Managing Chronic Diseases with Lab Testing

Regular lab testing can help in keeping a track of a lot of health issues. Here are some of the chronic conditions that can be managed with regular lab testing.

Thyroid

Testing on a regular basis is important if you are taking medication for a thyroid disorder. Regular testing can fine-tune your treatment. If you have had a previous treatment for an overactive thyroid, it is important to conduct a blood test every 12 months or as per the advice of your physician.

Diabetes

Diabetes symptoms often develop over several years and go unnoticed, making routine testing all the more vital. Testing blood glucose levels have become a daily ritual for millions of people across the globe. Most people have started using blood test kits at home to track their blood sugar levels. But the main diagnostic test, hemoglobin A1C test which can provide key information to see if diabetes is under control can only be performed by a medical professional.

Heart Disease

Clinical laboratory diagnostics have a significant role in preventative care for heart diseases. This chronic condition represents one of the most significant health challenges faced by the patients today. Even young people are now at the increased risk of getting a heart disease. Effective approaches for surveillance, prevention, and treatment are needed to address the expanding burden of heart disease mortality, particularly for the substantially increasing rates of heart failure making regular testing more important than ever.

For patients at risk of developing heart disease, routine monitoring can help monitor levels of “bad” cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein, or LDL) in blood, information that can be used to advance preventative measures, including lifestyle changes that can ultimately reduce a patient’s risk of heart disease.

Cancer

Routine lab testing has also proven a vital lifeline for cancer patients, empowering better clinical decision making at every step of the treatment process. Cancer screening significantly reduces the risk of deaths because early detection often goes hand-in-hand with earlier treatment, a key driver of improving prospects of getting cured.