Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the world, but it can be prevented. An excess of triglycerides and cholesterol in the blood (Dyslipidemia) is one of the most important risk factors. High levels can effectively be controlled through diet and exercise.
Cardiovascular markers:
HDL - Cholesterol
LDL - Cholesterol
Non - HDL Cholesterol
Total Cholesterol
Triglycerides
Diabetes occurs when the body’s ability to regulate the amount of blood sugar (glucose) is impaired.
In Type 1 diabetes the body is no longer able to produce insulin, and in the more common Type 2 (which occurs more frequently with age) the body is no longer sensitive to its action.
Lifestyle changes can prevent pre-diabetes from progressing to Type 2 diabetes, as well as being effective in treatment. The purpose of diabetes-related tests is to detect pre-diabetes and undiagnosed diabetes, as well as to monitor how well the diabetes is controlled.
The kidney profile is a set of tests that evaluates the function of your kidneys. Kidneys remove waste products and excess water from the body. If it’s not functioning properly, waste products can accumulate and make you unwell. There are lots of reasons that the kidneys may not be working correctly including diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Kidney function markers:
Creatinine
Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)
Sodium
The liver is essential for digesting food and removing toxic substances. If your liver is not functioning correctly it can make you unwell. There are a number of causes for a liver not functioning well, including infection, alcohol use, and certain medications and food supplements.
Liver function markers:
Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)
Albumin
Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)
Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST)
Bilirubin
Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase (GCT)
Vitamins and minerals are essential nutrients that are required by the body to work properly and stay healthy. There are 13 main types of vitamins – including Vitamin D and C, and a number of minerals such as iron and calcium. Making sure you’re getting enough vitamins and minerals is crucial for many bodily functions, like the formation of blood cells, tissues, genetic material and hormones.
Vitamins and mineral markers:
Ferritin
Folate
Iron
Transferrin
Transferrin Saturation
Vitamin B12
Vitamin D
There are 3 main types of cells in the blood – platelets (important for stopping bleeding), white cells (to fight infection) and red cells (carrying oxygen around the body). A full blood count provides information about these cells. For example, if someone is feeling tired frequently, the blood status can determine whether anaemia (low red cells) is a cause for this.
Blood status markers:
Haematocrit (PCV)
Haemoglobin
Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin (MCH)
Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin
Concentration (MCHC)
Mean Corpuscular Volume (CPV)
Mean Platelet Volume (MPV)
Number of basophils
Number of eosinophils
Number of leukocytes
Number of lymphocytes
Number of monocytes
Number of neutrophils
Percentage of basophils
Percentage of eosinophils
Percentage of lymphocytes
Percentage of monocytes
Percentage of neutrophils
Platelet Count
Red Blood Cell Count (RBC)
Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW)
Increased markers of inflammation can be due to a number of causes including infection, joint problems and can even be a risk factor for heart disease.
Inflammation markers:
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)