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.

 

Better Sleep Month

There’s nothing better than a good night’s sleep. It helps restore the body so it’s physically and mentally functioning at its best.  But when we don’t get the zzzz’s we need, it results in feeling mentally foggy, emotionally cranky, and physically exhausted.

That’s why Better Sleep Month, dedicated to addressing concerns about how chronic lack of sleep can be detrimental to overall health, is important. If you are having sleep issues, you’re not alone. The Cleveland Clinic says about 70 million adults in the United States suffer from sleep disorders.

Bedtime Stories Are Important

Historically, parents have always insisted that their children have bedtimes, to provide ample quality sleep to maintain good health and well-being. Reading a bedtime story to children is a great way to help kids unwind and slow down for a good night’s sleep, something we should all do to decompress after being stimulated with activities all day long. According to the CDC, children need the most sleep, especially newborns and infants. Once kids are school-aged, they need 9 to 12 hours of sleep per night. Teenagers require 8 to 10 hours, and adults from 18 years old to 65+ ideally need at least 7 hours. These are consecutive hours of sleep, not chopped up into little naps throughout the day, because that won’t provide the restorative sleep cycles the body needs.

Grown-Ups Need Their 40 Winks

Here’s the problem. If you’re an adult contending with insomnia or sleep deprivation and you’re not getting the restful hours of sleep you need, it can prompt a number of health issues. Sleep affects your heart and circulatory system, metabolism, respiratory system, and immune system.

The National Institutes of Health reports that sleep is a necessary restorative time for your body. You’ve probably heard about sleep cycles, which include the initial drowsy stage when you begin to fall asleep. This is when your body’s parasympathetic system takes control and slows your blood pressure and heart rate, allowing it to relax and not work as hard. Next comes stage 2, the light sleep, followed by the deepest sleep, in stages 3 and 4. In these stages, your heartbeat and brain waves are at their lowest levels, and the body is healing and restoring cellular energy. The last cycle is sometimes referred to as the 5th stage, or the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) cycle. It’s in the REM cycle that your heart rate and blood pressure return to normal.

The body needs rest. Otherwise, it has no way of healing or growing or providing the immunity you need. If you’re not getting enough sleep or you have insomnia, your body is not able to get its restoration completed, leaving you with a higher risk of:

  • Coronary heart disease
  • High blood pressure
  • Obesity
  • Stroke
  • Type 2 diabetes

Lack of Sleep? Could Be a Hormonal Issue

Your hormones play a vital role in maintaining a healthy sleep pattern. As the Mayo Clinic reports, when the body’s circadian rhythm or the body’s sleep clock is off, it throws the whole body into imbalance. For example, there are two basic hormones needed for sleep — the stress hormone called cortisol and the sleep hormone called melatonin. If the body is operating efficiently, these two hormones will work together in a kind of crisscross pattern. Melatonin should go up as the sun goes down — to help you sleep. Conversely, cortisol should be higher in the morning to help rev your engines and get you moving but should decrease at night to help you sleep.

If something is wrong with this rhythm because of an imbalance of melatonin or cortisol, it could be the reason you are having trouble either falling asleep, staying asleep, or both.

  • High cortisol results in insomnia, anxiety, sugar cravings, feeling tired but wired, and increased belly fat
  • Low melatonin results in excessive fatigue, depression, anxiety, and insomnia

Our Sleep Kit Provides Answers

Any Lab Test Now® can help. We have a very effective and accurate test to help determine if your sleep struggles are due to a hormonal issue. The Sleep Balance Take Home Hormone Kit is a simple test that measures melatonin and cortisol levels via urine collection on test strips four times throughout the day. It’s available in-store or online. After turning in your kit, results will be available within 3 to 5 days.

How to Handle Your Test Results

The lab tests we provide are confidential, affordable, and convenient. You own the results, and you choose how to proceed with them. However, we do encourage you to consult with your 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 DialCare, a service that helps you find a provider licensed in your state.

