Wellness Proposal for Good Health

Wellness Proposals are plans put together by corporate wellness providers, such as EmployeeWellnessUSA, that enable a company to determine whether an employee wellness program would work for them. Unfortunately, corporate health trends are going the way increasing care costs and skyrocketing pharmaceutical expenditures. Corporate wellness programs can help reverse these trends.

Wellness Proposal Building Block for Wellness Program

Once a corporation approves a proposal, they begin instituting a wellness program based on their initial proposal that involves health risk assessments, health testing, group exercise, and employee incentives to get healthy.

Wellness programs can be compromised of, but not limited to; dietary advice, weight loss and healthy cooking classes, yoga classes, massage therapists at the workplace, and stress management sessions, they look to an initial proposal to see the directions they need to take. Besides Wellness Proposals, EmployeeHealthUSA.com provides on-site staffing, on-site screening and online scheduling of the health screens.

EmployeeWellnessUSA offers free wellness proposals to help employers help their employees take charge of their health. Once they have discovered how to take charge, HealthCheckUSA can help them manage their health through the offering of low cost, direct to consumer lab tests.

How to Obtain a Free Wellness Proposal

You can get a wellness proposal by contacting an Employee Wellness USA corporate wellness representative. They will ask you all sorts of questions regarding your corporate goals, employee goals, budgets, etc, to assist them in putting together your personalized wellness proposal.

In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns about your health, or if you just want to get a headstart on your corporate wellness program; contact a representative at HealthCheckUSA and get started right away. The representatives are there to answer any lab test questions that you might have now and in the future.

Ferritin Screening: What is Ferritin

Ferritin, composed of protein and iron, is the storehouse in the body for iron. The doctor will order this test to determine how much iron your body has stored in reserves for future use. This test is usually ordered because the doctor suspects that you have too little iron or you have too much iron in your body – both of which have health risks.

Ferritin Screening: Low Levels of Ferritin

Low levels of ferritin can indicate several different health issues. They can indicate either anemia, restless leg syndrome, or iron deficiency.

Anemia, indicated by low levels of ferritin, can be caused by low levels of iron or a reduction in iron. Symptoms of anemia include mild skin paleness, less pink in the lips and the nail beds, irritability, fatigue and dizziness with a rapid heartbeat. It is very important to have children showing these symptoms to get tested, according to the Nemours Foundation, as anemia can cause developmental delays and behavioral problems.

Ferritin Screening: High Levels of Ferritin

High levels of ferritin can occur in patients with hemochromatosis, inflammation, liver disease, infection, and certain types of cancer, such as lymphoma and leukemia.

Hemochromatosis is an inherited disease found mostly in Caucasians. Hemochromatosis interferes with the body’s ability to get rid of iron. Over time, there is a buildup of iron in the tissues and organs which can lead to the dysfunction and failure of several organs. Complications of this disease can lead to diabetes, heart failure, heart attack, arthritis and cirrhosis of the liver. Discuss with your doctor the ordering of the ferritin test if you are concerned with this genetic disease.

Ferritin Sreening: How It is Done

The ferritin test is a simple sample test completed by drawing blood from the vein in your arm. If you have any questions about this test or any other lab test we offer, please contact one of our health experts.

The Roby Institute: The History

The Roby Institute, founded by Dr. Russell Roby, believes in diagnosing and treating the causes of many chronic conditions and common diseases versus just treating the symptoms. By understanding the cause, they can work toward keeping the ailment from causing a disruption in the patient’s standard of living. The Roby Institute also believes that a lot of these conditions and diseases are actually caused by allergies and hormone imbalances. To determine whether or not this is the case, the patient would need to have a series of tests completed.

The Roby Institute: Female Series Option A

The Female Series Option A is a panel customized for The Roby Institute and specifically for women. The Series includes the following lab tests: Estradiol, Progesterone, Testosterone, DHEA Sulfate, T3 Free, T4 Free and TSH.

TSH, T3 Free and T4 Free are all thyroid tests that help determine whether or not your thyroid is functioning properly. These lab tests can determine whether or not your symptoms are actually symptoms of hyper- or hypothyroidism. Some symptoms of thyroid problems can include: Fatigue and weakness, hair loss, dry and coarse skin, insomnia, and depression.

Estradiol, Progesterone, Testosterone and the DHEA Sulfate tests are done to determine hormonal imbalances, as well as Adrenal function. According to The Roby Institute, common disorders caused by hormonal imbalance are PMS, Weight Problems, Fatigue, Skin Problems, Mood Swings and Diminished Sex Drive.

