See How Easy It Is To Help Someone Who’s Suffering

Have you ever said, “I had no idea,” after you learn of a loved one suffering from an eating disorder? That is not an uncommon thought and it crosses many parents, friends, siblings and co-workers minds.

That’s why National Eating Disorders Awareness (NEDA) chose this year’s theme, as it’s meant to touch the hearts of those who were unaware that their loved one was battling an eating disorder. “I Had No Idea” kicked off yesterday and will continue through this week. NEDA chose this theme in hopes of raising awareness of eating disorders and the severe impact and harm these diseases have on individuals and their bodies.

There are psychological, social, interpersonal and biological factors that can contribute to these disorders. It’s hard for people who don’t suffer from these illnesses to understand that they, indeed, are a disease.

Becoming aware and not overlooking potential symptoms that your loved one might possess, are key for helping them to overcome these diseases. Check out NEDA’s list of symptoms for Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating and other eating/nutrition disorders.  The conversation might be tough to begin, but the reward from it is incredible and will change someone’s life.

To join NEDA’s efforts, share this post or the available materials on their website to spread awareness!

Taxes & the Affordable Care Act

Tax season is underway; which means you should start thinking about the tax implications on health reform when it comes to the Affordable Care Act.

If you’ve purchased insurance through the health insurance marketplace, you may be eligible for a refundable tax credit. Fox 23 reports that when taxpayers were signing up, the option was available to estimate their 2014 income to see if it was possible to qualify for credit and have it applied in advanced to the cost of premiums. If this is the case for you and your family, it’s important to actively inform the particular exchange you purchased your insurance through of any changes in your situation throughout the year such as having a child or a salary increase.

Make sure you understand what this means for your taxes, especially if you haven’t enrolled in health insurance under the Affordable Care Act and are planning on it. Don’t forget that the deadline is March 31, 2014. Many people think the deadline has already passed, but there’s still plenty of time! Taxes are due just shortly after the 31st and it will be helpful to know exactly what to expect. To learn more about the Affordable Care Act visit our microsite at www.anylabtestnow.com/health-care-reform-and-you/.

The Number One Killer of Women Should Be Stopped

WHAT
Heart disease is the number one killer of women; yes, over any type of cancer. It kills approximately one woman, every minute. The prevention and treatment of this disease rests on awareness. For you to know how to beat and prevent heart disease, you must be aware of it and know what’s going on in your body.

HOW
Symptoms can range from chest pain to nausea to shortness of breath and more. A problem is that these symptoms are not uncommon; therefore many women who suffer from the disease don’t know they have it. According to the American Heart Association, over half of women who die from the disease experience little to no symptoms. Women sometimes look to more common issues like the flu or their age. That’s why it’s so important to Take Control of Your Health® and get tested.

WHY
Size and pumping abilities of the heart differ by gender, but there is no definite explanation as to why men and women are affected differently by heart disease. Shining a spotlight specifically on women’s heart health will raise awareness and encourage women to get their heart tested because they might not have thought about their heart’s health before.

Friday, Feb. 7, was National Wear Red Day by Go Red for Women. Check out our Facebook to see all that was going on!

WHEN
Ladies, now is the time to get tested to check your heart health. The Heart Health Panel gives you an idea of your overall heart health. The VAP test includes basic cholesterol tests and identifies abnormalities. The PLAC test measures your arteries and will assess your risk for heart attacks and/or strokes. These are the perfect tests to help you become aware of exactly what’s going on with your heart health. Get tested today and spread the word!

Why You Should Wear Red on Friday

Friday is an important day every year, and no it’s not because it’s time to remind your significant other that Valentine’s Day is next week (even though that’s not a bad idea). It’s National Wear Red Day and this year is especially significant as it marks the 10th birthday of the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women movement.

Watch the video and to see why this is such an important day. Heart disease tends to go unnoticed, so being aware is essential. Take the necessary steps to get to know what’s going on in your body and get you familiar with your overall heart health with ANY LAB TEST NOW®’s Lipid Panel, Vertical Auto Profile or VAP Test and PLAC Tests.

In support of raising awareness for women’s heart health, we’re giving you 50% OFF a VAP or PLAC test, only on February 7th, National Wear Red Day! This makes it easier than ever for you to Take Control of Your Health®.

We are hosting a contest of our own throughout the nation’s ANY LAB TEST NOW® locations. We are decking out our offices in red to raise awareness of Go Red for Women. Join us in supporting women’s heart health by wearing red on Friday and spreading the word. Send us photos of you in your red via Twitter @ALTNCorp.

Food Allergies Are Sneaky; Here’s Why

Do you think you have a food allergy? If so, are you sure that’s what it is? Some people mistake having food allergies with a food intolerance or sensitivity. Here’s the difference.

An allergy happens when your body creates antibodies to protect itself from something your body sees as harmful. The next time your body comes in contact with that particular something, histamines, which are produced in response to foreign intruders, are released causing allergic reactions.

Intolerances are different because they can vary depending on the situation, while an allergy reacts the same each time. Intolerances are a result of your body’s incapability to process certain substances.

The right lab test will answer your questions and get you on track to ease your symptoms. Check out our Gut Health Profile test. This measures your gut health on the genetic, antibody and cellular levels and will let you know exactly what’s going on inside your body, including Celiac Disease or gluten intolerance. To make sure you take the correct test, talk to one of our ANY LAB TEST NOW® medical assistants.

Don’t be deceived by the perception of a food allergy. If you’re not sure, make yourself sure and Take Control of Your Health®.

Are You Winter D-ficient?