Any Lab Test Now® is Your Partner in Health

Get the sleep you need to live a healthy life. If you’re having sleep issues, visit your local Any Lab Test Now® and pick up a Sleep Balance Take Home Hormone Kit to find answers.

Men’s Health Month

Men don’t like going to the doctor. This statement is not just an aphorism or cliché. In a recent study conducted by the Cleveland Clinic, 72% of men admitted they would rather do household chores, like cleaning the bathroom or mowing the lawn, than go to the doctor for preventative healthcare. And of those men who do routinely go to see their physician, 20% admit they are not completely honest with the doctor.

The research shows that the deterrent for men seeing a doctor could be anything from being embarrassed to not wanting to make nutritional or lifestyle changes like they know the doctor may greatly encourage. And this dismissive attitude is a health threat for men.

Higher Risk Factors for Men

According to research from the National Institutes of Health, mortality rates for men are higher than for women when it comes to preventable risk factors like smoking, high blood pressure, inactive lifestyle, and obesity. These factors lead to higher instances of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and certain cancers, like lung and prostate. A movement created in the United States to improve health and wellness, called Healthy People 2030, reports that, on average, men die five years earlier than women because of preventable health risks.

This is all the more reason that June is a particularly important month, focusing on men’s health. National Men’s Health Month is a motivator to encourage men to take better care of their health by eating right, exercising, and participating in preventative healthcare to improve overall wellness and reduce health risks.

Life-Saving Screenings for Men

There are many preventable health issues that can be managed with screenings and early detection, and that’s where Any Lab Test Now® comes in. We offer a number of tests that can screen for potential problems. These simple blood tests can provide a snapshot of your health and create a baseline for comparison in the future.

COMPREHENSIVE MALE PANEL – This panel is designed to provide a broad overview of your health. It includes blood counts, a metabolic panel, which includes kidney and liver functions, as well as heart health and hormone information. Men will also receive a PSA test to evaluate prostate health.

The Comprehensive Male Panel includes the following tests:

  • CBC with Differential/Platelets
  • Complete Metabolic Panel
  • Cholesterol (Lipid) Panel
  • PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen)
  • Testosterone (Free and Total)
  • TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone)
  • HbA1C (Hemoglobin A1C)
  • DHEA-S (Helps in the evaluation of your adrenal gland function)

The Importance of Male Hormone Health

Hormones are very important to overall health. Testosterone, found in women and men, plays a vital role in men’s health. Testosterone, usually thought of as a sex hormone, is essential for the production of sperm and to enhance sex drive. However, according to the Cleveland Clinic, testosterone also signals the male body to make new red blood cells and works to keep bones and muscles strong. It also provides men with a sense of well-being.

Testosterone, like all hormones in the body, fluctuates. Typically, testosterone levels are highest in the morning and decline throughout the day. Here’s why this is important to understand. If you are feeling fatigued, weak, depressed, or generally not yourself, The Comprehensive Male Panel provided by Any Lab Test Now® can be a game-changer. Having this test done may show some abnormalities in hormone levels, which may require further testing. Because hormones are cyclical and levels may see-saw throughout the day, further hormone testing may need to be done to pinpoint specific irregularities.

The Role of Vitamins in Men’s Health

Another screening to consider is our VITAMIN D testing. Low levels of vitamin D are associated with a significantly increased risk for coronary artery disease, peripheral arterial disease, stroke, diabetes mellitus, and many causes of mortality, which can be significantly higher risk factors in men.

Because vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, it interacts with and regulates more than 200 genes in the body and can help the body combat risk factors. The body absorbs vitamin D from the sun. If the screening test indicates you have low levels of vitamin D, your provider may recommend a supplement.

Looking Out for Your Health

At Any Lab Test Now®, we provide clear, concise, and understandable results within days of your tests. 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.

