I get asked all the time how to go about getting testing ordered when you either don't have a Dr. willing to order them or you aren't currently working with a Dr. Some Drs. refuse to order tests because they are not familiar with specialized testing options for hard to treat issues like autism, auto-immunity, Hashimoto's, food allergies, etc. And even worse, many will tell you they are a waste of time! Many families like mine know the power of testing when it comes to treating underlying issues of these hard to treat disorders. Below is a guest post from Dr. Kurt Woeller on lab testing options for those who may need it.
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Lab tests give us the ability to test our body’s chemistry, and are critical for overall optimal health. There are many benefits to lab testing, yet many people overlook the absolute necessity of this type of internal evaluation.
For example, we can surmise that a person’s hormone levels are low based on an individual’s complaint about how they feel, but obtaining the absolute value is impossible without diagnostic assessment. Lab tests help to determine the exact level of hormones such as estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. Why this is important is when using therapy such as hormone replacement medication. In order to know how much hormone to give, we must know how low the hormone is in the first place, then guide our therapy over time with symptom improvement, along with laboratory data to show whether the hormone levels have become optimal, are still too low, or too high. A particular lab test to help in this process is the Functional Adrenal Stress Profile plus V (five), from BioHealth, available at Lab Tests Plus. This salivary test is an accurate way of determining excess or deficiency of various hormones such as progesterone, estrogen and testosterone. Also, evaluated from the #205 panel is adrenal function through cortisol measurement. Adrenal exhaustion is a common pattern with many people and affects energy levels, mood, sleep, and immunity. Without knowing exactly what your particular values are the implementation of specific hormone and adrenal therapy is just a guessing game.
Another example of the importance of lab testing is for chronic infections. Often people suffer from chronic digestive complaints such as bloating, gas, pain, diarrhea or constipation. These types of complaints can persist for months and years and many times individuals try various supplements and medications to no avail. Stool pathogen testing can be very important to rule out an infection in the digestive system that is compromising health. The #401-H Gastrointestinal Pathogen Screen from BioHealth is an excellent stool test to look for chronic infections such as parasites, bacteria, and yeast. Without the data from a stool test many people suffer needlessly when their issue could be resolved quickly through appropriate treatment of an intestinal parasite.
It cannot be overstated that the role of lab testing in health assessment is critical. Only treating of symptoms wastes valuable time and can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. Laboratory testing is able to identify problems and allow for more appropriate intervention, ultimately saving time and money.
Lab Tests Plus is a specialized lab ordering service for health education and information. If you have questions about lab testing or which lab test may be most appropriate for your situation, you can post your questions through the “Which Test” section of www.labtestsplus.com.
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