It's In Your Blood

The Basics of Blood Work

The simplest way to take control of your own health is through understanding blood work. This is the most requested topic I get, and was specifically requested by a generous “Founding Member” of this Substack.

Having the ability to understand your blood work will give you important insight into your health. If you don’t have to rely on a primary care physician, even better.

With the rise of home blood testing kits, everyone can choose what they want tested and when. You are no longer tied to your physician’s schedule or your insurance company’s willingness to pay. However, with great power comes great responsibility. You must have enough knowledge to interpret these results appropriately or you may miss something significant. If you do not trust your interpretation ability, consult with your physician.

I will explain which blood tests I recommend everyone get, as well as some basics of interpretation and schedule. Here we go:

CBC - Complete Blood Count is a standardized test which looks at many components of your blood. It should be done at least annually, more frequently if you have any health concerns.