What do you need to check in the fall? 8 tests that are worth taking

Even if you are full of vigor and can boast excellent health, it is necessary to undergo regular examinations to detect imbalances and problems in the body in time. It is desirable to do this at least once a year. In the fall and spring – in the off-season – often manifest all chronic problems. This may be due to the inability of the immune system to fight off colds or changes in the weather, the length of daylight hours. All these factors are stress for the body, which can affect the effectiveness of training, among other things.

Candidate of Medical Sciences, pediatrician, nutritionist, co-founder of the Academy of Physicians UniProf

Of course, you can list a lot of tests and examinations for a couple million rubles, but let’s limit ourselves to the most important and indicative.

Insulin

This hormone helps move glucose from the blood to the tissues. If the level of glucose in the blood test is normal, it is important to check and the level of insulin. This indicator may be out of range before blood sugar rises.

Normal values are 2.6-24.9 µUU/mL.

What it says: elevated insulin levels are characteristic of obesity, insulin insensitivity, fructose, glucose-galactose intolerance and some other diseases. Low insulin levels can be a sign of pancreatic inflammation, type I diabetes, vitamin K deficiency. Companions of low insulin are inability to gain weight, sensitivity to cold, and low blood pressure.

Ferritin

This protein is needed to maintain the level of iron necessary for vital processes in the body. The analysis is prescribed when an excess or deficiency of iron is suspected, to determine the causes of anemia (iron or vitamin deficiency).

Normal values: men – 20-250 µg / l, women – 10-120 µg / l.

However, these indicators do not speak of normality or pathology. You need to dig deeper. In addition, the spread is quite large, so the conditionally ideal indicator is in the middle.

What it says: a high level increases the risk of stroke, heart attack, dementia, depression, osteoporosis. It increases with age and with smoking.

Magnesium

A study for magnesium levels is prescribed in the presence of symptoms of magnesium deficiency: seizures, confusion, insomnia, weakness in the muscles. And also to determine the degree of absorption in the small intestine nutrients, vitamins and trace elements and find out the causes of low levels of potassium or calcium.

Normal values are 0.66-1.07 mmol/L.

If the level of magnesium is normal, it does not mean that there is enough of it in the body. The concentration of the mineral can be maintained at the right level due to “leaching” it from tissues and bones, which negatively affects the overall condition. It is necessary to consult a specialist.

What it says: its deficiency leads to the development of cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis, diabetes, high blood pressure.

Normal values: 0-5 mg/l.

What it says: an increase in CRP indicates the presence of chronic inflammation in the body.

Testosterone (free/bioavailable)

The hormone “protects” men from depression, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and women from decreased libido. The test for free (bioavailable) testosterone is more informative than for total testosterone.

Normal values:

• In men from 20 to 40 years – 9.1-32.2 pg/mL, from 40 to 60 years – 5.7-30.7 pg/mL, over 60 years – 5.9-27 pg/mL;
• in women from 20-60 years – 0.1-6.3 pg/mL, over 60 years – 0.5-3.9 pg/mL.

What it says: Itis prescribed to men for delayed development of secondary sexual characteristics, osteoporosis, acne, infertility, andropause. And for women, it is prescribed for hirsutism (excessive hair growth on the face and body), infertility, and irregular menstruation.