Integrative medicine combines a holistic approach to healthcare with modern technologies and laboratory testing for a comprehensive look at your overall wellness. Partnering with our Atlanta functional medicine clinic ensures you get personalized care from primary care doctors who will listen to you and consider all aspects of your health. Blood work and lab testing is a large part of this process, but how can you know which tests to ask for or what they even mean? Keep reading to learn more about questions to ask your doctor, specifically what labs to ask for and why.
What To Ask Your Doctor During A Checkup
There are many questions to ask a functional medicine doctor, one of the most important being, “What tests do I need?” followed by “Can you help me understand the results?” Often, people get routine bloodwork done, get a call that says everything is normal, and that’s it. On the other hand, many may go years without getting any type of lab testing done, even if they have a family history of chronic health conditions. Annual physicals and routine checkups are part of an ideal wellness routine, and your primary care doctor can help you determine which lab tests you should get.
What Labs To Ask Your Primary Care Doctor For
If you’re not sure what tests you need, that’s okay– it’s one of the questions to ask your doctor! But with a little research and understanding of your medical and family history, you can ask if a specific test might be beneficial. Here are a few common blood tests, as well as a few more thorough tests that health-conscious individuals should know about:
- Complete blood count (CBC): a standard test that looks at red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, hemoglobin, and hematocrit levels.
- Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP): a test for over a dozen biomarkers, from glucose to calcium; looks at overall metabolism, kidney, and liver function.
- Fasting insulin marker test: A pre-cursor to the standard Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) blood glucose test that is crucial for early detection of insulin resistance and pre-diabetes.
- Advanced lipid panel: includes checking levels of cholesterol (LDL and HDL) and triglycerides; an advanced panel also looks at protein particle size and specific lipids Apo A and Apo B. We may also want to do a coronary calcium scan if you have stubborn elevated lipid markers for a comprehensive look at your heart disease risk.
- Homocysteine: this amino acid test is in the top 5 labs to ask your doctor for as it can better reveal your risk for heart disease, especially if you are already at an increased risk for heart attack or stroke.
- Comprehensive thyroid panel: at the very least, a standard thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) test can detect an imbalance; hover, detailed thyroid testing should also include free T3 and T4, reverse T3, anti-TPO, and anti-thyroglobulin.
- Anemia panel: checks iron, folate, and Vitamin B12; ideal for those experiencing chronic fatigue and pregnant or menstruating women.
- Vitamin D: one of the most common nutritional deficiencies, this vitamin can contribute to energy levels, joint health, immune function, and mood.
- C-Reactive protein (CRP): can indicate elevated stress and inflammation, a marker for many autoimmune diseases.
- Uric acid: those with kidney problems or gout should monitor uric acid levels; high uric acid content could be a factor in oxidative stress, inflammation, and joint health.
How Our Functional Medicine Clinic Can Help You
In addition to the comprehensive lab tests mentioned above, we also offer genetic testing, such as methylation, COMT, and homocysteine, as well as food sensitivity testing via IgG antibodies. Here at Elite Personalized Medicine, we take your symptoms seriously and will ensure you receive accurate and efficient testing. More importantly, we will talk you through the results and make sure you understand what they mean. Whether you’re suffering from gut health issues, chronic inflammation, or a hormone imbalance, our team of holistic healthcare professionals will work with you to uncover the root cause and formulate a customized treatment plan accordingly.
Now that you know some questions to ask your doctor, learn more about functional medicine. Please let us know how we can help you on your journey toward better health; we would love to partner with you!