Vitamin D, more popularly known as the sunshine vitamin, is essential for your health. It is a fat soluble vitamin that interacts with over 200 genes in your body. Your body produces Vitamin D after exposure to sunlight. It’s also naturally present in a few various food items and supplements and can be absorbed that way.

It’s important to test your Vitamin D levels because if they are not satisfactory your risk for coronary artery disease, peripheral arterial disease, stroke, diabetes mellitus and calcium deficiency rises. Many other health issues can come from a lack of Vitamin D as well.

A sufficient range of Vitamin D is between 30 and 100 ng/mL. Check out what the Vitamin D Council talks about in regards to having a Vitamin D deficiency. Sometimes if you are deficient, symptoms can go unnoticed. They can include tiredness, general aches and pains or more severe pain. These symptoms can be common for various different issues, which is why it’s so important to get tested to make sure you know what is going on in your body.

Deficiency can be common in the winter months, because you may not be getting as much sun as compared to the summer months. That’s why it’s important to Take Control of Your Health® and test your Vitamin D levels to learn where your levels are.

The FYI’s of Thyroid Awareness

Nearly 30 million Americans are affected by thyroid disease. Did you know about half of them are undiagnosed?

The thyroid gland regulates how your body uses energy and produces hormones that are essential to proper cell and system functioning.

Women’s health.gov talks about some of the most common reasons people check their hormones.

• Weight loss/gain
• Excessive eating
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat
• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Trouble sleeping
• Increase sweating or heat sensitivity
• Muscle weakness
• Less frequent menstrual periods

Have you experienced any of these symptoms? If so, we offer a Thyroid Panel screen for thyroid disease, hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism by checking your body’s production of TSH, T3 and T4 thyroid hormones. Even if you haven’t noticed any of these symptoms, it’s best to know what’s going on in your body. Since it’s thyroid awareness month, make a point to check your thyroid with our Thyroid Panel screen to Take Control of Your Health®.

Measure Your Resolutions For An Even Happier New Year

ANY LAB TEST NOW® works hard to help you reach your goals. One of the ways we can do so, is by guiding you through which lab tests you can take to measure the results of your resolutions.

Kick off the new year with our recommended baseline tests to help you manage your New Year’s Resolutions.

The Basic Check-Up Panel tests include a complete blood count (CBC), chemistry panel, lipid panel, urinalysis, and TSH lab tests as well as a blood pressure check*. This is a great lab testing panel for evaluating your overall health and is commonly ordered by a physician during a routine or annual check up. This will help establish a measurable baseline for your health resolutions in the new year.

Is your resolution focused on better managing your diabetes?  Check your blood sugar levels with the Glucose (Serum) Blood Test or Hemoglobin A1c. These are pretty common lab tests and are helpful when establishing a baseline.

The C-Reactive Protein test, the VAP (Vertical Auto Profile) test and the PLAC test are also suggested to measure your standard heart health and to assess your resolutions. What about your cholesterol level?  Did those holiday goodies increase your numbers?  A Lipid Panel will let you know where your cholesterol level is now, and can be measured again in 3 to 6 months to reflect your hard work related to diet and exercise changes.

Check out other tests and use our test finder to search which ones will help you effectively meet your goals this new year!

*Not available at locations in the State of Florida

5 FAQ’s You Should Know The Answer To

So you’re researching different lab testing options, huh? You’ve come to the right place. We’ve put together 5 questions that our customers want to know the answers to about us on a regular basis so that we can share them with you and make your life a little easier.

1. How is the lab test performed?
An ANY LAB TEST NOW® medical assistant or phlebotomist will gently draw the necessary amount of blood or collect any other appropriate biological specimen needed for the specific test, label it appropriately, complete needed paperwork or chain-of-custody documentation, and send it to our accredited/certified laboratory partner for analysis. 

2. How long do results take to get back?
Most test results are available within 24 – 48 business hours after specimen collection.

3. Do I have to make an appointment?
No appointment is necessary. However, scheduling an appointment can save you time. The medical assistant will have all the proper supplies and documents ready and waiting for you. You can easily find a store location in your community, call or schedule an appointment online.

4. Can ANY LAB TEST NOW diagnose me?
ANY LAB TEST NOW® does not treat or diagnose.  Once you receive your test results, you can take them to your physician, or use our AmeriDoc telemedicine services*.  The doc is just a phone call away!

5. Will my insurance pay for the tests done at ANY LAB TEST NOW®?
We do not accept medical insurance. In some cases, your lab test and its payment may be accepted and reimbursed by your insurance company in accordance with the terms of your policy. Cash and all major credit cards are accepted. We also accepts most health savings account credit or debit cards associated with a major credit card.

For more FAQ’s from ANY LAB TEST NOW® check them out here.

*Not available in the State of Florida

4 Reasons You Make Us Happy

“We often take for granted the very things that
most deserve our gratitude.”-Cynthia Ozick

All of us at ANY LAB TEST NOW® want to make sure you know that we don’t take you for granted and appreciate you more than you know. We wanted to dedicate this post to you to simply say thank YOU! Here’s a few reasons why you make us happy.

1. We get to do what we love, which is helping people like you with affordable lab tests.

2. Every day is a new adventure and you help us map out our journey.

3. We are constantly learning to better serve you through education and we appreciate your willingness to learn and trust us.

4. You keep a smile on our face because of your confidence in our high quality lab testing facilities and accredited and certified laboratory testing partners.

There’s plenty more reasons, but we’ll stick with those for now. Thanks for a great year and we can’t wait to show you what we’ve got next year!