National Flu Vaccine Week

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

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

It’s Gonna Be a Bad Flu Season

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

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

What is the Flu Virus?

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

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

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

Get Your Annual Flu Vaccine

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

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

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

Protection with the Flu Vaccine

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

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

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

The Flu Vaccine is Not Made for Everyone

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

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

Any Lab Test Now® Can Test for Flu

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

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

Schedule an Appointment Today

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

Five Things Everyone Should Know

At Any Lab Test Now®, we understand how important it is for you to be in the driver’s seat when it comes to your health. We’re here to help.

Knowing about your body and understanding health information, allowing you to make appropriate decisions, is part of your health literacy. Educating consumers on how to best prevent and manage chronic and everyday illnesses is our goal at Any Lab Test Now®.

That’s why we want you to understand these five basic ideas about your health.

Baseline Health – If you think about your health as if you are taking a picture, your baseline is the all-inclusive or panoramic view of your health using a wide-angle lens.

Baseline tells you where your health is right now, not where it should be or where you want it to be.

At Any Lab Test Now®, we have tests to provide that snapshot of where you are and how your body is functioning. Perhaps it shows an area of concern or a few red flags that need further testing, or maybe all is well and you do this check-up again in a year.

That’s why utilizing our Annual Panel is a great tool to obtain that snapshot. It includes the following screenings:

Complete Blood Count (CBC) – This test gives important information about the kind and the number of cells in your blood.

Cholesterol Lipid with Ratio (Lipids Panel) – This can determine if you have abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels.
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) – This test checks your body’s production of TSH and helps screen for thyroid disease, hyperthyroidism, and hypothyroidism.
- Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) – This gives you a very good picture of your overall health and your electrolyte count. It is a good indicator of issues of concern like heart health.

Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1C) – The Hemoglobin A1c Test is a valuable measure of the overall blood glucose levels over a period of time (2 to 3 months). This test can be used to help detect pre‐diabetes and diagnose diabetes.

It’s important to revisit these benchmarks annually and create a new snapshot, especially if there were problems detected.

This brings us to our next point, zeroing in on specific problems that may have been discovered in the annual screening panel.

Specifics – From that “photography” analogy, this step zooms in on any problem areas. It’s essentially the telephoto lens. This step takes a closer look at areas of the body where an issue may need to be addressed.

For example,if the Lipid Panel shows your “bad” cholesterol looks too high, it may be time to change your diet or be placed on medication to lower your cholesterol.

Specific lab testing is also useful if you have a specific ailment. Let’s say you are experiencing urinary issues. At Any Lab Test Now®, we can run a Renal Function Panel that evaluates the kidney (renal) function by measuring minerals, electrolytes, proteins, and glucose.

Universal Testing – You may have heard information in the past that there are certain risk factors, conditions, or diseases that may be more common to certain races or ethnicities. Historically, lab tests have been conducted with what’s called a “race adjustment factor.” At Any Lab Test Now®, the testing has become more universal among races and ethnicities. Calculating the risk factors is done based on results.

Screenings vs. Diagnostic Tests – This is a big one. It’s important to understand the difference between a lab test that is a screening versus a diagnostic test. When it comes to your health, comprehending the difference can be lifechanging.

Think of it this way: a screening isquick, easy, and informative but not definitive. It gives you a good snapshot. This is a routine test when you don’t necessarily have symptoms.

A diagnostic test, on the other hand, is often more complicated and invasive. It may be a test that further investigates a red flag discovered during a screening or if you are symptomatic. Remember, many lab tests are not one-and-done.

Any Lab Test Now® provides screening tests, and you are given the results. You own those results and can use them accordingly. However, if a screening shows an abnormality or concern, it’s recommended to seek further examination and information-gathering with your physician.

Find a Preferred Care Provider

That leads us to our final point, having a partner in your health. It’s always a good idea to have further conversations with a healthcare provider, no matter what your lab tests show. We’re talking about a preferred care provider, not self-diagnosis through a Google search. It’s best to find a trusted source to review your lab testing results.