The Roby Institute: Female Series Option B

The Female Series Option B is another lab test that is customized for The Roby Institute and specifically for women. The Series includes all the tests that are in Option A, as well as a CRP hs, Homocysteine, CBC, Lipid Panel and a Total Metabolic Panel.

Three of these additional lab tests are used to determine a person’s risk of cardiovascular disease, heart attack or stroke. These tests are the CRP hs, the Homocysteine and the Lipid Panel.

The CBC, or complete blood count, is a broad screening test that can check for many different diseases and conditions. The Total Metabolic Panel is also a broad screening tool that is used to evaluate organ function and to check for diseases associated with the malfunction of your organs, such as liver disease, kidney disease and diabetes. Ordering both of these tests can assist a physician in determining your overall state of health.

If you have any questions about The Roby Institute Female Series of lab tests, please email our health testing experts. They are happy to help!

You Should Know About the CA-125 Cancer Test

The CA-125 cancer test may not be a household name to you, but it probably should be, especially if you’re a woman or there are women in your household. You see, the CA-125 cancer test is one of the best weapons we have against ovarian cancer - a lab test that, when properly used, can spot the signs of ovarian cancer and help people get the treatment they need.

Of course, cancer is the great silent killer of our times. Ovarian cancer is the seventh most common cancer among American women. The Ovarian Cancer National Alliance says that some 20,000 American women contract ovarian cancer yearly. 15,000 of them die from the disease.

As with prostate cancer, colon cancer and other kinds of cancer, regular cancer screenings are critical to survival. The five-year survival rate for women with ovarian cancer is a mere 45%. However, this rate increases to a much rosier 93% when a CA-125 cancer test or other cancer screening identifies the disease early, before it has a chance to spread. Testing is critical, and you don’t need a prescription for a health test like the CA-125 cancer test.

The CA-125 Cancer Test Should Be Part of Your Early Detection Routine

Unfortunately, many health professionals and medical textbooks still hold to the obsolete notion that ovarian cancer has no symptoms during the earliest stages. The truth is that there are many symptoms, including:

• gastrointestinal upset, including indigestion, gas and nausea
• changes in bowel movement
• mysterious weight gain or loss
• pain during intercourse
• lack of energy and breath
• low back pain
• a sudden “full stomach” sensation during or after eating
• loss of appetite

A regular CA-125 cancer test can complement your awareness of these other symptoms. If others in your family have suffered from ovarian cancer, make sure you monitor these symptoms and get CA-125 cancer tests regularly. Ask your doctor about lab tests and the frequency of your CA-125 cancer test routine.

How Does the CA-125 Cancer Test Work?

The CA-125 test monitors a substance that is secreted by cancer cells and normal cells that are in an inflamed condition. The cancer test derives its name from the abbreviation “CA,” which stands for “cancer antigen.”

However, lab test customers should know that the CA-125 cancer test is not a perfect cancer screening test. It’s about 80% accurate, but it’s possible that the CA-125 cancer test returns a positive result when the subject is cancer-free or returns a negative result when the subject does have ovarian cancer. Possible “red herring” conditions that can cause a false positive CA-125 cancer test are: pregnancy, endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease and menstruation.

It’s important that the CA-125 cancer test is used as part of an early detection routine, not as a complete standalone cancer screening. Don’t hesitate to protect your loved ones and yourself from the insidious threat of ovarian cancer. Find one of our locations nationwide and and order a test - the CA-125 cancer test specifically. If you have any questions, check our lab testing FAQ or email our health testing experts. Good health to you!

DNA Analysis Breaks the Curse of Hereditary Disease

DNA analysis and testing has come a long way. Once the stuff of science fiction, DNA analysis now allows people with a history of inherited disease to find out if they and their loved ones will be affected.

Unlike the DNA testing you see on CSI and other popular crime dramas, DNA analysis for hereditary disease has nothing to do with identity or sleuthing. Rather, it uses the same kind of DNA information to figure out if the test subject carries the genes - or DNA - for the disease being analyzed.

