Having a blood test on a regular basis is one of the most important things to keep track of the overall well-being. It enables you to see any significant change in the body over time, thus making informed health decisions. Most doctors often recommend that typical people should have their blood tested once per year. However, this is just the minimum number. There are many other reasons why you might need more blood tests. Let’s take a closer look at 10 basic types of blood tests and choose the best option for you.
1Basic Metabolic Panel
A basic metabolic panel or BMP typically checks for the levels of a few components in your blood. These often include calcium, electrolytes, sodium, glucose, carbon dioxide, potassium, chloride, creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen or BUN. To take this test, you have to fast in at least 8 hours before drawing the blood.
A BMP will give you an understanding of some serious issues with your electrolyte levels, blood sugar, the acid balance of the blood, and blood filtration. It is often used to find out some medical problems with insulin metabolism, pancreas, lung, or kidney. However, some follow-up tests are required for precise diagnosis. [1]