Any Lab Test Now® has partnered with Dial Care. This is a good choice if you don’t have a primary care physician. Dial Care provides licensed, practicing physicians in your state. In the age of virtual care and telehealth, this is a very real solution for finding a primary care physician in your state and area. These are doctors that can prescribe medication based on the big picture or provide guidance to further testing or recommend specialists.

Schedule Your Snapshot Screenings Today

Stay on top of your family’s health and improve your health literacy by taking charge of your wellness. Any Lab Test Now® can help by providing the lab tests you need to ensure your health. Call now to schedule an appointment at a location near you.

The Importance of Knowing Your Family’s Health History

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

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

Some of the topics you should discuss include:

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

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

Family Health = Your Health

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

See Your Board-Certified Doctor

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

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

Knowledge is Power

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

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

Medical Testing to Improve Your Health

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

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

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

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

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

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

When the calendar flips to the month of October, it’s not just pumpkins and mums that are symbolic of this month. We’ve all become accustomed to the pink ribbons seen practically everywhere representing the campaign to fight breast cancer.

Breast cancer receives global attention because it is the most common cancer worldwide, according to the Mayo Clinic, and the most common cancer diagnosed in the United States.

The Top Cancers in the United States

Breast, lung, prostate, and colorectal cancers account for almost 50% of all new cancer cases in the U.S., based on stats from the National Cancer Institute. Lung and bronchus, colorectal, pancreatic, and breast cancers are responsible for nearly 50% of all deaths.

In 2022, invasive breast cancer is estimated to be newly diagnosed in 287,850 women, as incidence rates continue to increase by about 0.5% annually.

#FightLikeAGirl

So, when you see publicity about Pink Week, otherwise known as Breast Cancer Awareness Week (October 4–6), and Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, this campaign is designed to educate about the need for screenings and early detection opportunities that can save lives. There is substantial research funding for breast cancer which has helped create advances in its diagnosis and treatment. Thanks to growing awareness campaigns regarding breast cancer over the years, fewer American women are dying from it. Deaths from breast cancer are down 42% over a 30-year period.

However, there’s a long way to go. While many nations are seeing a significant reduction in deaths, globally, there is still a great need for preventative measures in low-resource countries. The World Health Organization says breast cancer is the most common cancer in the world, impacting an estimated 2.3 million people.

Breast Cancer Basics

The American Cancer Society defines cancer as a group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells that can result in death if not treated.

Breast cancer itself can occur in the lining cells (epithelium) of the ducts (85%) or lobules (15%) in the glandular tissue of the breast.

Breast cancer most commonly presents as a painless lump or thickening in the breast. If you find a lump, see your healthcare provider. Early diagnosis can often be the key to successful treatment.

If it progresses, it can attack the surrounding breast tissue and become invasive and spread or metastasize to lymph nodes or other organs.

Early Detection Leads to Cures

Early detection is the best defense. That’s why the American Cancer Society stresses the need for a baseline mammogram for women at age 40 with annual mammogram screenings for women ages 45 to 54.

At Any Lab Test Now®, we believe strongly in blood tests used for screening purposes to improve your health. We believe our job is to educate you and your family on the prevention and management of chronic and everyday illnesses.

Any Lab Test Now® has a few very useful tools:

One option is the Comprehensive Female Panel, which provides a snapshot of your overall health. This panel is designed for women at all stages of their life to help them make informed decisions about their healthcare goals.

Another breast cancer test is a screening called the Breast Cancer Monitoring Panel. It’s important to understand this is a monitoring tool, not a diagnostic tool. It does not tell you if you have breast cancer. It provides vital information that you can use in tandem with personalized care from your physician. This is a combination of three tests. The CA 15‐3 and CA 27.29 are proteins that are normally produced by breast cells. In persons with breast cancer, the levels can increase. The protein amounts can rise with breast cancer tumor growth and fall with treatment. The carcinoembryonic antigen is a protein that may be present in people with cancer, including breast cancer. The CEA Test measures the amount of this protein in your blood. CEA is normally detected in healthy adults but at a certain range.