If you don’t have a provider and want to seek the guidance of a doctor, you also have the option to contact our partners at DialCare. This service allows you to consult with a provider in your state about your results. The clarity you receive from a medical professional can affect the way you handle your health and can be lifesaving.

Remember, you can use your Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) to cover the costs of diagnostic lab work from Any Lab Test Now®. Whether you are looking for a screening test for hormones or other health concerns, we have thousands of tests available to you, providing comprehensive health screenings that allow you to focus on your and your family’s health.

Utilizing our diagnostic lab testing will get you the answers you need. Call now to schedule an appointment at a location near you.

DNA Testing Benefits at Any Lab Test Now

Scientific research is an amazing thing. The intricacies and complexities of a research lab can translate to improved medicine for all of us. One such example is the Human Genome Project. This is most likely a term you’ve heard — but you may not know how it affects you.

The project started in 1990 and was completed in 2003. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), an international group of researchers was able to look at DNA and map out a human blueprint. The results? Our doctors now have a better understanding of certain diseases and how they can best be treated.

Cutting-Edge Pharmacogenetics Testing

This project has led to what the CDC calls precision medicine or pharmacogenetics — the study of how a person’s genes affect their response to certain medications. The goal of pharmacogenetics is to make your life better. Through pharmacogenetics testing, results show your provider which drugs and doses will be best suited to treat you for a myriad of conditions.

Drugs work with the body in several ways depending on how they are taken and where they act in your body. Think about something as simple as an over-the-counter pain reliever due to a headache, for example. Once you ingest the tablets, the body breaks them down with enzymes and then remarkably knows how to send that drug to your head to clear up the headache. It’s your DNA that affects the process and your body’s response.

Real Results to Improve Your Health

DNA testing can be a valuable tool to determine how you respond to drugs. If you think about the possibilities, genetic testing for medications can determine whether you may have a bad reaction to a drug or if a specific drug won’t be effective for you. This is a vital and helpful tool to know if a certain drug will be safe or beneficial to your wellness. It helps your provider prescribe medications tailored to work best based on your genetic makeup.

Advanced Testing at Any Lab Test Now®

That’s where Any Lab Test Now® comes in. We provide innovative ways to manage your health through comprehensive testing. We have a complete pharmacogenetic analysis at your disposal. The COMPREHENSIVE PGX PANEL tests for 50 different variations on 14 different genes and reports the effects an individual’s genotype may have on the response to over 200 commonly prescribed medications. This test uses the DNA collected from the buccal swabs to test a wide variety of genes that have been identified as having a significant clinical impact. Results are typically available within 5-7 days.

How This Helps Mental Health

So why take this test? Remember, results will help your provider know what meds work best for you and the dosing amounts. Think about how significant this is for anyone who is prescribed anti-depressant or anti-anxiety medications. Rather than providers taking a shot in the dark making you, the patient, go through weeks and months of trial and error — pharmacogenetics analysis eliminates the guessing game, as your provider will have advance knowledge of which prescription helps your condition with little or no side effects. Start feeling better, faster.

Prescribing Customized Anti-Depressants

The same is true when determining what prescription pain medication will be safest and most effective for you. The National Institutes of Health released a study on Genetic Testing for Opioid Pain Management. Chronic pain is one of the top issues patients discuss with their physicians. CYP2D6 is responsible for the metabolism of most of the commonly prescribed opiate medications like codeine, tramadol, hydrocodone, and oxycodone. Patients are classified by their genetic ability to metabolize a medication.

Cardiac Care Without Second Guessing

Pharmacogenetics testing can also advise physicians about the best medication per specific patient when it comes to cardiovascular disease. The NIH studied the use of DNA testing with medications involving blood thinners, blood pressure, and cholesterol.

Testing that Works for You

Any Lab Test Now® is your partner as you try to maintain health and wellness for you and your family. Whether it’s DNA testing or any of the thousands of tests we provide, remember, you can walk in for same-day testing during work-friendly hours.

