Eating Disorder Blood Tests.

If you have had a doctor's appointment recently for anything other than a cold, then you probably had a blood test done. This is a very common procedure and can yield some very important information for the doctor as to your health and wellbeing.

Perhaps the most common reason what a blood test is performed is to validate, or not, the suspicion of a pregnancy. While there are over the counter early pregnancy tests that will give you a result, most doctors to not take this information at face value, preferring instead to get their result via blood. If in fact you are pregnant, this will be the first of many blood tests over the course of the next nine months or so.

Complete blood cell count (CBC) - The most common blood test performed by your doctor. This will check for things like low iron (anemia), infections, some cancers, arthritis and inflammations, and immune system functionality. The test does all this by checking your white blood cell count, red blood cell count and platelets count.

Lab tests are frequently used to rule out certain disorders associated with symptoms that mimic those of mental illness. For example, a child who appears to have autism may undergo certain lab tests (e.g., blood tests, urine tests), among other procedures, to ensure that the symptoms are not caused by another underlying condition.Or, a patient who has symptoms of depression may undergo blood testing to look for the presence of a viral infection, which sometimes causes similar symptoms. In addition, other medical causes for a mental health disorder, such as dementia, may be ruled out with lab tests.

Lab tests are also used to help detect signs of a mental illness. For example, blood testing can reveal nutritional inadequacies that may indicate the presence of an eating disorder. Blood tests, urine tests, saliva tests, sweat tests and hair analysis can also detect use of alcohol and other substances.

As you can see, a blood test is a helpful tool that the doctor has as his or her disposal and often on that they use. So, instead of staying a way from the doctor like a baby, the next time you are in for a physical, suck it up, stick out your arm and give the doctor your blessing.

Free Stuff Canada 4- A common blood issue is also detected via the use of a blood sample test; anemia is a condition that is caused by low iron in the blood. The symptoms are tiredness and pale skin. The blood test is utilized to track the iron levels to be sure they are appropriate for each individual patient.

As with other blood typing tests, the ALBAclone Blood Grouping Reagents will determine the blood type of donors, the key in making sure that a blood transfusion is carried out successfully. In addition to the common ABO and Rh tests, the blood grouping reagents will also be used to test for rare blood types. The reagents used in the blood typing are monoclonal antibodies, the FDA said, and it is the highly specific nature of them that "ensures product uniformity and availability."

Magnesium- An essential mineral in your body that helps maintain its delicate electrolyte balance. Common symptoms of depleted sodium are aching muscles, anxiety, confusion, decreased blood pressure and body temperature, noise sensitivity, and rapid pulse.

Depending on the nature of the test, blood samples may be obtained by inserting a needle into the skin (e.g., a finger) for a small sample, or into a vein or artery for a larger sample. Blood tests can be performed on different parts of the blood, including whole blood (blood that has not been separated into its many components), blood plasma (the liquid part of the blood), blood serum (plasma that has had the clotting agent removed) or blood cells (the individual red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets).

Blood glucose (blood sugar) - can determine things like hypoglycemia and diabetes. A disturbance can be caused by dehydration and malnutrition and an elevated or low blood sugar level can be dangerous.

Cholesterol - More common in those suffering with Compulsive Overeating, it is important to be sure that the levels of "good" and "bad" cholesterol are where they should be. High "bad" cholesterol (LDL - low density lipoprotein) and/or not enough "good" cholesterol (HDL - high density lipoprotein) can lead to a heart attack and death.

Thyroid function tests - This is an important test to be done initially to rule out any possible problems with the thyroid. This can also be an important test for a person in recovery who may be having a hard time gaining weight (Anorexia/Bulimia) or losing weight (Compulsive Overeating). Sometimes this test may help in assisting in the diagnosis of ADD/ADHD (which can play a role in the Eating Disorders of some individuals). The Thyroid is a gland that controls the body's metabolism -- people with an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroid) may have a problem gaining weight -- people with an underactive thyroid (hypothyroid) may have a problem losing weight.

The saying "Let your food be your medicine, your medicine your food (Hippocrates) is as true to-day as it ever was. Blood glucose balancing meals are not boring. As with hypoglycemia and insulin resistance, foods should be as unrefined as possible, low on the Glycaemic Index of foods, thereby making less demand on insulin.

Ketones (or Ketoacidosis) - Ketones can accumulate in the blood rather quickly when the body is starved of food and nutrients. It indicates that the body is "eating its own fat" for energy. Accumulation of Ketones in the blood can lead to Ketoacidosis which can cause coma and death.