

Colon Cancer Screening (FIT) Test: This non-invasive test detects hemoglobin in the stool, which can be an indicator of colorectal cancer.
Colon Cancer Screening (Blood) Test: This test uses 5 DNA markers to look for the possible presence of colorectal cancer. It involves a simple blood draw and can be performed for all adults, without any age restrictions.

Please note: the Colon Cancer Screen (Blood) Test is not intended to replace a colonoscopy. It is meant to be used as a screening tool for the early detection of colorectal cancer. Based on the results of your test, a colonoscopy may still be recommended. We recommend that you work with a trusted healthcare provider to discuss the colorectal cancer screening options that are best for you.

Each of these tests plays a crucial role in early detection and prevention of colorectal cancer, enhancing the ability to address the disease at a treatable stage. Regular screenings are recommended starting at age 45, or earlier for those with heightened risk factors.

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 affects individuals aged 45 and older, but in recent trends, it increasingly impacts younger populations too. Approximately 150,000 Americans are diagnosed annually, leading to around 50,000 deaths. Its development often occurs with few noticeable symptoms, earning it the moniker, “the silent killer.”

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.

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.

No appointment necessary — but calling ahead for an appointment or scheduling online will ensure no wait time and streamline the appointment.

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.

School is Back – Take Back Your Health

It’s that time of year–kids from preschool through college are heading back to school. This means it’s the perfect opportunity to do a re-set and focus on the family’s health, coinciding with National Health Center Week (August 9-15). What you may not realize is that Any Lab Test Now® is a “health center” giving you direct access to thousands of beneficial lab tests to ensure wellness.

Useful Lab Tests For Concerned Parents

As your children head back to school, there are any number of lab tests you can utilize. Any Lab Test Now® is a family health center, we provide many lab tests to check a number of health concerns. Perhaps you’re unsettled, wondering if your son or daughter picked up bad habits over the summer—research shows more than 3,000 teens try marijuana for the first time every day.

Parents who are worried their child could use or abuse drugs either in high school or while away at college can easily have their son or daughter tested. Any Lab Test Now® does drug testing, no appointment necessary.

For example, we may utilize a screening called a Blood 5-Panel Drug Test to determine the presence or absence of 5 types of drugs or their metabolites in the bloodstream. This blood drug test checks for the presence of 5 drug metabolites including:

Amphetamine/Methamphetamines
Marijuana
Cocaine
Opiates
Phencyclidine

Any Lab Test Now® can also conduct tests to see if someone has been vaping, a habit that the Surgeon General has declared an epidemic among youth. The choices parents have for Nicotine tests available at Any Lab Test Now® include:

Urine Test:
A Good choice if a parent suspects the child has used nicotine over the last few days. An instant test is available, and parents can get results within five to ten minutes.
Hair Follicle Test:
A good option for parents who think their child has been either vaping or smoking nicotine for a long time, and the child might stop using just to get through the test. It takes 3 days for nicotine to start showing in hair strands.
Blood Test:
A simple blood draw can detect traces of nicotine about 2 hours after use.

Testing at Any Lab Test Now® is confidential. No one has access to results but parents. You own the results and you can even use an anonymous name to protect your child. Most importantly, the results give parents and other loved ones’ answers so they can take next steps if needed.

You can’t put a price tag on peace of mind. Since thousands of kids are going off to college for the first time, it might not hurt to get basic testing done to make you as a parent know that you’ve done all you can to protect your child.

Vaccine Immunity Check

Whether you have a young child going to daycare, preschool, grade school, high school, or college, there is one constant—making sure your child is current on vaccinations protecting them with everything from measles to chickenpox. Most states have laws requiring certain immunizations for school-aged children.

Problem is, immunization records can get lost and often be difficult to track down, especially if you’ve moved over the years. Any Lab Test Now® can help. We can do a simple blood test called the MMR Titer that checks if you are immune to measles, mumps, and rubella by measuring your antibody levels, thus determining if your immunization is up-to-date. The results demonstrate whether or not your immune system has the capability to respond to an infection from one of the viruses.

Take Back Mom’s Health

Knowing the kids are taken care of is a sense of relief for parents. Especially for moms, it’s been a busy summer, running non-stop, taking the kids to swim practice, soccer camp, or a friend’s house, and now getting ready for school can be exhausting and stressful. Any Lab Test Now® can run a Cortisol Test to see how much daily life stressors have been affecting mom’s overall health.