How to Handle Your Test Results

The lab tests we provide are confidential, affordable, and convenient. You own the results, and you choose how to proceed with them. However, we 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. This service can help you find a provider licensed in your state.

Any Lab Test Now® is Your Partner in Health

Great innovations in medicine, like pharmacogenetics testing, give you options in healthcare. This testing is available at Any Lab Test Now®. We are here to provide the tests you need to get answers to your health concerns and foster optimum wellness. Call now to schedule an appointment at a location near you.

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.

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.  

A wide-angle view of a group of three male students who are also friends moving into their new student accommodation. They are chatting with each other and carrying their belongings through the corridor.
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:

  1. Amphetamine/Methamphetamines
  2. Marijuana
  3. Cocaine
  4. Opiates
  5. 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: The girl smokes an electronic cigarette on the street.

  • 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.

 

Two best friends are furnishing their new apartment together

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

Girls studying together at park and taking a funny selfie. Happy best friends with books having fun while studying. Friendship and lifestyle concepts.

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 TooMultiracial group of teen high school classmates sit on stairs looking at teenage girl cell phone. Back to school concept. Technology addiction concept.

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. 

 

Mid-Year Resolution: Stick to Your Goals 

We’re at the halfway point to 2022 – can you believe it? It feels like each year gets faster, as life gets busier. As we prepare to take on the second half of the year, now is a good time to reflect on the first half. Did you meet your goals? What are you most proud of? What can you do better? Many people’s New Year’s resolutions have fizzled by now, and if that’s you, you aren’t alone! According to one survey, of the 41% of Americans who make resolutions, only 9% are successful in keeping them. 

Now, while that can be quite a discouraging number, there are a few reasons why, despite this, it’s considered a good thing to set New Year’s resolutions. Having resolutions sets intention with how you want to grow and develop in the coming year, it sets a tone of hopefulness and optimism, and you can start the year with a fresh sense of responsibility that hopefully flows in the months to come. It’s inherently a positive thing to strive for and has encouraging effects for yourself and those around you. 

Statistically, taking strides in your health, whether that means exercise or mental health, is one of the most popular resolutions. Each month, our blog highlights different health topics that may impact your life and provide a recommended blood test to bring awareness to the topic.

 

Cholesterol (Lipids) Panel 

This month, we want to emphasize the importance of cholesterol testing with our Cholesterol (Lipid) Panel®. The Lipids Panel can determine your cholesterol levels, which is important because this will tell you if you’re at risk for heart disease or any other heart issues. 

According to the CDC, nearly 94 million United States adults, 20 or older, have high cholesterol. There are two types of cholesterol, the good and the bad. The good absorbs the cholesterol and carries it back to the liver, and the liver then flushes it from the body. High levels of this type can lower your risk for heart disease and stroke. 

The bad makes up most of your body’s cholesterol, and high levels of this type can raise your risk for heart disease and stroke. The Cholesterol (Lipid) Panel® tests for both to determine whether you’re at risk or not. 

Your body needs cholesterol to build healthy cells, but high levels can increase your risk of heart disease. With high cholesterol, you can develop fatty deposits in your blood vessels. This makes it difficult for blood to flow through your arteries and can cause a heart attack or stroke. 

There are no symptoms. A blood test is the only way to know if you have it. 

With the Cholesterol (Lipid) Panel®, you’ll have your test results between 24 to 72 business hours. It’s recommended you fast before the test to ensure it’s accurate. Once you have your results, we encourage you to talk with your primary physician about the next steps.

Take Back Your Health

The overproduction of bad cholesterol can come from a variety of reasons. A lot of times, an unhealthy lifestyle is a huge contributor to producing more of the bad cholesterol. Some things to keep in mind are:

  • Unhealthy diet
  • Lack of physical activity
  • Smoking or exposure to tobacco smoke 
  • Hereditary 

To be 100% sure of your cholesterol status, start with one simple blood test at any of our neighborhood Any Lab Test Now® locations.


