Part 3 of 3
In part one, we talked about CMP and what the markers on that test can indicate about your health. When you come in to have your bloodwork done, we will also take a look at your CBC and do a lipid panel. These two portions of your bloodwork can help diagnose and prevent leukemia, lymphoma, and other related conditions.
PART 1: The many benefits of getting bloodwork
PART 2: Cancer screening with annual bloodwork
Complete Blood Count (CBC): What Does it Mean for Your Health?
Complete blood count can be used to check for cancers, infections, and other conditions. Your bone marrow produces red blood cells, so if you have a high red blood cell count, this could be a sign of leukemia or another related disease. White blood cell count increases when you are fighting an infection, so if your results come back with a high white blood cell count, we want to look and see what’s going on that could be causing your symptoms.
Understanding Your Lipid Panel Results: HDL vs LDL
The other thing we will look at when we test your blood is your good and bad cholesterol. HDL is good because it is the cholesterol that is on its way to your liver to be processed and removed from your body. LDL is a low-density, fluffy type of cholesterol that can get stuck in your arteries and lead to atherosclerotic plaque. We want your HDL to be high and your LDL to be low, but what we commonly see is the opposite. That’s why statin medications used to lower bad cholesterol are one of the most commonly prescribed drugs. Fortunately, there are ways you can lower bad cholesterol and raise your good cholesterol.
How to Lower Bad Cholesterol
The best way to lower bad cholesterol is to exercise regularly and eat a healthy diet. Eating a Mediterranean diet that includes fish oil and Omega-3 fatty acids can also help increase your HDL cholesterol. Getting a handle on your high cholesterol can significantly reduce your risk of having a cardiovascular event.
Tracking Your Results
While you are doing these things, it’s important to track your cholesterol levels over time, so that’s why it’s important to get annual bloodwork. At Atracare Health, we run a 10-year risk summary for cardiovascular disease, and that tells us whether you need medication or if diet and exercise is enough. We also consider blood pressure and other risk factors when determining the likelihood that you will experience a cardiovascular event. When you get your bloodwork done, you will be able to download your scores and track them in the app to see how you are improving or declining over time.
Get Your Annual Bloodwork Done at Atracare Health
As your premier partner in health, we are here to provide you with the annual blood testing you need to stay healthy and track your overall health. Our number one goal is to keep the Lewes community safe and healthy, so be sure to make an appointment to get your annual bloodwork done at Atracare Health.
Contact your Primary Care doctor to learn more about bloodwork and schedule your appointment.