Taking Charge of Your Health

Taking these proactive measures helps you advocate for your family’s health. It puts you in the driver’s seat. Blood work, after all, can provide many much-needed answers about our health. This trend is called healthcare consumerism. It’s all about giving people the tools and control to live their best, healthiest lives. Take the control to say; I need this test done whether or not my insurance company will pay for it.

If you are ready to check your family’s health as you head back to school, Any Lab Test Now® is the health center you’ve been looking for. Call now to schedule an appointment at a location near you to take back your health.

Be Proactive When Protecting Your Teens

It’s a dreaded conversation for every parent: drug testing your teen. Often, this conversation can be met with a tense, awkward, or even defensive tone from your kiddo. Ultimately, many teens are just entering the world of proving their independence, wanting your trust, but also thinking they know what’s best for them. This mindset can lead to dangerous results if left to wander. It’s easy and perfectly understandable for parents to feel helpless in approaching these kinds of situations.

An excellent method to keep in mind is to be proactive! Have these conversations and act before you suspect something nefarious is going on. That way, speaking about drug use is not something that is shrouded in suspicion and distrust but just seen as a routine check-in. Although it can be a minor annoyance for your teen, at least it might help to cut down on the animosity.

If you’re looking for a safe place to check your teen and make sure they’re not engaging in drug use, be sure to consider your neighborhood Any Lab Test Now®.

Impact of Drug Use Among Teens

High school can be a difficult time for teenagers, they enter high school as children, but they leave as young adults. Fo just about every teen, this four-year period is extremely transformational and experimental. For most, this means trying drugs and alcohol for the first time.

Facts:

Teens experiment with drug use due to peer pressure and academic pressure
Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug among teens

Cotinine (Nicotine Metabolite) Test

At Any Lab Test Now®, we offer a urine drug test called the Cotinine (Nicotine Metabolite) Test that determines the presence of cotinine or nicotine in the system. It’s the test of choice to evaluate active tobacco use or exposure to tobacco. Cotinine is the metabolite or what is left after nicotine consumption. Cotinine is more stable and has a longer life in the body than nicotine. Nicotine is highly addictive and found in tobacco, cigarettes, and e-cigarettes used for vaping.

Results from the Cotinine Test are typically received in 24 to 48 business hours. We encourage you to consult with your primary physician about all test results.

10 Panel Instant Drug Screen (Saliva)

Any Lab Test Now® also offers the 10 Panel Instant Drug Test Screen. This test determines the presence or absence of 10 types of drugs in the saliva. it checks for the following metabolites:

Amphetamine
Barbiturates
Cocaine
MDMA
Methamphetamines
Methadone
Opiates
Oxycodone
Marijuana
Phencyclidine

As always, we recommend sharing your results with your physician to create a plan for the next steps.

School is Back – Take Back Your Health Too

Either of these two tests could provide you with information that could put your teen on a healthier road for their future. It can be gut-wrenching thinking your child may be engaging in drug use, and drug testing can be a scary thought, but it’s necessary to make sure your child is being safe and making healthy choices.

Convenience is key when it comes to Any Lab Test Now®. We recognize how difficult it can be to get your child drug tested, so we strive to have work and school accommodating hours, so it’s not a hassle visiting one of our clinics. Any Lab Test Now® supports the parents out there. Trust your instincts! You’re doing your best, and that’s enough. Schedule an appointment with your local Any Lab Test Now® today.

Protecting College Athletes

Combating Drug & Alcohol Abuse Among College Athletes

Getting lost in campus culture is one of the easiest and most commonly expected pitfalls for any student, but the pressure is tenfold for student-athletes. With high expectations placed upon them, athletes are expected to perform in a top-tier fashion and, if successful, are revered as campus celebrities. School work, organizations, parties, and the overall stress placed on these young adults are enough for anyone to seek out an outlet.

One of the biggest downfalls for any athlete is failing a drug test. The effects are irreversible, and its impact causes instant damage to the student’s college career. Fortunately, Any Lab Test Now® is an advocate for college athletes and strives to help these young talents take charge of their health on and off the court.

Let’s Talk About Adderall Abuse Among Adolescents

Typically used to treat ADHD, the medication is classified as a central nervous system stimulant. Most often, students take Adderall to hyper-focus, utilizing it to complete a paper or project on a strict deadline or when there’s a big test.

According to the American Addiction Centers, 425,000 teens between 12 and 17 reported misuse of Adderall. This number jumps to a staggering 2.5 million when applied to young adults 18 to 25. Another scary but very common statistic with Adderall abuse is that 63% of people 18 to 28 do not get Adderall from a primary physician. They claim to get it from their friends. Over 20% of the same age group get the pills from family members, while nearly 20% get them from other students.

