Low Cost Blood Testing: The Health Check USA Blog » HealthCheckUSA Health Alert: Most Important Lab Tests Women Should Have

Posted by David | Posted on 26-08-2009

HealthCheckUSA Health Alert: Most Important Lab Tests Women Should Have

Category : blood tests, thyroid screenings, thyroid test

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By Dr. Rwanda Campbell, August 6, 2009

1. A Pap Smear Test examines cells for any changes that may indicate the possibility of cervical cancer. Campbell recommended that the first test be conducted at the age of 20 or at the onset of sexual activity and continued annually until age 65 or 70. She said some insurance companies allow the test annually and others cover the test every three years if test results are normal. Even if the pap smear isn’t performed every year, Campbell said it is important for every woman to have an annual pelvic exam.

2. A cholesterol blood test is important because high cholesterol levels have no symptoms but can be deadly. Excess LDL, or bad cholesterol, can cause build-up in the arteries and interfere with blood flow. HDL, the good cholesterol, has protective qualities and can remove LDL from the blood. Some pediatricians now test cholesterol levels and Campbell said everyone should get a baseline test by the age of 20. The test should be repeated at least every five years until the age of 45. Anyone older than 45 with a family history of heart disease or high cholesterol levels should be screened annually. While medications are available to lower cholesterol levels, the physician said it is better to lower cholesterol through diet modification.

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3. Breast exams are recommended at age 30 and every three years after that while mammograms are recommended annually beginning at age 40. A clinical breast exam checks breast tissue for lumps, thickening or other changes that warrant follow-up. Mammograms are X-rays of the breast tissue that may find cancers when they are still too small to be felt. Breast cancer is most curable if it is found in its earliest stages. Campbell said genetic testing is available to women whose mothers or sisters have had breast cancer.

4. Skin cancer screenings should begin by the age of 30 and be conducted annually thereafter. A primary care provider or dermatologist may do head-to-toe screenings. Skin cancer is the second most common cancer in women and is curable if it is caught early. Women with fair skin, repeated sunburns, many moles and a family history of skin cancer are have the highest risk of developing skin cancer.
5. Thyroid lab tests are needed to make sure the gland is functioning properly. The thyroid gland regulates the way the body uses energy. If the thyroid gland is overactive, it may lead to rapid weight loss and nervousness. If it isn’t up to speed, a person may feel weak, fatigued, generally unwell, depressed and suffer from excessive vaginal bleeding. Early diagnosis can avoid more debilitating conditions like heart disease, high cholesterol and stroke, she said. Screenings should begin at the age of 35 and continue every five years, or more often if the woman experiences thyroid symptoms or has risk factors, such as a family history of thyroid problems. Thyroid problems may be adjusted with medication.

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6. Blood pressure levels are checked every time a person visits a doctor. High blood pressure levels can lead to heart attack, stroke, heart failure and kidney damage. High levels produce no symptoms. Campbell said high blood pressure is often weight related for women. Blood pressure readings should be below 140/90. High blood pressure, or hypertension, may be treated with lifestyle changes and/or medication.

7. Diabetes is a condition in which the body doesn’t make enough insulin or has a reduced response to insulin. It will cause blood sugar levels to be too high and increase the person’s risk of heart disease and stroke. It can also result in birth defects during pregnancy and premature menopause. Screening guidelines call for testing by the age of 45 or sooner if risk factors are present. Campbell recommended screenings before that and for any woman who is overweight.

8. Colonoscopies examine the large intestine for signs of colon cancer, which is 90 percent curable if found early. Growths and polyps may be removed and biopsied during the test. Preparation for the test (a bowel cleansing) is a bigger challenge than the test itself because patients are usually asleep during the procedure, the physician said. The first screening is usually done when the patient turns 50 and is repeated every 10 years if no polyps or risk factors exist. Higher-risk patients, such as those with a family history of colon cancer, should get their first test 10 years before the family member was first diagnosed and every five years after that.

9. Bone-density scans measure the mass of a patient’s bones and assess her risk of developing osteoporosis. Campbell said a broken hip could be a life-changing event; it can mean moving to a nursing home. Weight-bearing exercise, Vitamin D and calcium help build bone mass in younger patients, but medicines may be needed in older patients. Women may lose up to 20 percent of their bone density in the five to seven years after menopause. Campbell recommended women have their first bone-density screenings by age 65 and that they be repeated every five years. Doctors may suggest testing at an earlier age for patients who are underweight, have ever smoked, have a recent history of broken bones or a family member with osteoporosis.

10. Hormone Blood Tests that Assess your menstrual cycle is the last test for women and one that directly affects quality of life for many women. Campbell said she encounters patients who live in fear of having menstrual accidents and who won’t leave home because their flow is too heavy. “That is not normal,” she said. “There are many options available for women today.” Medications and ablation may both reduce the severity and length of periods. Hysterectomies, which used to be the only option, are now considered options of last resort.
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HealthCheckUSA has packages that make it simple for consumers to measure, monitor, and improve their health by being able to order their own lab tests without a doctor’s order. HealthCheckUSA serves customers without insurance, have high deductible insurance plans, and taking control of their health because their doctor won’t order the test.

The blood tests available through HealthCheckUSA are the same medically accepted lab tests ordered by doctors for their patients. The blood tests are analyzed by an accredited medical reference laboratory. The results are confidential, and are available by fax to you or your doctor, or by mail to you (please allow 10 working days for mailing). Results are also available on the HealthCheckUSA Web site within 3-4 business days. An information sheet with an explanation of each test, including normal reference ranges, accompanies all results.

