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.

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.

Happy New Year! We sincerely wish a happy 2008 to you and your family. We also wish you a very Healthy 2008! Make a resolution to take better care of yourself this year and start the year off right with a men’s health screening or our women’s health screening. Also, make sure you are getting proper nutrition this year by having a nutrition analysis. Be healthy in 2008 and you are well on the way to a Happy New Year!

Cancer screenings: fear is the killer

Cancer screenings are one of the most important kinds of laboratory tests you can take. What’s so important about cancer screenings, you ask?

A personal cancer screening story

A favorite uncle and aunt of mine used to live overseas with my cousin James. James and his parents were a treat, if one rarely seen. They never complained, and always had a ready smile or joke. Honest people for whom every moment was a simple pleasure.

And so it was, because Aunt Mary had cancer. She never got a cancer screening; she just lived with the pain, perhaps afraid of what a cancer screening would tell her, perhaps already believing that the cancer would kill her before age 50 and devastate the family. Rather than tell her husband and get a cancer screening, she kept the disease hidden, preferring to avoid cancer treatments and enjoy the time she had.

Cancer screenings shed light

Our grief at her passing was accentuated knowing that she could’ve lived a full life with a timely cancer screening like one of the three cancer screenings offered by HealthCheckUSA. An early cancer screening would’ve allowed her to get a doctor’s diagnosis, avoid long chemotherapy and strike at the cancer pre-emptively. HealthCheckUSA really can be your best defense against disease.

The HealthCheckUSA cancer screening difference

Cancer screenings at HealthCheckUSA provide you with important advantages. They generally cost much less than the lab tests you’d order at a hospital because there are no hidden markups. A fully accredited medical reference laboratory analyzes every cancer screening result. These are the same cancer screenings ordered by physicians. However, with HealthCheckUSA cancer screenings, you control what tests you take and when.

Nothing beats the peace of mind of a HealthCheckUSA cancer screening. If you suspect you might be at risk for ovarian cancer, colon cancer or prostate cancer, order a health test at our website today.

Health screening: knowledge is power

A health screening could save your life.

That statement might sound alarmist, but it’s true. A good health screening could be a lifesaver for you or your loved ones. The sad fact is that, in today’s medical care landscape, health screenings that were once routine are now rare. Heath screening lab tests isolate health risks like cancer and strokes, and can provide HIV testing and warn of unseen cardiovascular health problems.

How health screening works

“Can a single simple blood test do all that?” you may be asking. It’s true - many simple health screening procedures look like a simple blood test, but the health screening blood sample can pinpoint dozens of risk factors and is quick and easy too.

A health screening produces an easy-to-read report on the health hazards that you’ve decided to test for. Depending on the health risk tests that you select, a health screening can call attention to problems posed by high blood pressure, obesity, osteoporosis, incorrect diabetes management, incomplete nutrition, and many other common issues.

A health screening could have good news, too - maybe that weight gain or diabetes could be held in check by something as easy as more dried fruit in your diet!

Health screening benefits from your health insurance

Although HMOs and insurance companies are reputed to be remarkably tight with a dollar, you might be surprised what kind of preventive medicine (like lab tests and health screening) are covered by your health insurance policy. Don’t wait for crisis to strike - be proactive and check out your health screening coverage. You might be able to get medical tests for a variety of conditions - maybe even a full health screening - without having to carry the cost. HealthCheckUSA does not accept insurance claims, but many health insurers will reimburse you directly for our health screening services.

Employee health screening: on the rise

Companies are starting to get on the health screening bandwagon, too. Employers realize that inadequate workforce health makes for lots of absenteeism, reduced productivity and even death. Employee health screenings cost them upfront, but they realize that this cost is outweighed by the long-term corporate wellness benefits, increased employee loyalty and reduced health insurance premiums.

If you’re not aware of employee health screenings at your workplace, ask your employee wellness program coordinator or HR department. Maybe you can help start an employee health screening program yourself!

The advantages of health screening with HealthCheckUSA

If you elect HealthCheckUSA for a health screening, we hope you’ll find the health screening process enjoyable. Distributed laboratory testing has been our business for 20 years; our health screening services have been mentioned in a variety of national publications, including TIME, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times.

Our health screening and lab test prices are almost always lower than what you’ll see in a doctor’s office or hospital, and our health screening lab partners are accredited professionals located all over the country and in testing pharmacies near you.

Talking to HealthCheckUSA about health screening

Early detection is the differentiating factor for almost all major diseases like heart disease and cancer. Please see our health screening and lab testing information for answers to your health screening questions.