Renal Function Panel® 

Now is a great time to double down on your kidney health. Our Renal Function Panel® is a group of tests used to evaluate kidney function. According to the Mayo Clinic, some signs to look for if you think you’re experiencing kidney issues are:

  • Nausea 
  • Vomiting 
  • Loss of appetite
  • Fatigue and weakness
  • Trouble sleeping 
  • Urinating more or less
  • Decreased mental sharpness
  • Muscle cramps
  • Swelling 
  • Dry, itchy skin

The signs and symptoms of kidney issues are often nonspecific and could also be the source of a different issue altogether. However, it’s worth getting tested; simply because the damage from leaving your affected kidneys untreated can be irreversible. 

For this test, fasting for about eight hours prior to the blood draw is preferred. Your results will be ready between 24 to 72 business hours after the test.

Hepatic Function Panel® 

For this comprehensive panel, the Liver Function Panel®, or Hepatic Function®, measures the blood levels of seven tests that see how well your liver is working.

This test is also encouraged if you’ve been exposed to the hepatitis A, B, or C virus. High or low levels in one of the seven tests may indicate you have liver damage or liver disease is present. Some general symptoms, according to Healthline, include:

  • Yellow skin (Jaundice)
  • Dark urine
  • Pale, bloody, or tarlike stool
  • Swollen ankles, legs, or abdomen 
  • Nausea 
  • Vomiting
  • Decrease in appetite
  • Bruise easily
  • Persistent fatigue
  • Itchy skin

Something to keep in mind about this test and the one above is that anyone who is regularly taking medications can potentially benefit from these tests, as they’re typically required as a regular workup for anyone taking medication long-term.

Comprehensive Metabolic Panel

The perfect test to have performed as a mid-year checkup is the Comprehensive Metabolic Panel®. This includes 14 essential tests that are part of a routine checkup or annual physical. It gives your doctor an overall picture of your health. 

Let’s talk about what’s looked at in this panel.

Your sodium, potassium, chloride, and carbon dioxide are all measured. Irregular values in these “electrolytes” can indicate trouble with your body’s salt/water or acid/base balance. Some common causes are dehydration, vomiting, medication, and kidney problems. 

Next are albumin, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate transaminase, and alanine transaminase. These are proteins and enzymes found in your blood; and can indicate liver damage or liver disease.

Lastly, your blood urea nitrogen, calcium, creatinine, and glucose are tested. This checks for a range of problems that affect your kidneys.

As one of the most common tests, it provides a plethora of information on your health.

Resolution Fatigue? Change Them!

If you’re feeling down because you aren’t meeting the goals you set at the beginning of the year, there is no shame in changing them for something more attainable. It can be something as simple as getting a blood test to check your cholesterol, liver function, kidneys, or more before the kids head back to school because we know that’s right around the corner! 

With more than 200 locations across the country, you can make an appointment by phone or just walk in. we make it our priority to provide a convenient, safe, and confidential space for you to tackle your health. 

Click here to find the location closest to you.

Strong Men Put Their Health First

THREE LAB TESTS EVERY MAN NEEDS

Fast, easy, and relatively painless. It’s how we wish we could describe laying tiles in the kitchen, building the treehouse in the backyard, or hitting that desired weight on the deadlift. Most things men are asked to do are quite the opposite of fast, easy, and painless. Whether it’s a physical or mental challenge, it’s nearly always just that: a challenge. This shouldn’t be the case when it comes to taking care of your health. It’s not uncommon for men to put their health on the back burner. This can be for a number of reasons. Some men procrastinate to avoid a negative diagnosis, and others are just reluctant to start the process of a health check-up, which generally takes time, money, and several blood draws.  

But here’s the thing, no matter what stage of life you are in, there are three lab tests you absolutely consider to get ahead of your health. Preventative care can do many things, including improving the quality of your life, if not just saving it completely. Men’s Health Month was created to highlight preventable health issues and encourage early detection of disease among men of all ages. Read below for three recommended lab tests designed to help men proactively maintain their health.