Take Charge of Your Health

Having routine breast screenings through mammograms or lab testing is a game-changer. Early detection means better breast cancer treatment options like surgery, radiation, or medication. These can be highly effective, especially when the disease is identified early.

Not only can you stay on top of your health through screenings, but there are also behavioral measures you can take to reduce your risk of breast cancer, including:

prolonged breastfeeding
regular physical activity
weight control
avoidance of harmful use of alcohol
avoidance of exposure to tobacco smoke
avoidance of prolonged use of hormones
avoidance of excessive radiation exposure

There are more than 3.1 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S., including women still being treated and those who have finished treatment, proving that campaigns like Breast Cancer Awareness Month are working.

Wellness Screenings With Any Lab Test Now®

Any Lab Test Now® is a resource you can use for your family’s health and wellness. The lab tests we provide are confidential, affordable, and convenient. You own the results, and you choose how to proceed with them, whether that means consulting with your provider for further details or perhaps the results give you the peace of mind you were seeking.

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

Stay on top of your family’s health by taking charge of your wellness. Any Lab Test Now® can help by providing the lab tests you need to ensure your health. Call now to schedule an appointment at a location near you.

Malnutrition Awareness Week

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

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

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

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

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

Malnutrition Has Two Groupings

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

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

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

Effects of Malnutrition

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

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

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

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

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

There are some telltale signs of malnutrition.

Symptoms include:

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

How Any Lab Test Now® Can Help

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

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

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

Schedule an Appointment

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

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

Health Literacy Month

When was the last time you received a prescription and weren’t quite sure about the dosing instructions? Or maybe you were taking your child to the pediatrician and did not understand a consent form for treatment. Perhaps you couldn’t make sense of health insurance deductibles. Sound familiar? These scenarios all tell us about our level of health literacy. If you struggle with understanding health matters, you’re not alone. Health literacy here in the United States is alarmingly low. Based on a study conducted by Pfizer, only 12% of American adults have proficient health literacy.

What Does It All Mean?

According to the CDC, personal health literacy is the degree to which individuals have the ability to find, understand, and use information and services to make informed health-related decisions for themselves and others.

Nearly nine out of 10 adults struggle with health literacy. Even people with high literacy skills may have low health literacy skills in certain situations. This involves more than just reading, it’s about comprehension and application. It’s about being informed about a condition you have, like a food allergy, and fully understanding that you need to, for example, check labels before you consume food.

Poor health literacy can cause big health problems. Face it, if you don’t understand care, treatment, or other instructions, you may exacerbate a health problem, maybe miss appointments, or take the wrong medication.

There are some factors that can influence an individual’s health literacy, including living in poverty, education, race/ethnicity, age, and disability. But really, most of the population is unclear about matters of health.

What’s Being Done To Combat The Problem?

Through public health initiatives, experts are trying to bridge the gap by advising healthcare workers to keep their messaging clear and concise to improve health literacy. The goal of public health is to promote and protect the health of people and the communities where they live, learn, work, and play. Much of the work public health workers do is setting standards for prevention and promoting wellness by encouraging healthy behaviors. Public health saves money, improves our quality of life, helps children thrive, and reduces human suffering.

This runs the gamut from teaching the public about the need for vaccinations and nutritious school lunches to air quality and the prevention of diseases. You can only imagine how busy public health officials are with matters like COVID-19, seasonal flu, and ongoing health issues like the risks of alcohol and tobacco.

With October being Health Literacy Month, Any Lab Test Now® is dedicated to ensuring that you are informed about your family’s health. Our goal is to improve your family’s wellness. We do that by providing direct access to thousands of lab tests ranging from the CBC panel, which provides a snapshot of your health, to the Comprehensive Metabolic Panel, which gives a clear picture of your overall health. Plus, we recommend including the Lipid Panel to determine if you are at risk for heart disease. These are basic tests everyone needs because they provide conclusive answers about your health.

Getting lab testing done with Any Lab Test Now® is only part of the equation. We want to improve your health literacy by not only providing clear, concise, and understandable results but also empowering you to glean additional information with our DialCare service. This allows you to consult with a provider about your results. The clarity you receive from a medical professional can affect the way you handle your health and can be lifesaving.