Some common symptoms of Adderall overdose are:

Panic attack
Hyperventilation
Cardiac rhythm abnormalities
Vertigo
Profound confusion or delirium
Coma

These are obviously severe and intense reactions to Adderall overdose. Take the opportunity to help your athlete Take Control of Their Health® and take a peek at their current state of health. We understand that achieving peak performance and optimal results take more than physical fitness. It’s a matter of getting the inside facts about your body’s current state of health. In addition, ANY LAB TEST NOW® can be your partner in ensuring your athlete stays in tip-top shape without any enhancers through one of our many drug testing options.

NCAA’s Take on CBD

Let’s move on to another key player: CBD. According to the NCAA Banned Substance page, CBD is banned from college athletics, listed under “cannabinoids.”

First, what is CBD? According to an article published by Harvard Health, cannabidiol (CBD) is the second most prevalent active ingredient in cannabis or marijuana. CBD is derived from the hemp plant, a cousin of marijuana. CBD does not cause a “high” when used alone, which is the main difference between THC and CBD.

Among adults and teens, CBD is one of the most popular drugs in the United States. According to the American Addiction Centers, 28% of college athletes have used cannabis in the past year. Any Lab Test Now® has two tests that can help determine if your CBD leaves trace amounts of marijuana in the system.

Prevalence of Alcohol & Drugs on College Campus

College is a space for young adults to experience self-discovery. With a newfound independence, the formation of new friendships, and expectations from TV shows, this season of life can often lead to some not-so-glamorous behaviors that are often glorified.

According to the American Addiction Centers, some common reasons for the high prevalence of drug abuse among college students are:

High levels of academic stress
Used to lessen the anxiety surrounding social situations
Family history
Beliefs about substance abuse from the media, the “rite of passage” mentality
Joining fraternity or sorority life
Drugs are readily available on college campuses

Ways to Eliminate Student Drug Abuse

The best way to decrease the risk of drug use is prevention. According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, the risk of drug use significantly increases during a time of transition. College is one of the most significant transitions in a person’s life. For many students, just three months prior, they were raising their hand for a bathroom pass.

It’s difficult to say that any one thing will undoubtedly reduce your child’s risk of using drugs, but there are some prevention methods.

Be a pillar for your child.
They’ll inevitably get curious and want to dabble in something you’re not fond of. Reacting as their safe space and voice of reason takes the fight out of what they’re doing.
Be as “in the know” as you can.
Know who your teen is spending time with, and make sure to have healthy conversations about their interests and what they’re into. It creates a foundation of trust, and should your child decide to do something rebellious; they know you have their back.
Talk openly about the consequences of abusing drugs and alcohol.
Find something they can relate to, and impress upon them the dangers and how it rarely leaves people the same as when they began the abuse.

In addition, Any Lab Test Now® offers the Urine 5-Panel Drug Test With Expanded Opiate. This test determines the absence or presence of five types of drugs, including expanded opiates.

School is Back — Take Back Your Health Too

Drug and alcohol abuse is a multi-layered subject, especially when young people are involved. It’s a difficult but necessary conversation to have. With something as common as Adderall abuse, it’s best to get ahead of it as soon as possible to save the afflicted person from severe and life-changing symptoms.

As we prepare to head back to school, and many young adults are scouring Pinterest for the perfect décor, now is the ideal time for a fresh start and heading into the year with peace of mind. Any Lab Test Now® has more than 200 locations across the country. Don’t hesitate for a fresh start; 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.

Tired of Feeling Tired? The small gland that can make a big difference!

More than 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease. However, an estimated 60 percent of people are unaware they have a problem with their thyroid. The thyroid is a small gland, but when it comes to your health, plays a big role. The butterfly-shaped thyroid sits inside your throat, just under your voice box. Small in size, this gland plays a major part in several bodily functions, including your metabolism.

Your thyroid makes two hormones — T3 and T4. These hormones regulate the speed at which your cells work. Too much of these hormones, and you may find yourself with a pounding heart, sudden weight fluctuations, and feeling exhausted all the time.

As we observe National Thyroid Awareness Month this January,
let’s take time to understand the most common thyroid diseases and their symptoms.

Hyperthyroidism

When the thyroid gland produces too much of the hormone thyroxine (T4), this is hyperthyroidism. Hyper, of course, means overactive, which describes what is happening to your thyroid. It drives your body’s metabolism into high speed, which may lead to unexpected weight loss and rapid or irregular heart palpitations.