HealthCheckUSA’s consumer lab testing service currently offers the following DNA analysis tests:

• celiac disease DNA analysis
• Factor V Leiden testing (hypercoagulable disorder DNA analysis)
• Factor II prothrombin testing (hypercoagulable disorder DNA analysis)
• R2 polymorphism testing (hypercoagulable disorder DNA analysis)
• analysis and testing for hereditary hemochromatosis

DNA Analysis: Celiac Disease

As mentioned earlier in this blog, celiac disease is an autoimmune reaction to gluten. Celiac disease, while common, is often misdiagnosed and can easily be spotted with the proper DNA analysis testing. Celiac disease can be especially troubling to new parents who are distressed by the gastrointestinal problems of their infant.

Other people who should investigate DNA analysis testing for celiac disease are:

• people who have family with celiac disease
• people with iron-deficient anemia
• people with dermatitis herpetiformis
• people who suffer from diarrhea, abdominal pain and distention, cold sores, osteoporosis, infertility, multiple miscarriages, anxiety, or depression
• children with abdominal pain, diarrhea, abdominal distention, short stature, delayed puberty, irritability, attention-deficit disorder, or poor school performance
• people with negative or equivocal antibody or biopsy results and celiac disease symptoms.

DNA Analysis: Factor V Leiden Testing

Factor V hypercoagulable disorder is a potentially devastating inherited malady that affects the way the patient’s blood clots. Ordinarily, blood only clots when trauma or exposure to air requires it. In hypercoagulable disorder patients, the blood does not clot properly, and specifically, for victims of Factor V Leiden, clots are resistant to being broken down by the body’s normal processes. Factor V Leiden DNA analysis quickly determines if this is the case for you or your loved one. HealthCheckUSA also offers combined Factor V Leiden DNA analysis with prothrombin testing.

DNA Analysis: Prothrombin Testing

This mutation results in activated Factor II thrombin in the blood, which causes a high risk of clotting in the patient’s blood passages. Of course, this also brings with it a danger of heart attack, stroke and other cardiopulmonary incidents. Needless to say, if you believe you or your family are at risk for inherited prothrombin, we encourage you to investigate prothrombin DNA analysis immediately. Prothrombin patients often suffer from deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, cerebral vein thrombosis, premature ischemic stroke or premature myocardial infarction.

DNA Analysis: Hereditary Hemachromatosis

Almost one in ten American Caucasians is a carrier for hereditary hemachromatosis, a mutation that causes the body to absorb and carry too much iron. Unless you take a hereditary hemachromatosis DNA analysis test, you may be unaware you have this disease, especially if you are a man under 30 or a woman under 50. If you are a victim of hereditary hemachromatosis, you may experience arthritis, liver issues, congestive heart failure, impotence, skin pigmentation and pancreas damage.

DNA Analysis Testing Provides Early Warning

With DNA analysis testing from the accredited testing labs of HealthCheckUSA, you don’t need to live in fear of inherited disease. Simply select and purchase your test online. Then go for your DNA analysis test at a lab that’s convenient for you. That’s all it takes!

Testing for Diabetes Can Be a Breeze

The “testing for diabetes” dilemma is solved! For both people who are concerned that they might be at risk for diabetes and diabetes patients seeking to manage their disease, HealthCheckUSA offers comprehensive testing for diabetes - in one simple lab test - that analyzes blood glucose control over several months.

Diabetes testing can be an obstacle for many people. When arranged through your doctor, testing for diabetes is expensive and takes multiple appointments. Any kind of medical testing is associated with a number of natural fears - risks, hidden costs, unqualified personnel, inaccuracies, hard-to-understand results and painful procedures. And to further complicate matters, sometimes you think you need testing for diabetes but your doctor doesn’t. How do you get diabetes testing without fracturing the trust between you and your doctor?

Add these factors together and you might be feeling like a cat on a hot tin roof - whether you’re a diabetes patient or just someone with a family history of diabetes.

Those fears can now be allayed with HealthCheckUSA’s testing for diabetes.

Halting Testing Fears with HealthCheckUSA’s Diabetes Testing

Testing for diabetes is so simple with HealthCheckUSA’s HbA1c Diabetes Management Test. You don’t need a prescription for the health test. You just pick the testing for diabetes option from our list of medical tests, select a lab testing location, pay and then go for your lab test when the time comes. Testing for diabetes isn’t painful or complicated; the technician will simply take a small blood sample which then goes to a testing lab for a diabetes read. There are no hidden costs; all of the testing for diabetes charges are summed up in one simple and very affordable price.

HealthCheckUSA diabetes tests are administered by medical professionals - probably the same people who would perform and analyze the test if it’d been requested by your doctor. Our lab tests are accurate, too; all of our diabetes testing labs (and all our labs) are fully accredited.