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Posted by David | Posted on 25-08-2009

HealthCheckUSA STD Alert: STDs and Common Symptoms

Category : std testing

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STD Testing Recommendations: 7 STDs and Common Symptoms

By Mayo Clinic staff

If you’re having sex, you may also be experiencing STD symptoms. STD symptoms can occur regardless of what type of sex — vaginal, oral or anal — you’re having, or whether you use condoms. Although condoms when correctly and consistently used are highly effective for reducing transmission of STDs, no method (other than abstinence) is 100 percent effective. This is particularly true with certain STDs, such as genital warts and genital herpes.

STD symptoms can range from subtle to obvious. If you think you’re experiencing STD symptoms, see a doctor to get tested for STDs. Some STD symptoms can be treated easily and eliminated. Other STD symptoms require more involved and long-term treatment.

Either way, it’s essential to be STD tested via blood or urine, and — if diagnosed with an STD — be treated. It’s also essential to inform any partners so that they can be evaluated and treated. If untreated, STDs can increase your risk of acquiring another STD such as HIV. This happens because an STD can stimulate an immune response in the genital area or cause sores, either of which might make HIV transmission more likely. Some untreated STDs can also lead to infertility.

Common STDs and their Symptoms

Chlamydia
Chlamydia is a bacterial infection of your genital tract. Chlamydia may be difficult for you to detect because early-stage infections often cause few or no signs and symptoms. When they do occur, they usually start one to three weeks after you’ve been exposed to Chlamydia. Even when signs and symptoms do occur, they’re often mild and passing, making them easy to overlook.

Signs and symptoms may include:
• Painful urination
• Lower abdominal pain
• Vaginal discharge in women
• Discharge from the penis in men
• Painful sexual intercourse in women
• Testicular pain in men

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Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection of your genital tract. The first gonorrhea symptoms generally appear within two to 10 days after exposure. However, some people may be infected for months before signs or symptoms occur. Signs and symptoms of gonorrhea may include:
• Thick, cloudy or bloody discharge from the penis or vagina
• Pain or burning sensation when urinating
• Frequent urination
• Pain during sexual intercourse

HIV
HIV is an infection with the human immunodeficiency virus. HIV interferes with your body’s ability to effectively fight off viruses, bacteria and fungi that cause disease, and it can lead to AIDS, a chronic, life-threatening disease.

When first infected with HIV, you may have no symptoms at all. Some people develop a flu-like illness, usually two to six weeks after being infected. Early HIV symptoms may include:
• Fever
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Swollen lymph glands
• Rash

These early symptoms usually disappear within a week to a month and are often mistaken for those of another viral infection. During this period, you are very infectious. More persistent or severe symptoms of HIV infection may not appear for 10 years or more after the initial infection.

As the virus continues to multiply and destroy immune cells, you may develop mild infections or chronic symptoms such as:
• Swollen lymph nodes — often one of the first signs of HIV infection
• Diarrhea
• Weight loss
• Fever
• Cough and shortness of breath

Signs and symptoms of later stage HIV infection include:
• Persistent, unexplained fatigue
• Soaking night sweats
• Shaking chills or fever higher than 100 F (38 C) for several weeks
• Swelling of lymph nodes for more than three months
• Chronic diarrhea
• Persistent headaches

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Genital herpes
Genital herpes is highly contagious and caused by a type of the herpes simplex virus (HSV). HSV enters your body through small breaks in your skin or mucous membranes. Most people with HSV never know they have it, because they have no signs or symptoms. The signs and symptoms of HSV can be so mild they go unnoticed. When signs and symptoms are noticeable, the first episode is generally the worst. Some people never experience a second episode. Other people, however, can experience episodes over a period of decades.

When present, genital herpes symptoms may include:
• Small, red bumps, blisters (vesicles) or open sores (ulcers) in the genital, anal and nearby areas
• Pain or itching around your genital area, buttocks or inner thighs

The initial symptom of genital herpes usually is pain or itching, beginning within a few weeks after exposure to an infected sexual partner. After several days, small, red bumps may appear. They then rupture, becoming ulcers that ooze or bleed. Eventually, scabs form and the ulcers heal.

In women, sores can erupt in the vaginal area, external genitals, buttocks, anus or cervix. In men, sores can appear on the penis, scrotum, buttocks, anus or thighs, or inside the urethra, the tube from the bladder through the penis.

While you have ulcers, it may be painful to urinate. You may also experience pain and tenderness in your genital area until the infection clears. During an initial episode, you may have flu-like signs and symptoms, such as headache, muscle aches and fever, as well as swollen lymph nodes in your groin.
In some cases, the infection can be active and contagious even when sores aren’t present.

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Genital warts (HPV infection)
Genital warts, caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), are one of the most common types of STDs. The signs and symptoms of genital warts include:
• Small, flesh-colored or gray swellings in your genital area
• Several warts close together that take on a cauliflower shape
• Itching or discomfort in your genital area
• Bleeding with intercourse
Often, however, genital warts cause no symptoms. Genital warts may be as small as 1 millimeter in diameter or may multiply into large clusters.
In women, genital warts can grow on the vulva, the walls of the vagina, the area between the external genitals and the anus, and the cervix. In men, they may occur on the tip or shaft of the penis, the scrotum or the anus. Genital warts can also develop in the mouth or throat of a person who has had oral sex with an infected person.