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

Any Lab Test Now® — The More You Know… Lab Testing for Every Need

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.

Coach talking to young soccer team before the match

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.

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.

Empowered Women Prioritize Their Health

May is Women’s Health Month and National Women’s Health Week is May 8–15. This month serves as a great reminder for women to take better steps to understand their health. Preventive care is one of the most important steps you can take to manage your health. Taking the time to monitor your body is vital to preventive care. It continuously saves lives, especially for women, who sometimes have a hard time prioritizing their wellness.

Here’s why:

Women generally make the most of the healthcare arrangements for their families but often neglect their own health needs
50% of women disregard their own health
Women are five times more likely than men to develop thyroid issues
Two of every three deaths among women are caused by non-communicable diseases (NCDs) — examples include heart disease, stroke, and diabetes — all of which can be detected early

It is not wise to ignore your health and wait until something goes wrong or you are feeling “off” before seeking answers. In this month’s blog, we are sharing 3 important preventive healthcare screenings offered by your neighborhood Any Lab Test Now®. These 3 lab tests are important because they will help detect possible conditions or issues early when they are easiest to treat.

COMPREHENSIVE FEMALE PANEL

At Any Lab Test Now®, we offer a Comprehensive Female Panel designed to help women of all ages make informed decisions about their health. The Medical Assistants at your local At Any Lab Test Now® regularly see women with ongoing medical conditions or those seeking one-off testing, making our stores an invaluable wellness resource right in your own neighborhood.

This panel includes multiple tests that will provide you with a personalized snapshot of a woman’s health. The panel also includes a metabolic panel that checks kidney and liver functions, female hormones with a specific female hormone test, thyroid condition, and nutritional status. All around, this is a great panel to add to your wellness routine that provides you with a wide range of bodily information.

The Any Lab Test Now® Comprehensive Female Panel looks at the following:

CBC with Differential/Platelets – A broad screening test to check for such disorders as anemia, infection, and many other diseases.

Complete Metabolic Panel – A test that measures 14 different substances in your blood and measures kidney and liver function.

Cholesterol (Lipid) Panel – Measures the amount of cholesterol and fats in your blood.

Estradiol – Also known as E2, this is the main type of estrogen your ovaries produce. Too much or too little can lead to problems, such as weak bones, urinary tract infections, and even depression.

Testosterone (Free and Total) – Usually associated with men, women also produce testosterone. An imbalance of this hormone can lead to weight gain or sexual dysfunction.

TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) – This portion of the panel evaluates how well the thyroid gland is working.

HbA1C (Hemoglobin A1C) – The results of this test reveal your average blood sugar levels over the past three months.

Progesterone – An imbalance of this hormone can lead to a decreased sex drive, mood swings, irregular periods, and more.

DHEA-Sulfate – Also known as dehydroepiandrosterone, this hormone contributes to normal libido and sexual satisfaction.

FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) – Too much or too little FSH can cause a variety of problems, including infertility or menstrual difficulties in women. It can also be an indicator of menopause.

LH (Luteinizing Hormone) – This chemical supports important processes in your reproductive system, including ovulation.

COMPREHENSIVE THYROID PANEL

Women are more likely to have thyroid issues than men. The thyroid is a hormone-producing gland located in the middle of the lower neck that regulates the body’s metabolism — the rate at which the body produces energy from nutrients and oxygen — and affects critical body functions, such as energy level and the regulation of body temperature.

Any Lab Test Now® offers a Comprehensive Thyroid Panel that zeroes in on this important gland, which can help you determine if you have one of the two most common thyroid issues.

Hypothyroidism – a condition where the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone. Symptoms include extreme fatigue, depression, forgetfulness, and some weight gain.

Hyperthyroidism – a condition causing the gland to produce too much thyroid hormone. Symptoms include irritability, nervousness, muscle weakness, unexplained weight loss, sleep disturbances, vision problems, and eye irritation.

