Blood reveals a lot about health - from the functioning of the organs to metabolism to errors in diet. Here are 10 reasons why you should get regular blood tests

"Regular blood tests do not only help the sick. It also benefits healthy people who want to stay healthy," explain experts from Carolina Urgent Care (1). Blood tests will detect potential health problems before they have time to fully erupt; in addition, they help to understand how a person reacts to prescribed medications, whether they suffer from allergies, or whether they are at risk of genetic disorders. Doctors recommend going for blood tests regularly once a year, seniors should shorten the interval and get tested every 6 months (2), for the following ten reasons.

1. Blood tests reveal how well your body organs are working

Blood tests are the most available prevention tool; they reliably identify how your organs are doing. Any diagnosis related to the human body begins with a blood test. For example:

1. determination of creatinine and urea levels is used in the examination of the kidneys and urinary tract,
2. testing the level of bilirubin and other parameters is used during the examination of the liver,
3. determination of the level of thyroid hormones is used in the examination of the function of the thyroid gland.

Blood tests will reveal whether the body is able to dispose of waste products and work properly with electrolytes such as potassium and sodium. The thyroid gland, heart, kidneys, liver and lungs are organs whose function can be reliably documented by preventive blood tests (3).

2. Blood tests reveal what your health problems are

If you experience symptoms of illness or a non-specific health problem, you must absolutely undergo blood tests. "Get tested whenever you start to gain weight or lose weight suddenly and without any apparent reason, feel tired even though you lead a healthy life, or if you have persistent pain that keeps coming back," advise experts from Trinity Medical Laboratories (3).

3. Do you have a nutrient deficiency? Blood tests will detect this safely

Testing the level of minerals and vitamins in the body will provide accurate information about how the organism is doing with nutrients. The values of vitamins and minerals are affected by stress and hormonal changes. "Vitamin deficiency is common in the population, even in people who eat a varied and well-balanced diet," warns Ian Darnton-Hill of the Boden Institute of Obesity, Nutrition and Eating Disorders (5).

Blood tests can reveal:

1. lack of vitamin D, which increases the risk of developing chronic and infectious diseases (osteoporosis, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, tuberculosis),
2. lack of vitamin B12, which has serious consequences (anemia and neurological problems), is common in people over 50 years old and with intestinal problems (Crohn's disease, ulcer colitis or celiac disease)
3. lack of vitamins A, C, E, folate and B6,
4. lack of minerals, mostly iron, magnesium and zinc (5).

4. Blood tests reliably detect venereal diseases

Complete blood tests are used to detect STDs in their early stages, before serious symptoms develop. Some sexually transmitted diseases can be diagnosed from urine or saliva, but the most common ones are tested from blood. STD screening includes testing for:

1. Syphilis (normally examined with a blood test for self-payers),
2. HIV (also tested from blood, in the form of a blood test for self-payers),
3. chlamydia,
4. genital warts (examined from blood and saliva),
5. gonorrhea (examined from saliva and urine) (6).

5. Blood tests will examine how well your blood clots

The work of platelets is essential for wound healing to prevent bleeding. On the other hand, there are also so-called blood clots, which most often form in the legs; the medical problem is medically called thrombosis, and it can become dislodged, travel to the lungs, and cause a life-threatening pulmonary embolism.

6. Blood tests will tell you how your blood cell health is doing

In English, this test is called Complete Blood Count (CBC), in Slovak a complete blood count. It is used to determine the overall health of the blood cells; it can detect a number of problems including anemia, infection and leukemia. 

The CBC will investigate:

1. red blood cells carrying oxygen,
2. white blood cells fighting infection,
3. hemoglobin, an oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells,
4. hematocrit, the number of red blood cells in the blood,
5. platelets, which help blood to clot.

What does such a complete blood count look like? The doctor will get the numbers that will tell him if you have optimal levels of blood cells. They are measured in the number of cells per liter of blood (b/l) or in grams per deciliter (g/dl).

• Amount of red blood cells
• Hemoglobin
• Hematocrit
• The amount of white blood cells
• Platelet count

7. Blood tests will provide accurate information about how your treatment is going

When you are diagnosed with a disease or health problem, such as iron deficiency, ongoing blood tests can provide your doctor with valuable information about how you are doing in replenishing your mineral levels to optimal levels.

WARNING! You can also have blood tests done as a self-payer without a doctor's request. The price of the blood test is negligible considering its benefit.

8. Blood tests will show how your hormones are doing

A hormone test is a type of blood test used to detect hormonal imbalances in the body. Hormones are essential chemicals affecting all body processes from sleep to digestion. An imbalance will manifest itself in a variety of symptoms, some of which can be serious. Common causes of hormonal imbalance include:

1. chronic health problems, for example diabetes,
   
2. inactive or, on the contrary, hyperactive thyroid gland,
3. use of specific medicines,
4. stress.

Blood tests will determine which specific hormones are out of balance. Symptoms associated with hormonal imbalance are varied and include:

• anxiety,
• depression and/or mood swings,
• loss of appetite for sex,
• fatigue and sleep problems,
• hair loss,
• hot flushes,
• night sweats,
• infertility (9).

In women, hormonal imbalance can lead to PMS (premenstrual syndrome).

9. Are you at risk of heart disease? Blood tests can reliably predict this

Whether you're suffering from high cholesterol or not, it's always a good idea to get blood tests because they tell you a lot about your heart health. Blood tests can reveal high levels of "bad" cholesterol, one of the primary risk factors for heart disease. It is essential to have the amount of fat in the blood checked, through the so-called lipid test (7).

10. Blood tests will reveal if you are pregnant and will be your guide during pregnancy

Be prepared to undergo a number of different blood tests during pregnancy. When you find out that you are pregnant, a marathon of medical examinations begins, the goal of which is to keep the fetus healthy and viable. During pregnancy, you will undergo at least the following blood tests:

1. red blood cell examination – it is checked whether you have low red blood cells, as this would mean iron deficiency anemia,
2. examination of blood platelets and white blood cells - it is tested whether you have enough platelets, which help to clot blood, and white blood cells, which are part of the immune system that fights infection,
3. detection of blood type and antibody values - in this test, the doctor reveals your blood type and the levels of specific antibodies, because some antibodies can be harmful to the fetus,
4. Rh factor - if, for example, you are Rh positive and your child is Rh negative, you will start to create antibodies, which can result in severe anemia and neonatal jaundice,
5. rubella – the test will reveal whether you are immune protected against rubella, if you get it during pregnancy, you will endanger the fetus, namely deafness, brain damage or miscarriage.

Tip: Are you having trouble getting pregnant? Get your AMH level tested (Anti-Müller hormone), which serves as an indicator of the number of fertilized eggs. Anti-Müllerian hormone will tell you if you have a chance to get pregnant naturally.

Blood tests are not a "necessary evil" that you have to undergo at a regular preventive check-up. Blood is in the body and hides information about everything that happens in the body. Whether you are healthy or have recently suffered from non-specific health problems, you have the right to a blood test, based on a medical request or as a self-payer.