Hepatitis
Hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis C are all contagious viral infections that affect your liver. Hepatitis B and C are the most serious of the three, but each can cause your liver to become inflamed.

Some people never develop signs or symptoms. But for those who do, symptoms may occur after several weeks and may include:
• Fatigue
• Nausea and vomiting
• Abdominal pain or discomfort, especially in the area of your liver on your right side beneath your lower ribs
• Loss of appetite
• Fever
• Dark urine
• Muscle or joint pain
• Itching
• Yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes (jaundice)

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Syphilis
Syphilis is a bacterial infection. The disease affects your genitals, skin and mucous membranes, but it may also involve many other parts of your body, including your brain and your heart.

The signs and symptoms of syphilis may occur in four stages — primary, secondary, latent and tertiary.

Primary
These signs may occur from 10 days to three months after exposure:
• A small, painless sore (chancre) on the part of your body where the infection was transmitted, usually your genitals, rectum, tongue or lips. A single chancre is typical, but there may be multiple sores.
• Enlarged lymph nodes.
Signs and symptoms of primary syphilis typically disappear without treatment, but the underlying disease remains and may reappear in the secondary or third (tertiary) stage.

Secondary
The signs and symptoms of secondary syphilis may begin two to 10 weeks after the chancre appears, and may include:
• Rash marked by red or reddish-brown, penny-sized sores over any area of your body, including your palms and soles
• Fever
• Fatigue and a vague feeling of discomfort
• Soreness and aching
These signs and symptoms may disappear within a few weeks or repeatedly come and go for as long as a year.

Latent
In some people, a period called latent syphilis — in which no symptoms are present — may follow the secondary stage. Signs and symptoms may never return, or the disease may progress to the tertiary stage.

Tertiary
Without treatment, syphilis bacteria may spread, leading to serious internal organ damage and death years after the original infection.
Some of the signs and symptoms of tertiary syphilis include:
• Neurological problems. These may include stroke and infection and inflammation of the membranes and fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord (meningitis). Other problems may include poor muscle coordination, numbness, paralysis, deafness or visual problems. Personality changes and dementia also are possible.
• Cardiovascular problems. These may include bulging (aneurysm) and inflammation of the aorta — your body’s major artery — and of other blood vessels. Syphilis may also cause valvular heart disease, such as aortic valve problems.
If you suspect you have an STD, see your doctor.

If you suspect you have these or other STDs or that you may have been exposed to one, see your doctor for STD testing. Timely diagnosis and treatment are important to avoid or delay more severe, potentially life-threatening health problems and to avoid infecting others.

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Posted by David | Posted on 31-07-2009

HealthCheckUSA Medical Information: Cholesterol Blood Test

Category : blood tests, heart disease test

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Re-printed by from MayoClinic.com; main article written by the Mayo Clinic staff

Definition of a Cholesterol Blood Test
A complete cholesterol blood test — also called a lipid panel or lipid profile — is a group of blood tests that can measure the amount of cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood. A cholesterol blood test can help determine your risk of atherosclerosis, the buildup of plaques in your arteries that can lead to narrowed or blocked arteries throughout your body. If your cholesterol levels are high, you probably won’t have any signs or symptoms, so a cholesterol blood test is an important tool. High cholesterol levels are a significant risk factor for heart disease.

Why a Cholesterol Blood Test is Done
Cholesterol and triglycerides are substances that naturally circulate in your blood. Although these substances are necessary for your body to function normally, too much fat in your blood increases your risk of heart disease, a stroke, or narrowed arteries in your arms or legs (peripheral artery disease).

What’s Measured in a Cholesterol Blood Test?
A complete cholesterol blood test, referred to as a lipid panel or lipid profile, includes the measurement of four types of fats (lipids) in your blood:

Total cholesterol. This is a sum of your blood’s cholesterol content.
High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. This is sometimes called the “good” cholesterol because it helps carry away LDL cholesterol, thus keeping arteries open and your blood flowing more freely.
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. This is sometimes called the “bad” cholesterol. Too much of it in your blood causes the buildup of fatty deposits (plaques) in your arteries (atherosclerosis), which reduces blood flow. These plaques sometimes rupture and can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
Triglycerides. Triglycerides are a type of fat in the blood. When you eat, your body converts any calories it doesn’t need to use right away into triglycerides, which are stored in fat cells. High triglyceride levels usually mean you regularly eat more calories than you burn. High levels are also seen in overweight people, in those consuming too many sweets or too much alcohol, and in people with diabetes who have elevated blood sugar levels.

Who should get a cholesterol test?
All adults age 20 or older should have a cholesterol test once every five years. Ideally, you should begin having your cholesterol checked in your early twenties. You should have your cholesterol measured when you’re relatively healthy. An acute illness, a heart attack or severe stress can affect cholesterol levels.

Cholesterol blood testing is very important if you:

Have a family history of high cholesterol or heart disease
Are overweight
Are physically inactive
Have diabetes
Eat a high-fat diet

These factors put you at increased risk of developing high cholesterol and heart disease.

If you have high cholesterol levels, your doctor may want you to get your blood tested more often. Discuss with your doctor how often you should have a cholesterol blood test if your cholesterol levels are abnormal.

