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!

Celiac disease is one of the most common diseases you’ve never heard of. Its symptoms are as common as fatigue, joint pain or muscle cramps, but also include serious illnesses such as anemia and osteoporosis. With such vague symptoms, the disease is often misdiagnosed by doctors or temporarily treated with over-the-counter medications. Celiac disase can easily be diagnosed by a test such as the Celiac Disease DNA Test. While there is no cure, a change in diet can get rid of many symptoms.

Celiac disease is caused by gluten, a food product made of wheat, rye or barley found in many foods and medicines today. The immune system responds to gluten by damaging the lining of the small intestine, which normally aids in absorbing nutrients from our food. Celiac disease causes malnutrition, and can lead to cancer.

According to the Associated Press, over two million people in the U.S. suffer from celiac disease, and for Linda Fedewa, owner of A Piece O’ Cake Bakery, the disease was working her to death.

Because all of her baked goods were made with flour, Fedewa constantly ate food with gluten and had no idea why she was so sick. She was losing weight rapidly, and her doctor began checking for symptoms of an eating disorder after her weight dropped to 85 pounds. After being tested, Fedewa was told to stay away from all things gluten, including the extravagant cakes she baked for her customers. After changing her diet, she began looking for an gluten-free alternative for her bakery. Today, Fedewa’s gluten-free goods comprise a quarter of her business, and offer treats for those suffering from both celiac disease and a sweet tooth. (AP)

While celiac disease is a genetic illness, it can also be triggered by stress, infection or childbirth. As with any illness, early detection through health tests is the key to fighting celiac disease. HealthCheckUSA offers free genetic counseling with their Celiac Disease DNA Test.

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!

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.

It’s no secret that employee wellness leads to more efficiency and higher morale in the workplace, but some American companies are doing more than just noting this. They’re pioneering innovative employee wellness programs.

While many workplaces may just offer basic insurance programs that may or may not include things like lab tests, annual exams and prescription drug benefits, these top companies are really going above and beyond for the sake of preventive health care.

Recently Business Roundtable conducted “Doing Well through Wellness,” a study on the wellness and prevention initiatives of leading American companies. The results show how these companies’ initiatives are helping to reduce health caremanagement costs. Plus, it helps their employees stay healthy.

Business Roundtable’s study results also show that CEOs of these American companies are all about seeing that their employees have what they need to behealthy. These top companies, which include Accenture, General Mills, and Xerox,offer tools to their employees that educate them on wellness and health and also give them access to corporate wellness resources and other special programs, like quitting smoking and weight loss.

What’s really interesting about these study results is that they found three big trends when they looked at the companies’ employee wellness programs. They found that companies are educating employees about how wellness saves everyone money on health care. In addition, they found that a culture of wellness is being created by members within the company and that companies focus on giving much needed resources to employees.

Clearly, these top companies are committed to employee wellness and have a great understanding of what exactly wellness can do for their business in terms of productivity and happiness in the workplace.

So what can HealthCheckUSA do for companies and employee wellness? Giving employees access to health tests like the Heart Check Profile and the Men’s Profile test or Women’s Profile test is a great move for preventive care. If you have any questions, please contact us.

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.

Employee drug testing, common throughout much of the business world, could have done wonders for Major League Baseball. An avid baseball fan, I’ve become increasingly frustrated with the Barry Bond’s controversy and all of the drama which surrounds it. Regardless of whether Barry is innocent or guilty, Major League Baseball could have avoided this public relations black eye if it had done something that the business world, and the rest of sports, has done for years: employee drug testing. Before 2002, the MLB did not test for steroid use among its players. While the rest of the sporting world was cracking down on a wide variety of performance enhancers, baseball evidently believed its players to be on a higher moral ground. Or perhaps, more sinisterly, the Commissioner’s Office and the Player’s Union decided to turn a blind eye to steroid use in order to help the game regain its popularity. It isn’t rocket science that fans enjoy sensational performances. Increased scoring and home runs equates to increased ticket sales and revenue. But it does so at a high price: the integrity of the game. Through the absence of strict drug testing policies, the past ten years have seen baseball’s home run records assaulted. In 1998, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa both passed Roger Maris’ single season home run record. Today, McGwire is still waiting to get into the hall of fame and has all but admitted to taking steroids. Sammy Sosa still plays on, but he too is tainted with the “steroid user” legacy. And soon there will be Barry Bonds, all-time home run leader. But what does that record really mean if it was achieved through performance enhancing drugs?

Which brings me back to my point about Major League Baseball’s role in all of this. The Commissioner and the Player’s Union ultimately failed fans, its player’s health and safety, and most importantly the game by not including steroids in its drug testing. The stories coming out from former players indicate that it was no secret, on any level, that the use of performance enhancing drugs including steroids was rampant. If the rest of the sports world or the corporate world followed the example of the MLB, what would this say about American society? That the ends, no matter what they are, justify the means? By ignoring the most prevalent drug use for its employees, Major League Baseball failed. What would the repercussions for the corporate world be if it failed employee drug tests for the most prevalent drugs in their respected lines of work? Say for example, if trucking companies did not run background checks for substance abuse or drug test employees? This would never fly. If Major League Baseball had included steroids in its employee drug testing, we would not be dealing with a Barry Bonds controversy today.

Recently, Paul Howard posted a Washington Post article to show America’s health care system is really the greatest health care system in the world, not the problematic, insensitive corporate machine concerned only about the bottom line, as Michael Moore proposes in his new movie, “Sicko“.

Howard tells us a “Story Michael More Didn’t Tell You” about a young girl who is diagnosed early and treated for a rare form of cancer. It’s a wonderful story. I’m sure everyone is happy that her life, and possibly her eyesight, have been saved by our “great system of health care”. I know I’m happy for her and her family.

But I have to point out the story that “Paul Howard Didn’t Tell You”, or more accurately, the point he blew over. This is the child of a rich and famous NBA player. Of course she received exceptional health care. In defending health care, Howard is actually helping Moore make his point. In America, if you’re rich, you are going to get Great Health Care. If you’re poor . . . not so much.