Other hyperthyroidism symptoms include:

Nervousness, anxiety, and irritability
Increased appetite
Changes in menstrual patterns
Increased sensitivity to heat
Thinning skin
Fine, brittle hair
Trembling
Muscle weakness
Problems sleeping
Irregular bowel movements
Goiter – swelling at the neck from an enlarged thyroid

If not treated, hyperthyroidism can lead to other health problems, including:

Graves’ Disease – This autoimmune disorder is a common cause of hyperthyroidism. A classic symptom of Graves’ disease is that the tissues and muscles behind the eyes swell, which makes the eyes bulge or protrude.

Osteoporosis – Too much thyroid hormone can block calcium absorption into your bones, making them brittle and subject to breaking.

Infertility – Women with an overactive thyroid can have difficulty getting pregnant. The condition can also be harmful to the mother and baby during pregnancy.

Hypothyroidism

The opposite of hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, occurs when the thyroid doesn’t produce enough T4 or its counterpart hormone T3 (triiodothyronine). The result is a slowing down of many bodily functions. Sometimes people write off the symptoms of hypothyroidism as a component of aging. However, left untreated, it can lead to obesity, joint pain, infertility, and heart disease.

Symptoms of hypothyroidism include:

Unexplained weight gain
Extreme fatigue
Hypersensitivity to cold
Constipation
Dry skin
Hoarseness
Puffiness in the face
Muscle aches, tenderness, stiffness, and weakness
Elevated blood cholesterol
Thinning hair and dry skin
Slower heart rate
Depression
Forgetfulness

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis– The most common cause of hypothyroidism. It is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of the thyroid. With Hashimoto’s, your body produces antibodies that attack and destroy the thyroid gland.

Diagnosing Thyroid Issues

If you’ve ever had a yearly physical, your doctor most likely placed their hands gently on each side of your windpipe and asked you to swallow. This is the most basic way to check for any abnormal bumps or enlargement of your thyroid gland.

Your doctor can confirm a thyroid issue with one simple lab test. The Basic Thyroid Panel offered by Any Lab Test Now combines convenience and affordability. This panel consists of three tests, which measure the balance of the three main hormones in the thyroid system.

They include:

TSH: Thyroid Stimulating Hormone is the most important of the hormones in the thyroid system. It stimulates or acts on the thyroid gland, telling it how much of the actual thyroid hormones need to be produced.
T4: This hormone is made by the thyroid, travels throughout the body, and is converted into T3.
T3: The active form of T4. This is the hormone that goes into the cells and controls their function throughout the body.

What to Expect During Your Visit

There is no need to make an appointment; walk-ins are always welcome. There is no need for a doctor’s order either, so you can skip the step (and the co-pay) of making an appointment with your doctor to get a prescription for testing.

The results of your thyroid screening will serve as a blueprint for your physician to prescribe the correct dose of medication. Then later in the year, you can continue to follow up with Any Lab Test Now for additional testing to find out if the treatment is working.

New Year, Better You…Take Care of Yourself

Whether you believe in setting a New Year’s resolution or not, the start of a new year is always an opportune time to create a new habit or three that’ll lead to a healthier, more fulfilling life.

To help you have a fresh start in 2022, utilize Any Lab Test Now for access to 8000+ lab testing options designed to help you monitor the health of your body. We want you to Take Control of Your Health® when it comes to seeking out any type of lab work, including determining the health of your thyroid.

We provide you with a safe and clean alternative location for lab work. Any Lab Test Now is a committed partner in helping you manage your family’s healthcare so you can make educated decisions that will directly affect your quality of life.

Find your closest Any Lab Test Now store at www.anylabtestnow.com.

Is Your Diet Putting You at Risk of Anemia?

Do you feel constant fatigue you can’t explain?
Do you frequently get dizzy or lightheaded?
Do you suffer from chest pains or shortness of breath?

These are all signs that you may have ANEMIA.

What is Anemia?

Anemia is a condition where the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells to transport oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. There are several types of anemia. Some, like sickle cell anemia, are hereditary, but others, specifically iron deficiency anemia, and vitamin deficiency anemia can be caused by an improper diet. For 20 years, doctors have seen a growing number of iron deficiency anemia cases in America. Iron deficiency anemia, the most common form of the condition, is caused by low levels of iron in the body. Your body needs this iron to produce hemoglobin, the protein that makes up red blood cells.