Cholesterol is often high during pregnancy, so pregnant women should wait at least six weeks after giving birth to have their cholesterol measured.

Children and Cholesterol Blood Testing
Children as young as age 2 can have high cholesterol, but not all children need to be screened for high cholesterol. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a cholesterol blood test only for children between the ages of 2 and 10 who have a known family history of high cholesterol or premature coronary artery disease. Your child’s doctor may recommend retesting if your child’s first test shows he or she has normal cholesterol levels.

The American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends testing if the child’s family history for high cholesterol is unknown, but the child has risk factors for high cholesterol, such as obesity, high blood pressure or diabetes.

Risks of getting a Cholesterol Blood Test
There’s little risk in getting a cholesterol blood test. You may have some soreness or tenderness around the site where your blood is drawn, or the site may become infected.

How you prepare for your Cholesterol Blood Test
You should fast (no food or liquids other than water) for nine to 12 hours before the test. You can drink water in the time leading up to the blood test, but avoid coffee, tea and other beverages.

Talk to your doctor about any other special requirements. Some medications, such as birth control pills, can increase your cholesterol levels. For this reason, if you take these or other medications, your doctor might want you to stop taking them for a few days before your cholesterol blood test.

What you can expect from your Cholesterol Blood Test
During the procedure
A cholesterol test is a blood test, usually done in the morning since you’ll need to fast for the most accurate results. Blood is drawn from a vein, usually from your arm. Before the needle is inserted, the puncture site is cleaned with antiseptic and an elastic band is wrapped around your upper arm. This causes the veins in your arm to fill with blood.

After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood is collected into a vial or syringe. The band is then removed to restore circulation, and blood continues to flow into the vial. Once enough blood is collected, the needle is removed and the puncture site is covered with a pressure wrap.

The entire procedure will likely last a couple of minutes. It’s relatively painless.

After the procedure
There are no special precautions you need to take after your cholesterol blood test. You should be able to drive yourself home and do all your normal activities. You may want to bring a snack to eat after your cholesterol test is done, if you’ve been fasting.

It may take a few days for you to get your results back. Your doctor should explain to you what the results of your test mean. It’s likely your doctor will want to retest you in several weeks or months if your test shows your cholesterol levels are high. Before starting any treatment based only on an abnormal cholesterol test, it’s common to get several tests done over a period of time to ensure an accurate diagnosis.

Cholesterol Blood Test Results
In the United States, cholesterol levels are measured in milligrams (mg) of cholesterol per deciliter (dL) of blood. In Canada and many European countries, cholesterol levels are measured in millimoles per liter (mmol/L).

The four main categories — total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides — are what are most commonly measured during a cholesterol blood test. Still, many doctors have begun examining other substances in the blood. Tests of these other substances in the blood are often done on the same sample of blood taken during a cholesterol test and meant to complement, not replace, a standard lipid blood panel or lipid blood profile cholesterol blood test.

If your results show that your cholesterol level is high, don’t get discouraged. You may be able to lower your cholesterol with lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking, exercising and eating a healthy diet. If lifestyle changes aren’t enough, cholesterol-lowering medications also may help. Talk to your doctor about the best way for you to lower your cholesterol.

Women and cholesterol test results
The hormone estrogen tends to cause women to have higher levels of HDL, “good,” cholesterol but also higher levels of triglycerides. If you have higher levels of triglycerides than normal, talk to your doctor. Many women who are at risk of heart disease and have high cholesterol or triglyceride levels may benefit from cholesterol-lowering medications.

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Posted by David | Posted on 29-07-2009

Blood Tests from HealthCheckUSA: Knowledge is Power

Category : blood tests

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Placing Your Order for Blood Tests

1) Click here to Order a Blood Test

2) To find a blood or lab test, enter keywords in the search box, or browse our selections in the following blood and lab test categories: blood tests for Blood Type (CBC), blood tests for Cancer Screenings, blood tests for Cardiovascular Disease, blood tests for Cardiovascular Health, Combination Lab Test Panels, blood tests for Diabetes, DNA Lab Testing, lab tests for Hemochromatosis, Individual Lab Tests, blood tests for Men’s Health, Most Popular Lab Tests, blood tests for Nutritional Analysis, blood tests that include Premium Health Risk Assessment Reports, blood tests fro RealThyroidHelp.com, lab tests for Sexual Health (Sexually Transmitted Diseases STD’s), lab tests for Stop The Thyroid Madness, Substance Abuse Testing (drug testing), blood tests for the Roby Institute, lab tests for Thyroid Screenings, lab tests for Women’s Health, Other services that includes Physician Interpretation, and a category to view all blood and lab tests.

3) If you want to order a blood or lab test, click the “Add to Order” button on the detail page. The title of the blood or lab test will appear in your Order Summary.
To continue ordering more blood and lab tests, click Order More Blood Tests and follow the same instructions.

Proceed to Checkout to buy Blood Tests

1) When you’re ready to place an order, click the “Checkout” button.
2) When the disclaimer appears, please read it carefully and click “I agree” to continue.
3) In Checkout, you will then see the total amount of your order, including shipping and handling charges.
4) To create an account, enter your e-mail address, name, date of birth, gender, and address where we will mail your order form. You will also be asked to provide a password. Once your registration is completed, you can use the same shipping address and method of payment to order additional tests in the future.
5) Click the button to have our staff at HealthCheckUSA choose a convenient location, or cut and paste a lab testing location from one of our affiliated centers into the box provided.
6) Enter your credit card information. (This is a secure transaction.) Click the “Continue & Review Order” to proceed.

