Did you know why clinical blood tests are important for us? As humans, the older we get, the more our body becomes susceptible to different conditions and diseases, making periodic blood tests such as the liver function test, thyroid function test, and lipid profile test necessary.
A blood test is a medical analysis that is carried out on a sample of blood extracted from a vein in the arm via a hypodermic needle or a finger prick. Blood tests are utilized in health care to determine important biochemical and physiological states, such as the presence of diseases, the mineral content of the body, the effectiveness of pharmaceutical drugs, and/or our body’s organ function.
As blood tests provide a way to stay in the know of the happenings in our bodies, they are recommended for the following reasons:
To search for potential diseases and illnesses
The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute names the function of blood tests to be “helping doctors check for diseases and conditions ( read more)”. Blood tests can detect markers of diseases and health conditions, such as anemia, pancreatitis, cancer, immune system disorders, nutritional deficiencies, HIV, diabetes, and coronary heart diseases. They also provide insight on diseases an individual is at risk of helping ensure the death of a disease even before its arrival.
To determine if medication is working properly
Some blood tests can indicate if the medications you are taking are/have been effective and whether a change in treatment should be welcomed.
To detect sexually transmitted infections:
Sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia, HIV, herpes, gonorrhea, and syphilis can be diagnosed through blood tests. The tests are sometimes combined with a urine sample test (or swab of infected tissue) for more accurate diagnoses.
To detect the working condition of organs in the body:
Blood tests such as the thyroid function test, the liver function test, and the renal function test help abundantly in spotting malfunctions in vital body organs like the thyroid, liver, and kidneys.
To confirm important decisions like marriage:
Clinical blood tests like the genotype test help in providing knowledge on genetic mutations and the eligibility of partners for marriage.
To check for the production status of certain bodily hormones:
The thyroid function test can detect how well the thyroid (a gland in the neck) is producing and reacting to bodily hormones such as triiodothyronine, thyroxine, and the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). Observed abnormalities in the levels of hormones may also indicate conditions like low protein levels, thyroid growth disorders, and irregularities in testosterone or estrogen production.
To determine blood cholesterol levels:
The lipid profile test is used to check for abnormalities in lipids, such as cholesterol and triglycerides, which is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.
Undoubtedly, blood tests serve as an important means of discovery, bringing us into awareness of our organs and their workings. It is for this reason that they are always recommended by doctors during an inquiry, and certain common blood tests like typhoid/malaria tests, liver function tests, HIV, and genotype tests are often undergone by individuals without specialist recommendation to enable them to confirm the state of their health and decide whether or not to visit the hospital.
Over to you, when last did you take a blood test for inquiry? Remember to book an appointment at one of our state-of-the-art diagnostics centers across Nigeria.