HAVE A HEART (TEST)

The CDC states that heart disease and cancer are the two leading causes of death for men. These two issues, along with numerous other debilitating and life-altering diagnoses, can be identified and treated early with preventative care. Let’s talk about heart health. While it can be deadly, it can be preventable with proper care. Heart disease is an umbrella term that includes multiple diseases, and each has different symptoms. The most common symptoms between the varying diseases are:

  • Chest pain 
  • Difficulty breathing 
  • Fatigue 
  • Racing heartbeat/irregular heartbeat
  • Swelling 

It’s worth recognizing that your hormones tie into your heart health. Something that can greatly impact a man’s health is his hormones. Hormone health is crucial to the function of a man’s body and quality of life. It’s why getting your hormone levels evaluated can be a literal life-saver. 

For example, people who abuse the commonly known male hormone testosterone have an increased risk of high blood pressure heart attack, and stroke. Knowing the signs of a heart attack or stroke is one of the most important things you can do to safeguard your cardiac health. If you’re specifically looking for a heart health test, your neighborhood Any Lab Test Now® has the Heart Health Panel specifically for that. This panel provides an overview of your heart health status and can be used as a baseline assessment of your heart health and possible risk. 

NEED A FATHER’S DAY GIFT IDEA? HOW ABOUT COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING

Okay, we realize it’s not the best gift… but it’s a great way to make sure you celebrate a few more holidays. According to the American Cancer Society, essential to get screened.

If you want to take preventative measures before getting a colonoscopy, check out your local Any Lab Test Now® for the Colon Cancer Screening (FIT) Test to give you peace of mind. The FIT Test (Fecal Immunochemical Test) is a good health-monitoring test that detects hemoglobin, or blood, in the stool. The sample is collected in the privacy of your home, and only requires a small water-based sampling from one bowel movement. Kits can either be picked up in-store or purchased online and includes a prepaid shipping label to send the sample directly to the lab.

COMPREHENSIVE MALE PANEL

If you’re looking for an all-encompassing screening that will thoroughly take a look at your health with one test, look no further than Any Lab Test Now®. It can all be done using our simple, yet thorough, Comprehensive Male Panel. It’s specifically designed to give men a broad overview of their health. It includes testing for your blood count, a metabolic panel, which includes your kidney and liver functions, as well as your heart and hormone health. You will also receive a prostate-specific antigen test to evaluate your prostate health. The results could show your physician if your testosterone is low, how your liver and kidneys are functioning if you are at risk for diabetes, and even provide a baseline when it comes to prostate cancer.

The panel includes the following tests:

  • Complete blood count of platelets 
  • Complete metabolic panel 
  • Cholesterol
  • Prostate-specific antigen
  • Testosterone 
  • Thyroid 
  • Hemoglobin
  • Adrenal gland function

For the Comprehensive Male Panel at Any Lab Test Now®, fasting is required to do a thorough evaluation through bloodwork. You’ll get your detailed results back in just two to three business days! Once you get your results, we encourage you to create a wellness plan with your primary physician.

MONITOR THE IMPACT OF TESTOSTERONE IMBALANCES 

It’s important to note that the Comprehensive Male Panel includes a Testosterone Test. The main hormone we recognize in men is testosterone. Testosterone is a key hormone in men’s sexual development and function, and it impacts the structure of the brain and a man’s overall mental health. Testosterone also directly influences memory and learning because of where the receptors are located in the brain. Monitoring testosterone levels is important, as testosterone decreases as men age, and puts men at a greater risk of developing conditions like cancer and diabetes. 

If you think you’re experiencing a testosterone imbalance, you might recognize some of these symptoms. 