According to a recent study by the American Society for Nutrition, the rise in iron deficiency anemia coincides with a decrease in the amount of beef people are consuming. Between 1999 and 2018, Americans ate 15.3 percent less beef, an iron-rich protein, and 21.5 percent more chicken, thus not getting all the iron their bodies need.

As the name suggests, if you have vitamin deficiency anemia, your diet is deficient in the vitamins and minerals that your body needs to produce healthy red blood cells. According to the Mayo Clinic, you can develop vitamin deficiency anemia if you don’t eat enough foods containing folate, vitamin B-12, and vitamin C, or if your body has trouble absorbing and processing those nutrients.

Eating to Treat Anemia

If left untreated, anemia can cause serious health problems, such as having too little oxygen in your body, which can damage your organs. Having a diet consisting of the right foods is the first step to treating a deficiency.

Foods that can help prevent and treat iron deficiency anemia include:

Beef and other red meat
Dark, leafy greens like spinach
Beans
Seafood
Iron-fortified cereal and pasta

Foods that can help prevent and treat vitamin deficiency anemia include:

Fruits and leafy green vegetables
Eggs
Milk
Broccoli
Citrus fruits

How Do You Know If You Have Anemia?

Before you change your diet or start taking vitamin supplements, you need to make sure that the problem is anemia and not something else. The signs and symptoms of anemia may be subtle at first, so the best way to know for sure is with a simple blood test. You don’t need to wait for an appointment with your doctor in order to be tested for anemia. Any Lab Test Now offers a complete Anemia Panel for fast and accurate diagnosis.

We offer one simple blood panel that includes several tests, including a reticulocyte count to determine if your body is producing enough red blood cells. This can help determine not only if you have anemia but also the type of anemia you have. A ferritin test, that will screen your blood for the protein that indicates how much iron you have in your body. Your blood will also be checked for the levels of vitamin B-12, and folic acid to determine if you have vitamin deficiency anemia.

Where to Get Tested

Any Lab Test Now has 190+ locations nationwide, dedicated to providing you with the information about your body designed to help you Take Control of Your Health®.
You can schedule an appointment online or by phone, or walk-in for same-day testing. Each location is sanitized several times a day, in accordance with CDC protocols so you can be confident your lab work is being done in a safe, clean facility.

Any Lab Test Now is a committed partner in helping you manage your family’s healthcare. Click here to find an Any Lab Test Now location near you.

National Cholesterol Education Month

Back in 1913, researchers first discovered the detrimental role cholesterol plays in our health. Despite advancements in cholesterol-busting medications, it continues to be linked with high rates of cardiovascular disease in the United States and across the world.

To raise more awareness and educate the public about cholesterol and the best practices for cardiovascular disease prevention, September is deemed National Cholesterol Education Month.

Nearly one in three American adults has high cholesterol. Many of them don’t even know it.

What is Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a waxy substance found naturally in the blood and, believe it or not, is vital for the normal functioning of the body. Cholesterol is essential for maintaining a healthy body. However, when the cholesterol level in your blood becomes too high, it can cause serious and life-threatening problems.

LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol: This is considered the “bad cholesterol” — it carries cholesterol from the liver into the bloodstream, where it can stick to the blood vessels.

HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol: This is the “good cholesterol” that, on the other hand, carries the cholesterol in the blood back to the liver, where it is broken down.

Research has indicated that high cholesterol can increase the risk of:

Heart attack
Strokes
Atherosclerosis
Transient ischemic attacks
Peripheral arterial disease

Cholesterol is predominantly produced in the liver, but it can also be found in foods such as red meat, high-fat cheese, butter, and eggs.

Cholesterol Busters

Some of the risk factors, such as age, family history, or other health problems, can’t be controlled, but there are numerous ways to reduce the risk of having high cholesterol. They include:

Diet – There are two types of fats in food, saturated and unsaturated. Avoid foods containing saturated fats, as they will increase the levels of “bad cholesterol” in the blood.

Foods that are high in unsaturated fat and reduce the risk of high cholesterol include:

Nuts and seeds
Oily fish
Oats
Fruits and vegetables

Exercise – Moderate physical activity can help raise levels of “good cholesterol” in the blood. Adding exercise to daily routines, even for short intervals, will help make a difference. Good examples include swimming, cycling, and walking.
Stop smoking – Smoking stops HDL from transporting fatty deposits to the liver, leading to high cholesterol and narrowing of the arteries. This can increase the risk of suffering from heart attacks and strokes. The benefits of stopping smoking appear early too. In fact, within a year of quitting, the risk of heart disease is half that of a smoker.