Submitting Your Order for Blood Tests

1) Review your order for blood and lab tests a final time. When you are ready to submit your order, click “Finalize Order.”
2) Your order receipt will appear. You will also receive a copy of the receipt via e-mail.
3) A customized form will be e-mailed to you upon receipt of your order.
4) Take the form to the selected lab testing location. Present your paperwork, and have your blood drawn in accordance with the lab test or lab tests you ordered. No appointment is necessary.
5) Your results will be available online from HealthCheckUSA within 3 – 7 days depending on which lab test or lab tests where ordered.

HealthCheckUSA is the nation’s leader in low cost, consumer blood and lab testing and provides people the ability to access all types of blood tests without a physician’s referral and at more than half the price of what a the same blood tests cost in a lab without insurance.

Posted by David | Posted on 28-07-2009

HealthCheckUSA News Alert: Simple Blood Test (Good, bad cholesterol)

Category : cardiovascular health

Tags: anemia, arteries of the heart, atherosclerosis, bad cholesterol, blood, blood cholesterol, cancer, chlamydia, cholesterol, cholesterol deposits, cholesterol levels, complete, deficiency, diabetes, disease, disease diabetes, diseases, doctor, fast, female, glucose, good cholesterol, hdl, health, healthcheckusa, healthy, heart, heart attack, heart attacks, hepatitis, herpes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high density lipoprotein, hormone, iron, kidney, lab, liver, local low cost blood lymphoma symptoms, low cost blood test, low cost blood testing, low cost blood work, low cost lab work, low density lipoprotein, metabolism, panel, physician, prevention, prostate, psa, rations, risk, serious health, std, STDs, syphilis, test, testing, testosterone, tests, thyroid, tibc, triglycerides, tsh, type, types, vegetable fats

By ROBERT LOPEZ, M.D.

Cholesterol is a natural occurring substance in the body important for many functions from making some hormones to building cell walls, to name a few. The liver produces most of the cholesterol in your body, but you also get cholesterol from foods such as meat, eggs and whole-fat dairy products.

Cholesterol levels are determined by more than the foods you eat. Increasing age and being overweight lead to increased levels. Medical problems such as heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure increase the risk. Family history also is an important contributor.

Too much cholesterol can lead to serious health problems. Your doctor may have told you you have high cholesterol, also called hyperlipidemia. This is determined via a Simple Blood Test ideally following a 12-hour fast, which measures the total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LOL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and triglycerides. It is important to understand what these terms mean because not all cholesterol is bad for you.

LDL cholesterol is often referred to as the “bad cholesterol.” As levels increase in our blood, cholesterol deposits on the walls of blood vessels, hardening them. Over time, the blood flow through these arteries is reduced, a condition known as atherosclerosis. Eventually, they can become completely blocked, causing a lack of blood supply. In the arteries of the heart, it can lead to a heart attack, and in the blood vessels supplying our brain, increases the risk of having a stroke.

HDL cholesterol, known as the “good cholesterol,” makes up about one-fourth to one-third of the total cholesterol in your body. It carries the cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver, where it is processed and removed from the body. High levels seem to have a protective effect on the heart, lowering the risk of heart attacks.

Triglycerides are the form of fat made in the body. They are derived not only from the animal and vegetable fats in foods you eat but also from carbohydrates. Your body converts calories not burned to triglycerides for storage in fat cells. Therefore a diet low in fat but high in carbohydrates can still lead to elevated triglycerides. Elevated triglycerides are linked to obesity and combined with high LDL levels increases the risk of heart disease.

Today there are medications your doctor may prescribe to help treat high cholesterol. Whether or not you are on a medication, there are things you can do to help lower or even prevent high cholesterol. Eat a diet low in saturated fats, trans fats and cholesterol. Maintain a healthy weight and exercise regularly to strengthen your heart. Quitting smoking can decrease your risk of heart disease.

Talk to your doctor to find out your cholesterol levels and what you can do to lead a healthier life.

About HealthcheckUSA, your Low Cost Blood Testing Solution

Popular Blood Tests From HealthCheckUSA

Posted by David | Posted on 28-07-2009

HealthCheckUSA News Alert: Condoms Help Protect against Herpes Simplex Virus 2 (HSV-2)

Category : herpes test, std testing

Tags: anemia, assays, assessment, blood, blood test, blood test for herpes, blood work for herpes, cancer, chlamydia, cholesterol, condom effectiveness, condom use, consistent condom, cure for herpes, deficiency, diabetes, discount, disease, diseases, doctor, elect, female, genital herpes, glucose, hdl, health, healthcheckusa, heart, hepatitis, herpes, herpes blood test, herpes blood testing, herpes simplex virus, herpes simplex virus 2, herpes test, herpes virus, herpes virus family, herpeselect, hormone, hsv 2, incidence study, intervention study, iron, kidney, lab, liver, low cost blood test, low cost blood work, metabolism, other sexually transmitted diseases, panel, physician, prevention, prospective data, prostate, psa, risk, sciencedaily, sexually, std, STDs, syphilis, test, testing, testosterone, tests, thyroid, tibc, transmitted, triglycerides, tsh, type, types, unprotected sex acts, vaccine studies, vaginal sex, viral infection, virus, wellness

ScienceDaily (July 15, 2009) — Condom use is associated with a reduced risk of contracting herpes simplex virus 2, according to a report based on pooled analysis of data from previous studies.

Herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) typically causes genital herpes, a chronic, life-long, viral infection. Although studies indicate that consistent condom use reduces the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia and gonorrhea, the effectiveness of preventing the transmission of HSV-2 through condom use is less certain, according to background information in the article.

Emily T. Martin, M.P.H., Ph.D., of Children’s Hospital Research Institute and the University of Washington, Seattle, and colleagues analyzed data from six HSV-2 studies to assess the effectiveness of condom use in preventing the virus. The studies included three candidate HSV-2 vaccine studies, an HSV-2 drug study, an observational sexually transmitted infection (STI) incidence study and a behavioral STI intervention study. These yielded results from 5,384 HSV-2-negative individuals (average age 29) at baseline for a combined total of 2,040,894 follow-up days.

More than 66 percent of those who took part in the six studies were male, 60.4 percent were white, 94.1 percent were heterosexual and most reported no prior STIs.

A total of 415 of the individuals acquired HSV-2 during follow-up. “Consistent condom users [used 100 percent of the time] had a 30 percent lower risk of HSV-2 acquisition compared with those who never used condoms,” the authors write. “Risk of HSV-2 acquisition decreased by 7 percent for every additional 25 percent of the time that condoms were used during anal or vaginal sex.” The risk of acquiring the virus increased significantly with increasing frequency of unprotected sex acts. There were no significant differences found in condom effectiveness between men and women.

“Based on findings of this large analysis using all available prospective data, condom use should continue to be recommended to both men and women for reducing the risk of HSV-2 acquisition,” the authors conclude. “Although the magnitude of the protective effect was not as large as has been observed with other STIs, a 30 percent reduction in HSV-2 incidence can have a substantial benefit for individuals as well as a public health impact at the population level.”

Funding for this project was provided by grants from the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Take a Herpes Blood Test

If you think you may have been exposed to the Herpes virus, you should take a Herpes Blood Test. Taking a Herpes Blood Test through HealthCheckUSA means you don’t need a prescription from your doctor, and you’ll be able to get your results quickly and privately at a discounted price.

HealthCheckUSA offers many lab tests that are affordable and do not require a doctor’s prescription. We also have over 5,000 locations throughout the United States. Besides the Herpes test, we also offer STD testing.

HerpeSelect® Herpes Blood Test
HerpeSelect is the brand name of HSV diagnostic blood test kits manufactured by Focus Diagnostics. Available at HealthCheckUSA, HerpeSelect Herpes Simplex Virus 1 and 2 IgG Blood Test

HerpeSelect herpes blood test assays are designed to aid in the diagnosis of:
• Sexually active adults, with or without symptoms, who could transmit the virus to a sexual partner.
• Expectant mothers, to reduce the risk acquiring an infection near labor and transmitting the infection during labor.

About HealthcheckUSA, your Low Cost Blood Testing Solution

Popular Blood Tests From HealthCheckUSA

Posted by David | Posted on 28-07-2009

HealthCheckUSA News Alert: Prenatal Blood Testing of Thyroid is Debated

Category : thyroid screenings

Tags: american thyroid association, anemia, Antibody, blood, blood sugar test, blood test, blood test for pregnancy, blood testing, blood tests, blood type test, cancer, cholesterol, complete, complete blood count, cumulative evidence, deficiency, diabetes, discount blood tests, disease, diseases, disorders, doctor, endocrinologist, female, glucose, hdl, health, healthcheckusa, healthy, heart, hepatitis, herpes, hormone, hormone production, hyperism, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, iron, kidney, lab, liver, low cost blood test, low cost blood testing, metabolism, new york times, online blood testing, online blood tests, panel, physician, pre eclampsia, pregnant, premature birth, prevention, prostate, psa, risk women, screening, std, STDs, super chemistry blood test, syphilis, test, test blood, test measures, testing, testosterone, tests, thyroid, thyroid blood test, thyroid deficiency, thyroid gland, thyroid problems, thyroid screening, thyroid stimulating hormone, tibc, triglycerides, tsh, tsh blood test, VAP blood test, wellness

By INGFEI CHEN, New York Times (published April 14, 2009)

When women think about pregnancy, the thyroid gland is seldom the first thing that leaps to mind. Nestled in the neck, the gland makes hormones that govern metabolism, helping to regulate body weight, heart rate and a host of other factors.

But if the thyroid malfunctions, it can produce too little or too much of these hormones. During pregnancy those conditions, known as hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, respectively, may lead to miscarriage, premature birth and pre-eclampsia — and in the case of hypothyroidism, impaired intelligence in the child.

A decade and a half of research has now brought the cumulative evidence of these risks to a critical mass. Clinical guidelines call for vigilant monitoring and treatment of patients to keep thyroid reserves normal and to safely guide women through pregnancy and early motherhood.

But because thyroid problems can easily go undiagnosed, the hazards have also set off a debate over whether every woman who is pregnant or planning to be should have a blood test to check her thyroid. That test measures for thyroid-stimulating hormone, or T.S.H., which spurs the gland’s hormone production.