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Stress
  • Mood swings
  • Impulsiveness
  • Memory loss
  • Irritability 

Physically, a decrease in testosterone can look like this:

  • Loss of bone mass
  • Increased body fat
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Sleeping issues
  • Decreased libido
  • Hair loss

The Comprehensive Male Panel provides a broad overview of Men’s Health and is a quick way to figure out if your testosterone level is lower than normal. As you can see, it plays a major part in a man’s health, so it’s important to be aware of and monitor changes. 

Awareness. Prevention. Action.

At Any Lab Test Now, you get access to thousands of tests, many specifically designed with men’s health in mind. Most tests are completed in about 15 minutes or less. So come on guys, no more excuses, thanks to Any Lab Test Now, routine lab testing has never been easier. You take your vehicle for routine maintenance more than once a year in order to keep it from breaking down. Why not do the same for your health? Routine lab testing can help you establish a baseline! You may ask yourself, “How do I do this? How do I check in on my health while carrying on with my hectic schedule?” The answer is simple… visit ANY LAB TEST NOW®!

Find your local Any Lab Test Now® to learn more about the plethora of tests offered.

Making Mental Health a Priority for the Month of May

“April showers bring May flowers” is the saying we were taught to help us learn our months. It was helpful because you’d prepare yourself for the rain showers of April, only to be greeted by the warmth of the sun in May. However, as we age, it becomes more and more obvious some showers aren’t confined to the month of April. In fact, many times, a “shower” isn’t one you can prepare for or watch from the window of your home. For some people, it’s inside and constantly raging, consuming many parts of daily life.

This year, Any Lab Test Now® has made one of our main themes “self-care.” We understand how important it is to take care of your mental health, just as you would a broken bone or a disease. Mental health medication can be difficult to prescribe, as there are many different types of mental health illnesses. May is home to National Mental Health Awareness month, which is meant to educate and advocate for policies and practices that support people with mental illness in themselves and their families. 

Mental illnesses are among the most common health conditions in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

  • At some point in their lives, 50% of people will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder.
  • One in five Americans will experience mental illness in a year. 
  • One in 25 Americans live with a serious mental illness, like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression.

The causes of mental illness can be vast, and many times, it can range from just a side effect from day-to-day life, or it can manifest from a traumatic event. Some common causes are:

  • Genetics, such as a family history of mental illness
  • Traumatic experiences or history of abuse
  • Chronic medical conditions like cancer or diabetes
  • Biological factors or chemical imbalances in the brain
  • Excessive drug and alcohol use
  • Feelings of loneliness or isolation

Protecting your mental health should be a priority as it can cause deeper physical issues later on in life. For example, depression increases the risk of conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. It’s proven to be quite difficult to get ahead of treating mental illness, but it’s proven advantageous to people to take preventative safety measures to see if you’re more at risk for the debilitating illnesses. 

Before taking the plunge into finding the right mental health medication for you, Any Lab Test Now® is now offering the Mental Health PGX Panel. This panel is a big step in putting science behind mental health medication. The panel analyzes 13 different genes with a simple blood draw.

Genetic testing for mental illnesses has benefits, whether the results are positive or negative. As with any other test, your individual results can provide relief from uncertainty and help you make informed decisions about your health care. The Mental Health PGX Panel is a relatively easy test to take, with no prior need to fast. The test typically takes five to seven business days for you to be informed of your results. 

Once you receive your results, we encourage you to talk with your primary provider about any mental health medication you may need. However, taking the first step to managing your mental health should be as painless as possible. Any Lab Test Now® offers you a way to receive a comprehensive test on your mental health so you can 2live your life; uninterrupted.

As many adults experience mental illness in some capacity, it’s vital to commit to getting tested to ensure you can make knowledgeable choices about your future. That includes the big decisions a diagnosis could impact, like marriage, kids, travel, and more. It’s important to remember that an ounce of prevention equals a pound of cure, meaning getting tested is a step in the right direction and a step towards living a healthier lifestyle.

Call now to schedule an appointment at a location near you to Take Control of Your Health® today.