Hepatitis B: What Is It?

Hepatitis B is an infection of the liver caused by the Hepatitis B virus (HBV). According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, there are three types of the Hepatitis B: acute, chronic and perinatal. Acute Hepatitis B usually last for less than six months and your body is able to recover completely from it. Chronic Hepatitis B means that your body can’t rid itself of the virus and it may last for a lifetime and potentially leads to cirrhosis or liver cancer. Perinatal Hepatitis B is when the virus is passed from an infected mother to her newborn child.

Symptoms of Hepatitis B may never appear, and if they do it is usually within 12 weeks of acquiring the disease. These symptoms include the following: Symptoms of Hepatitis A include jaundice (yellow eyes and skin), abdominal pain, dark urine, joint pain, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and fatigue.

Hepatitis B: How to Prevent It

Hepatitis B can be prevented with a series of vaccinations which can protect against the virus for at least 23 years. Other ways to prevent the disease is know the status of any sexual partners, practice safe sex, use sterile needles, vaccinate before traveling to regions there is a high-risk, and be cautious before accepting transfusions in foreign countries. Also, if you are pregnant, get tested just in case.

Hepatitis B Test: How to Test for It

Hepatitis B can be detected through a very simple blood test. Health Check USA offers a Hepatitis panel test that will detect Hepatitis A, B and C. To ensure accuracy of the panel, HealthCheckUSA.com recommends a ten-hour fast prior to having your blood drawn. However, water and black coffee are permitted during this time. If you have any questions regarding this lab test, please contact one of our representatives.

Hepatitis B: How to Treat It

Once you have realized that you have come into contact for the disease, notify your doctor immediately to receive an injection of Hepatitis B Immune Globulin within 24 hours of contact. Once you have developed Chronic Hepatitis B, there really are limited treatment options. Your doctor may monitor vs. treat. If the doctor decides to treat, there are several antiviral medications you can receive. However, if there is sever liver damage, a liver transplant may be necessary.

Hepatitis A: What Is It?

Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by the Hepatitis A virus. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prvention, there are no long-term chronic effects to this illness; and once you have had it, you are immune to it. Hepatitis A virus is found in the stool of people that have the virus; coming into contact with anything that has touched the contaminated stool can cause the illness.

Symptoms of Hepatitis A include jaundice (yellow eyes and skin), abdominal pain, fever, diarrhea, nausea, loss of appetite, and fatigue. Lots of times, Hepatits A can easily be diagnosed as something else.

Hepatitis A: How to Prevent It

Hepatitis A can be prevented through proper personal hygiene, washing of hands before cooking and after using the restroom, and being cautious when traveling to places such as Mexico, Africa, the Caribbean and South America. A vaccination is also available for the Hepatitis A virus, ask your physician about this.

Hepatitis A: How to Test for It

Hepatitis A can be detected through a very simple blood test. Health Check USA offers a Hepatitis panel test that will detect Hepatitis A, B and C. To ensure accuracy of the panel, HealthCheckUSA.com recommends a ten-hour fast prior to having your blood drawn. However, water and black coffee are permitted during this time. If you have any questions regarding this lab test, please contact one of our representatives.

Hepatitis A: How to Treat It

There is no treatment for Hepatitis A, except for rest and proper nutrition. Hepatitis A is a virus and you will just have to let it run its course. Please be advised, though, that a relapse of symptoms can occur for over a six to nine month period. If you do have Hepatitis A and you are experience diarrhea and/or vomiting, please make sure to get plenty of fluids in order to avoid dehydration.

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.

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.

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.

Prostate cancer has a new nemesis in prostate cancer survivor Arnold Palmer. The foundation he created to fight the spread of prostate cancer and promote prostate cancer screening is called Arnie’s Army Battles Prostate Cancer. During Palmer’s professional golf career, where he was widely considered to be one of the greatest golfers who ever lived, his enthusiastic fans were called “Arnie’s Army.” Now Palmer has put those fans to work raising money for the Prostate Cancer Foundation. Arnie’s Army also holds charity golf events that are designed to raise awareness about prostate cancer screening and the need for early detection.

It might seem odd that a golf legend is at the forefront of the fight against prostate cancer, but as Palmer says, “In the time it takes to play a round of golf, 14 men will lose their lives to prostate cancer.” This is a death toll that could be lowered if more men took prostate cancer screenings. Perhaps the word of Arnold Palmer, a man who has won seven major golf championships, will motivate people to go out and get their prostate cancer screenings. Considering that prostate cancer is more likely to develop in men over the age 50, it’s hard to imagine a better spokesman for this demographic group than a golf legend.

According to Arnie’s Army, they’ve raised $1.3 million to fight prostate cancer with their golf competitions. They do a lot of the legwork. They provide a contest kit that includes prizes for the winners, as well as Golf Digest subscriptions and souvenirs for every participant. “Arnie’s Army Battles Prostate Cancer” says that their golf contests have taught 70,000 golfers the importance of early prostate cancer screening.

Early prostate cancer screening could include a prostate cancer test called a PSA. This stands for Prostate Specific Antigen. This screens for a protein found in the blood that is produced by the prostate. Cancer might be present if there are high levels of this protein. This prostate cancer screening might also help a doctor determine if cancer has spread through other parts of the body. It might lead to more specific prostate cancer tests, such as biopsies, which require the surgical removal of tissue. In general, men over the age of 50 should get prostate cancer screenings annually. Men who have a family history of prostate cancer might have to get prostate cancer screenings at an earlier age.

Does daily aspirin therapy work for everyone, and is it the right thing for you?

First of all, as always, you should arm yourself with information. You should know the benefits of daily aspirin therapy, as well as the risks of daily aspirin therapy.

What is daily aspirin therapy?

Daily aspirin therapy is a method of lowering the risk of heart attack and clot related strokes. It works just like it sounds, the patient takes one aspirin on a daily basis. Daily aspirin therapy works by interfering with your blood’s clotting ability. But there are serious side effects you should be aware of.

Side effects of daily aspirin therapy

• The possibility of a hemorrhagic stroke may be increased by daily aspirin therapy. While daily aspirin therapy may decrease your chances of a clot-related stroke, it could increase your risk of a hemorrhagic stroke.
• Gastrointestinal bleeding may be caused by daily aspirin therapy. This bleeding may be caused because the aspirin causes or irritates an already bleeding stomach ulcer.
• Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears may be caused by daily aspirin therapy and could eventually lead to hearing loss.

Will daily aspirin therapy work for you?

Surprisingly, medical studies have shown that daily aspirin therapy does not work for everyone.  Aspirin does not have the same effect on everyone; some people may not benefit from daily aspirin therapy. Fortunately, there is now a test you can take to find out if daily aspirin therapy will work for you.

The AspirinWorks Test can determine if aspirin is working to suppress the production of thromboxane, the chemical that causes the platelets to become sticky, indicating whether aspirin helping you or not.

Order the AspirinWorks Test 

HealthCheckUSA offers the AspirinWorks test directly to consumers. To order a test without a physician referral,  simply order the AspirinWorks test from HealthCheckUSA.com or call us toll free at 1 (800) 929-2044. We will send you the appropriate paperwork, which you simply take to the HealthCheckUSA affiliated lab of your choice without an appointment. A urine sample is collected and tested. Your confidential results are available on our Web site within days.

Before deciding if daily aspirin therapy is right for you, you should consult with a doctor. He or she will consider things such as your medical and family history, other medicines you are taking, etc. Even though aspirin is easily available, check with your doctor before starting daily aspirin therapy.