When the results come back from your testing for diabetes, they’re in a simple and confidential report. Reading your lab test isn’t difficult and if you have questions about the lab test, all you have to do is email us. You can even take the test to your doctor or order our special physician interpretation service so you can get additional medical assistance finding out about your testing for diabetes.

Testing for Diabetes Shouldn’t Be Postponed

Just because testing for diabetes is easy doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be a priority. Whether you’re a diabetes patient checking your blood sugar levels or a person who thinks you might be at risk for diabetes, you should look into testing for diabetes. Like many other diseases, diabetes is an insidious killer. It’s powerless against well-informed patients who have access to lab testing for diabetes. And with HealthCheckUSA, that should be you.

What is hereditary hemochromatosis?

Hereditary hemochromatosis, referred to as HH, is a common iron overload genetic disorder. A person with hereditary hemochromatosis absorbs and stores excess amounts of iron in the body. This extra iron settles in the liver, skin, and pancreas and, if left untreated, gradually develops iron deposits that cause organ and tissue deterioration.

What causes hereditary hemochromatosis?

The HFE gene in humans monitors iron absorption; a mutated HFE gene allows too much iron absorbtion and causes hereditary hemochromatosis. People with the hereditary hemochromatosis gene are carriers for the disease. If two carriers have a child, that child will develop hereditary hemochromatosis. Recently, researchers from both the European Molecular Biology Laboratory and the University of Heidelberg, Germany, discovered that HH is a liver disease. Research lab mice that were genetically engineered to lack HFE only in liver cells showed all the key features of hereditary hemochromatosis.

How common is hereditary hemochromatosis?

Hereditary hemochromatosis is one of the most common genetic diseases in the U.S.; almost 1 in 10 American Caucasians carries the gene. Caucasians with ancestry in Northern Europe are most commonly the carriers of the HH gene. Hereditary hemochromatosis is uncommon but still occurs among African Americans, Asian Americans, and Latinos.

What’s the danger of hereditary hemochromatosis?

If left untreated, iron accumulations due to hereditary hemochromatosis could potentially lead to other serious health issues, such as arthritis, liver failure, congestive heart failure, impotence, skin pigmentation, and pancreas damage. Without previous testing for hereditary hemochromatosis, most people are unaware that they have the disease. Most symptoms don’t appear until after about age 30 for men and 50 for women.

Screening for hereditary hemochromatosis is easy.

There is good news, though–testing for hereditary hemochromatosis is painless and simple. A fairly inexpensive, quick cheeck swab test kit you can use at home that will show if you have the mutated HFE gene that results in hereditary hemochromatosis is available from HealthCheckUSA. You shouldn’t take iron supplements until you know your test’s results. If your test’s results do show that you have hereditary hemochromatosis, treatment comes in the form of routine blood removal, usually several times a year.

Interpreting lab test results needn’t be a chore or a mystery

Interpreting the lab test results that you get back from HealthCheckUSA is remarkably easy.

Your lab test results are sent to you the first business day after your lab test via first-class mail. The lab test results arrive in a confidential, printed document with the laboratory’s findings laid out in a clear, easy-to-read fashion.

Interpreting lab tests: use our Test Results Info guide

Of course, since these are the same medically accepted lab tests that physicians use, interpreting some of the lab test terms and abbreviations can be challenging without a guide.

That’s why our Test Results Info page was created. Interpreting your lab test is simple with the Test Results Info page. On that page, you can find definitions for common lab test result abbreviations like “WBC” (white blood cell count) and “LDL” (low density lipoprotein, or “bad cholesterol”).

Many lab test results are expressed in reference ranges. These ranges indicate the low and high for what’s considered to be “normal” for that lab test criterion.

Interpreting lab tests: what if your lab test comes back abnormal?

If your lab test result for an item is not within the normal range, or has other red flags, don’t panic! “Normal” lab test results are not set in stone, and many factors can contribute to an out-of-range lab test result, from stress to a dietary anomaly to a benign congenital condition. If you’re out of the reference range when you go to interpret your lab test, you should consider re-taking the test or asking a physician for a professional medical interpretation. Since our lab tests are the same ones doctors order, your family doctor can interpret your HealthCheckUSA lab test without difficulty.