OSTEOPOROSIS RISK PANEL

Osteoporosis is a real risk for all women. In fact, 80 percent of Americans with osteoporosis are women. It is a condition that weakens bones and makes them susceptible to breakage. Ideally, our bodies absorb calcium and replace bone tissue. Our main source of calcium is food. But when we don’t eat enough calcium-rich foods, we put ourselves in danger of developing osteoporosis. Most of the time, people don’t realize they have an issue until they suffer a bone fracture.

Women are more likely to develop osteoporosis because:

Women have smaller, thinner bones
A reduction in estrogen, a hormone in women connected to bone health, can lead to bone loss
One in two women over the age of 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis

Our Osteoporosis Risk Panel includes ten different tests that evaluate your risk for osteoporosis. Two

of the key components of the test include measuring calcium and vitamin D levels, which are deeply tied to bone health.

WANT MORE INFORMATION?

Click here to learn more about a few more tests and panels designed to help empower women to prioritize their health.

Acknowledging Alcohol Addiction in America

Every April, we recognize Alcohol Awareness Month. We toast our successes. We drown our sorrows. It’s 5 o’clock somewhere! The world is filled with reasons to pour a drink, yet even a single drink can affect your body. And too much can have a long-lasting impact that isn’t always reversible. It can be a touchy subject. In a positive light, alcohol can be fun, flirty, and a reliable resource to have a good time. It’s often a must-have for major social events like bachelorette parties, weddings, and birthdays. Of course, every coin has two sides, and alcohol is no different. For some, alcohol is addictive. It can be damaging, messy, and used as an excuse for abhorrent behavior.

Did You Know? Alcohol remains the number one drug of choice for teens in America today. It’s more likely to kill young people than all illegal drugs combined. Alcohol Awareness Month is sponsored by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, this month encourages community organizations to host events to increase the public’s awareness and education that too much alcohol can do to you.

SHORT-TERM HEALTH RISKS

Your liver is the largest organ in your body. It breaks down and filters out harmful substances in the blood and manufactures the proteins, enzymes, and hormones the body uses to ward off infections.

When you indulge in excessive alcohol use, certain risks internally and externally are higher.

Injuries: car crashes, falls, drownings, and burns
Violence: homicide, suicide, sexual assault, and partner/familial violence
Alcohol poisoning
Miscarriage/stillbirth in pregnant women

All of the health risks stated above are devastating, life-altering consequences. At times, these ailments can be preventable. Alcohol fuels emotions, causing a person to perhaps do something more extreme than they would with a clear mind. In addition to short-term health risks, alcohol also comes with long-term health concerns.

LONG-TERM HEALTH RISKS

High blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, and digestive issues
Cancer: breast, mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, colon, and rectum
Weak immune system
Dementia
Depression and anxiety
Social problems, family problems, and job-related problems
Alcohol dependence

Any of the conditions laid out above can be severely damaging. Furthermore, alcohol-related disorders can impact every facet of the human life experience. At Any Lab Test Now®, we offer a comprehensive test called the Hepatic Function Panel. It measures the blood levels with seven tests that you may want to see how well your liver is working. It’s encouraged if you’re suffering from symptoms related to liver disease, on medication that affects the liver, or if you’ve been exposed to hepatitis A, B, or C.

The Liver Function Panel includes the following tests:

Total protein
Albumin
Total bilirubin
Direct bilirubin
Alkaline phosphatase
AST
ALT

Labeled as the leading preventable cause of death in the United States by the CDC, excessive alcohol use is said to shorten the lives of those who die by a staggering 29 years. Alcohol abuse can also impact one’s mental health leading to symptoms of depression, bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Now is the best time to get ahead of your health. Liver function testing provides both you and your doctor the information needed to monitor the impact of alcohol on your body.

An Ounce of Prevention is a Worth a Pound of Cure

As we continue into 2022, it’s important to keep the momentum of self-care going. Any Lab Test Now® offers you extensive and inexpensive lab testing options, so you can keep living your best life. It’s our priority to make these tests as convenient as possible for working people. This is why we provide business-friendly hours, for those with busy schedules. Each of our 200+ locations nationwide provides a clean, safe facility for your lab testing needs. Book an appointment online or walk into your neighborhood Any Lab Test Now^® to test your liver health.