Get Tested

High cholesterol has no signs or symptoms. The only way to know if you have high cholesterol is to take a simple blood test. The Centers for Disease Control recommends adults aged 20 years or older have their cholesterol checked every five years. Testing should be done yearly if there is an established history of high cholesterol.

Total cholesterol levels less than 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) are considered desirable for adults. A reading between 200 and 239 mg/dL is considered borderline high, and a reading of 240 mg/dL and above is considered too high.

The Cholesterol (Lipid) Panel offered by Any Lab Test Now is a convenient way to discover cholesterol levels and track them on a regular basis. A doctor’s order is not needed, so there is no need to take the extra step of going to a primary care physician to get a prescription for blood work. No appointment is necessary at Any Lab Test Now — walk-ins are always welcome. Test results are back within 24–72 hours. Then, they can be shared with a physician who can determine the best course of action, which may include medication and some of the cholesterol-busting actions outlined above.

Be at Ease

Any Lab Test Now wants you to be at ease when it comes to seeking out any type of lab work, including determining cholesterol levels.

We provide you a safe and clean alternative location for lab work. Each of our 190+ stores is sanitized several times a day, in accordance with the CDC’s protocols. Any Lab Test Now is a committed partner in helping you manage your family’s healthcare so you can make educated decisions that will directly affect your quality of life. We want to put you at ease during the coronavirus pandemic. We are here to help.

For more information about Any Lab Test Now, and the tests we offer, visit us at www.anylabtestnow.com.

Managing Chronic Diseases With Lab Testing

Six in 10 adults in the United States are living with a chronic disease. Many of those diseases require routine monitoring to reduce complications and manage their conditions.

Routine lab testing through providers like Any Lab Test Now® is often the starting point for care—driving diagnosis and proper treatment for millions of patients.

Here are some of the chronic conditions that can be managed with regular lab testing.

Heart Disease

Heart disease is a condition that is responsible for one in four deaths in the United States. To effectively monitor this condition, regular testing is critical. For patients at risk of developing heart disease, routine monitoring can help keep track of a wide variety of key markers in the blood that can be used to advance preventative measures, including lifestyle changes that can ultimately reduce a patient’s risk of heart disease.

The Cholesterol (Lipid) Panel at Any Lab Test Now can be used as a baseline assessment of heart health. This panel includes the following components:

Cholesterol, Total – total cholesterol is used to help predict an individual’s risk of developing heart disease.
Triglycerides – Triglycerides are a form of fat and a major source of energy for the body.
HDL Cholesterol – HDL cholesterol is often termed “good” cholesterol. The test for HDL cholesterol measures the amount of HDL in the blood.
LDL-Cholesterol (calculated) – LDL is considered to be undesirable and is often called “bad” cholesterol because it deposits excess cholesterol in blood vessel walls and contributes to hardening of the arteries and heart disease.
Cholesterol/HDL Ratio (calculated).

Diabetes

Blood glucose testing is part of a daily protocol for the more than 30 million Americans living with diabetes. But there are certain tests diabetics cannot perform at home that are needed to properly manage the disease, which is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States.

The main diagnostic test is the hemoglobin A1c test, which can provide key information to determine if the diabetes is under control. It measures your average blood glucose, or blood sugar, level over the past three months.

The A1c test is part of the four-part Any Lab Test Now Diabetes Maintenance Panel. Also included in this panel is:

Complete Blood Count (CBC) – Tests for blood disorders such as infection or anemia.
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) – Can determine how well the kidneys and liver are working, measures electrolyte levels, and the balance of acid and base in the blood.
Diabetic Urinalysis will determine if albumin (protein) is found in the blood.

Thyroid Disease

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located in the front part of your neck. The thyroid produces hormones that regulate many important functions in the body, including metabolism, which is linked to weight, body temperature, and energy level. Thyroid blood tests can help determine if hypothyroidism (too few thyroid hormones) or hyperthyroidism (too many) are present.

More than 20 million people in the United States have a thyroid disorder. Blood tests like the Thyroid Panel offered by Any Lab Test Now are one of the most accurate ways to manage thyroid disorders.

Testing on a regular basis is important if:

You are taking medication for a thyroid disorder. Regular testing can fine-tune your treatment so that you feel better.
If you have a diagnosed thyroid disorder or have had previous treatment for an overactive thyroid, it is important to have a blood test every 12 months or as advised by your doctor.