Do you remember the last time you had your blood checked? Routine bloodwork may seem like a simple test, but it can tell Dr. Rogers Walker and Shelley Gilbert, PA-C, a lot about what’s going on inside your body.
Here in our on-site lab at Walker Family Care in Little River, South Carolina, we use blood tests to catch early signs of illnesses, monitor chronic conditions like diabetes, and help you stay on top of your health goals.
Take a moment as our team shares five things that routine bloodwork reveals about your health.
Blood tests can check the health of your major organs, like your liver, kidneys, and thyroid. Once your blood sample is collected, our lab technicians measure specific enzymes and hormones.
Dr. Walker reviews your enzyme and hormone levels and can spot early signs of organ stress or dysfunction.
For example, if Dr. Walker is concerned about your thyroid, he may order a thyroid panel, which measures thyroid hormones such as TSH, T3, and T4. Your lab results can help diagnose hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid) or hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid).
Feeling tired, sluggish, or foggy? You might be low in iron, vitamin D, or B12. But without bloodwork, it’s impossible to tell which deficiency is contributing to your symptoms.
Bloodwork can identify nutrient deficiencies that may be affecting your energy levels, mood, or immune system.
You aren’t alone if you have a vitamin or mineral deficiency. About 35% of Americans have a vitamin D deficiency, vegetarians and vegans have a higher risk of developing a vitamin B12 deficiency, and iron deficiencies affect 40% of women aged 12-21.
Knowing your numbers, though, gives you the information you need to make targeted diet or supplement changes.
A lipid panel measures your “good” high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, “bad” low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and triglycerides.
High cholesterol often has no symptoms, but it’s a major risk factor for heart disease. Routine checks help you make lifestyle changes — or start treatment — before problems develop.
A fasting glucose or A1C test shows how your body manages sugar. These numbers help detect diabetes or prediabetes early, when it’s most manageable through diet and exercise.
In some cases, you can even reverse a prediabetes diagnosis and avoid a full-blown diabetes diagnosis. But the information you need starts with your blood test.
If you already have diabetes, your routine bloodwork shows how well the condition is managed, and your results can shape any changes to your current treatment plan.
Bloodwork can show if your body is fighting an infection or dealing with inflammation. A complete blood count (CBC), for example, measures your white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets.
Dr. Walker uses this information to confirm infections, anemia, or immune-related issues.
You don’t have to wait until you’re sick to get your blood checked. Routine bloodwork is one of the easiest ways to get a snapshot of your physical health and catch issues early.
Schedule your checkup today and get the answers you need from your routine bloodwork. You can also reach our Little River, South Carolina, team at 843-280-8333.