Order a Physician Interpretation with your lab test

You should also look into the “Physician Interpretation” option, especially if you choose to re-take the test. For a minimal charge, you can have a HealthCheckUSA partner doctor interpret your lab test. Secure and confidential, a Physician Interpretation gets a board-certified physician to read your lab test and examine it in special detail. You can then access your interpretation by calling a toll-free number three days after your lab test.

Interpreting your lab test from HealthCheckUSA isn’t a chore. It’s easy with the tools at the HealthCheckUSA website and the Physician Interpretation test option. Also, if you have any lab test questions, just contact HealthCheckUSA. We’re happy to answer your questions fully and swiftly.

Many Health Tests Don’t Require a Prescription

Health tests without a prescription are now amazingly easy. HealthCheckUSA.com brings you convenient lab and health tests — and you don’t have to schedule or pay for a doctor’s visit to get tested!

In the old days, doctors held the keys to health tests. For example, if you were on a diet and wanted to get a cholesterol test to check your progress, you’d have to see a doctor to set up a test. Every time you wanted a health test, you’d have to get a doctor’s prescription. Getting regular lab tests was like being in pre-school again — you needed someone’s permission every time you wanted to do something. Health tests were expensive, and scheduling tests was a chore.

Getting Health Tests — Without a Prescription — Has Become a Breeze

Now, however, it’s a lot easier to check your fitness with a health test. The testing laboratories in the HealthCheckUSA.com network are the same labs that process health test prescriptions for local doctors in your community. The difference is that you’re working with them more directly, and saving money on your health test too. All our health tests are accurate, analyzed by fully accredited medical reference laboratories.

In fact, in some parts of the country, you can even get a walk-in lab test. No scheduling or pre-payment — just find a lab testing location that does walk-in testing and stroll right in. The pharmacy schedules at HealthCheckUSA.com can help you find participating health test locations.

Get Your No-Prescription Health Test

Because lab tests are simple and non-invasive, there’s usually no need for a doctor’s prescription to take a health test. There are no serious health risks to taking a health test. (For the best accuracy, you should fast before your lab test, but if you schedule your test for the morning, you can spend most of those ten fasting hours during the night, when you’re not eating anyhow.)

The fact is, a doctor’s supervision isn’t ordinarily necessary to gather information on your health. That’s why it makes so much sense to work with an online consumer lab testing service like HealthCheckUSA.com.

You can find some helpful lab test taking tips at the main HealthCheckUSA.com website.

Nutrition Panels are Great Preventative Medicine

A nutrition panel could be your best preventative medicine. A nutrition panel consists of a simple blood test that examines the way your body processes food. Even though adhering to a good diet and exercise regimen is the best way to stay healthy, each body’s chemistry is unique and breaks down nutrients in different ways. Most diseases are caused by a lack of proper nutrition or an inefficient breakdown of the nutrition that the body receives. At under $100, a nutrition panel is an affordable, comprehensive way to prevent potential health problems.

Fast Before a Nutrition Panel

Fasting for 10 hours prior to the nutrition panel is recommended for the best lab test results, though drinking water or black coffee doesn’t adversely affect the panel’s results. Therefore, it is usually best to schedule the panel in the morning.

Test your diet with a nutrition panel

Nutrition panels focus on three specific areas: CHEM-26, vitamin B12 with folic acid, and total iron binding capacity (TIBC).

The CHEM-26 portion analyzes the body’s total cholesterol (HDL & HDL), triglycerides, glucose, calcium, uric acid, electrolyte, and iron, as well as kidney, heart and liver functions. Glucose levels indicate how the body processes sugar, so it’s good to keep tabs on them if your family has a history of diabetes. Too much or too little iron can be a sign of various health problems.

The vitamin B12 and folic acid portion of the panel can provide information on the body’s metabolic functions. The body uses B vitamins to access and mobilize the energy stored in carbohydrates, fat, and protein. Without B vitamins, the risk of organ damage is heightened. Folic acid is in the B vitamin family and works hand-in-hand with B12 to unlock the nutritional value of the foods you eat. Folic acid also helps to synthesize DNA in the production of new cells.

The total iron binding capacity or TIBC portion checks the blood’s ability to transport iron throughout the body. If your iron levels are low, eating more iron-rich foods like dark green vegetables is recommended.

All three sections of the nutrition panel provide information on which functions of the body are efficient and which need more attention.

What if a nutrition panel comes back with abnormal results?

If a nutrition panel produces abnormal results, share them with your doctor. He or she may recommend different health tests, a change in diet or exercise regimen, or another nutrition panel to double-check the results.