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Appropriate blood tests will help
In Germany, people over the age of 35 with statutory health insurance can only have a full blood count done every two years by their family doctor without having to pay a co-payment. But what happens in the meantime? Serious symptoms must normally be present here for the blood values to be checked at the expense of the health insurance company. For healthy people who only want to monitor their values preventively, there is a more convenient option.
You can do blood tests at home with a small fingertip and send them in for lab testing. You will then receive an evaluation and corresponding recommendations. Interested parties can use the offer once or regularly in a subscription model. The latter has the advantage that, for example, nutritional recommendations can be implemented at short notice and the improvement in blood values can be observed. Various providers can be examined for corresponding service providers.
Important : If values get out of hand, it is important to consult a doctor. With this, the treatment can be coordinated accordingly.
Which values make sense?
- Inflammation
levels Anyone who goes through an infection will see increased levels of white blood cells in a blood sample because the immune system is active. However, there is another inflammatory marker: CRP (c-reactive protein). It provides information on whether an underlying disease, such as certain tumors or a heart disease, triggers smoldering inflammatory processes in the body. Normally the value is 5mg/l blood serum. Values above 100 indicate a serious illness and require medical clarification. - Vitamins, minerals and trace elements
Some deficiency situations trigger unpleasant symptoms in the body. It is therefore important to identify undersupply early on. The values for the iron stored in the body are particularly important – especially for young women. If the ferritin value falls below 10ng/ml, this can indicate malnutrition or inflammatory diseases. Vitamin D status is also crucial for well-being. Anything below 35ng/ml is not enough here and can lead to depression and an increased susceptibility to infections, for example. - Blood sugar
Blood sugar provides important information about a functioning carbohydrate metabolism and possible diabetes . It can be determined both in the fasting state and as postprandial sugar (2 hours after a main meal). Different limit values apply here:normal prediabetic Suspected diabetes fasting blood sugar 100 – 126 mg/dl >126 mg/dl Postprandial blood glucose 140 – 200 mg/dl >200 mg/dl Hba1c 5,7 – 6,4 % >6,4 % If you do not want to base your blood test on meals, you can determine the Hba1c value. It shows the average blood sugar over the past 8 to 12 weeks and is therefore more meaningful than the daily value.
- Cholesterol and blood lipids
These biomarkers are considered by experts to be risk indicators for cardiovascular disease if they are too high. The following limit values apply here:-> HDL cholesterol at least 40mg/dl (men) or 48mg/dl (women).
-> LDL cholesterol -> total cholesterol -> triglycerides below 150mg/dl
Conclusion: Regular checks can definitely make sense
iron deficiency? High blood lipids? Diabetes? If you are worried about your health because of your lifestyle or family history, you don’t have to wait for the next mandatory check-up at your family doctor. Blood tests at home offer a quick way to keep an eye on the most important health parameters.