Most doctors’ groups have not endorsed universal prenatal thyroid screening, citing uncertainties over whether it would yield health benefits justifying the expense of testing in roughly 6.4 million pregnancies each year and educating doctors to read results that are tricky to interpret.

But the big unanswered question — and crux of the debate — is whether treatment would help women with a mild, common form of thyroid deficiency, called subclinical hypothyroidism. For now, medical societies advise testing only high-risk women.

As a matter of policy, Dr. Kenneth D. Burman, the president of the American Thyroid Association, agrees with that stance for now. Yet like more and more endocrinologists, he offers TSH blood test for pregnancy in his practice, at Washington Hospital Center in Washington.

“Every patient I see who’s considering getting pregnant or is pregnant gets a thyroid function blood test ,” he said. “And I think that’s the right thing to do.”

He and others say they expect more and more doctors and medical societies to support universal screening after weighing all the evidence. The thyroid association is holding a symposium this Thursday and Friday in Washington to discuss the most recent research.

Symptoms of a wayward thyroid can be subtle, and pregnancy can mask them. Fatigue, weight gain and dry skin — all typical in pregnant women — can also result from hypothyroidism, said Dr. Alex Stagnaro-Green, an endocrinologist at Touro University College of Medicine in Hackensack, N.J.

The opposite condition, hyperthyroidism, affects roughly 2 in 1,000 pregnancies. But again, its symptoms — poor sleep, weight loss and nervousness after childbirth — could result from other postpartum conditions. (Renaissance painters unknowingly depicted the link between thyroid problems and pregnancy by showing women with goiters from an overactive thryoid after childbirth.)

Hypothyroidism, which usually arises from underlying autoimmune disease, is the more frequent and worrisome concern. As many as 10 to 20 percent of reproductive-age women test positive for antibodies that attack the thyroid gland and may eventually destroy it. Their risk of miscarriage is doubled.

Three to five out of 1,000 women of childbearing age suffer from overt hypothyroidism, in which thyroid hormone, or T4, is low and T.S.H. is abnormally high. But the most common thyroid dysfunction is subclinical hypothyroidism, in which T4 is normal but T.S.H. is slightly elevated. That condition affects 2 to 3 percent of women but often goes undiagnosed when it causes no obvious symptoms.

Hypothyroidism may harm fetal brain development. Ten years ago, researchers in Maine analyzed blood samples from 25,216 pregnant women and identified 62 with hypothyroidism. Their children, by then 7 to 9 years old, were given intelligence tests. Nineteen percent of the children born to women with an untreated underactive thyroid had an I.Q. of 85 or lower, compared with 5 percent of those whose mothers had a healthy thyroid. “At about 85 or below, that’s where you begin to have trouble in school and in life in general,” said Dr. James E. Haddow, a pediatrician at Brown University who was an author of the study. But if mothers had their hypothyroidism treated, their children’s intelligence was not impaired.

In reaction, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists endorsed routine thyroid function (TSH) blood testing in all women considering pregnancy. But other organizations, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, have said wide-scale screening is premature until more data prove that treating subclinical hypothyroidism would prevent adverse effects in women and their offspring.

Studies do suggest that T4-replacement therapy is protective. But few large clinical trials have rigorously tested this intervention in mildly thyroid-deficient women. So far, promising results have come from one major, well-designed Italian study that showed miscarriage and preterm delivery rates dropped sharply when thyroid hormone pills were given to pregnant women who tested positive for thyroid antibodies.

Experts are now looking to the outcomes of two other major clinical trials under way in Wales and the United States. Both aim to confirm the I.Q. effects and the ability to avert them by studying pregnant women with underactive thyroids who receive hormone therapy or no treatment.

Pregnancy is such a critical time that “to expose a baby to a medication without known benefit may not be the best thing, unless we truly know that it’s helpful,” said Dr. Catherine Spong, the chief of pregnancy and perinatology at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, which is sponsoring the American trial.

That study will track 1,170 expecting mothers, including women with subclinical hypothyroidism, and their children will undergo I.Q. testing at age 5. Results are expected in 2015.

Advocates of routine blood testing see no need to wait for more answers, though. Dr. Terry F. Davies, an endocrinologist at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, finds the evidence “overwhelming” that a shortage of maternal thyroid hormone harms intellectual function in babies. “Once you believe that,” he said, “it would seem to me illogical not to be sure that all women have normal thyroid function during pregnancy.”

And Dr. Haddow said universal prenatal testing could be justified on the grounds of benefiting a woman’s general health. In the Maine study, 58 percent of the pregnant women who had hypothyroidism but did not know it eventually did have it diagnosed, but it took an average of five years. Pregnancy is “an optimal time” for T.S.H. testing, he said.

Most medical societies endorse only selective blood screening. Two years ago, the Endocrine Society released recommendations for testing thyroid function (TSH) in women at high risk for thyroid disorders, including anyone with symptoms of a goiter or sluggish thyroid, or a family history of thyroid problems, as well as those with Type 1 diabetes or autoimmune disease or previous miscarriage or premature delivery.

But research since then has revealed flaws in that strategy. “The problem is, it’s not good enough,” Dr. Stagnaro-Green said. A British study found that such testing missed 30 percent of those with hypothyroidism and 69 percent of those with hyperthyroidism.

For now, until there is confirmation that treatment truly helps, Dr. Stagnaro-Green said he still favored selective thyroid function blood testing . But he added, “My belief is that data will be forthcoming that will push us towards universal screening.”

About HealthcheckUSA, your Low Cost Blood Testing Solution

Popular Blood Tests From HealthCheckUSA

Posted by David | Posted on 21-07-2009

HealthCheckUSA partners with Stop The Thyroid Madness

Category : blood tests, health tests, lab tests, thyroid test, Women's Health

Tags: anemia, assessment, blood, blood urine, bloodstream, cancer, chemical substances, cholesterol, complete, diabetes, disease, diseases, disorders, doctor, female, ferritin, free t4, gland function, half price blood tesing, half price lab testing, health, healthcheckusa, heart, Hemochromatosis, hepatitis, herpes, high deductible insurance, hormone, insurance plans, iron, lab, liver, low cost blood testing, low lab testing, media personality, panel, physician, prostate, psa, reference laboratory, saliva, std, STDs, syphilis, test, testing, tests, thyroid, thyroid function tests, thyroid patients, travel, tsh

Exciting News to Thyroid Patients and Fans of Stop the Thyroid Madness

Stop the Thyroid Madness and HealthCheckUSA have partnered together to develop specific packages and lab testing options that will assist Stop the Thyroid Madness members in managing their condition and taking control of their health. With the guidance of Janie Bowthorpe, leading Thyroid activist, best selling author and media personality and founder of Stop the Thyroid Madness.com; HealthCheckUSA has put together testing options that are the affordable, convenient, and many don’t require a doctor’s order.

HealthCheckUSA is the nation’s leader in low cost, direct-to-consumer blood and lab testing and provides people the ability to access all types of blood, urine and saliva tests without a physician’s referral and at a 50% – 80% savings; perfect for customers without insurance, have high deductible insurance plans, and taking control of their health because their doctor won’t order the tests they need.

The lab tests available through HealthCheckUSA are the same medically accepted lab tests ordered by doctors for their patients. The lab tests are analyzed by an accredited medical reference laboratory. The results are confidential, and are available on the HealthCheckUSA Web site within 3-4 business days.

Low Cost Thyroid Lab Testing Options at HealthCheckUSA

Thyroid Function Blood Testing Panels

STTM Basic Thyroid (Free T3, Free T4 and TSH)

The HealthCheckUSA STTM Basic Thyroid Blood Testing Panel is a group of tests that includes Free T3, Free T4 and TSH that are often ordered together to help evaluate thyroid gland function and to help diagnose thyroid disorders. The tests included in a thyroid panel measure the amount of thyroid hormones in your blood. These hormones are chemical substances that travel through the bloodstream and control or regulate your body’s metabolism—how it functions and uses energy.

This group of tests would typically cost $325 from your local doctor or hospital lab. At $85.00, that’s a savings of $240!

Additional STTM Blood Testing Panels

STTM Ferritin Blood Analysis

Composed of iron and protein, Ferritin is a storehouse for iron in the body. Measurement provides an accurate picture of how much iron you have available in reserve. It is used to evaluate anemia and for diagnosing iron deficiency. Low Ferritin is a sign of iron deficiency. Ferritin is high with inflammation, infection, liver disease, iron overload, certain amends and certain cancers (leukemia and lymphoma). Symptoms of low ferritin include fatigue, depression, weakness, achiness, breathlessness, and/or others.

This test would typically cost $109 from your local doctor or hospital lab. At our price of $45.99, that’s a savings of $63!

STTM Total Iron Panel

The HealthCheckUSA STTM Total Iron Blood Testing Panel is a group of tests that includes Super Chemistry Complete Metabolic Panel, Iron Profile with TIBC, and Ferritin Analysis that are often ordered together to help evaluate metabolic and iron deficiency and to help diagnose heart disease, risk of stroke, Hemochromatosis, liver disease, iron overload and helps diagnose thyroid disorders (conversion of T3 and T4).

This group of tests would typically cost $269 from your local doctor or hospital lab. At $119.99, that’s a savings of $149!

STTM Vitamin Deficiency Panel

The HealthCheckUSA STTM Vitamin Deficiency Blood Testing Panel is a group of tests that includes Master Chemistry Complete Metabolic Panel, Vitamin D, 25 Hydroxy, and Vitamin B-12 with Folate that are often ordered together to help evaluate metabolic and Vitamin D deficiency, Vitamin b-12 deficiency and to help diagnose heart disease, risk of stroke, liver disease, and iron overload.

This group of tests would typically cost $350 from your local doctor or hospital lab. At $164.00, that’s a savings of $186!

STTM Men’s and Women’s Hormone Lab Testing Panels

STTM Women’s Basic Hormone Assessment

The HealthCheckUSA STTM Women’s Basic Hormone Assessment is a group of blood tests that includes Estradiol (E2), DHEA-S, Testosterone Free and Total, Progesterone and STTM Basic Thyroid Panel (Free T3, Free T4 and TSH) that are often ordered together to help evaluate thyroid disorders, hormonal imbalances and to determine stages of menopause.

This group of tests would typically cost $645 from your local doctor or hospital lab. At $195, that’s a savings of $450

STTM Women’s Comprehensive Hormone Assessment

The HealthCheckUSA STTM Women’s Comprehensive Hormone Assessment is a group of blood tests that includes LH, FSH, Estradiol (E2), DHEA-S, Testosterone Free and Total, Progesterone and STTM Basic Thyroid Panel (Free T3, Free T4 and TSH) that are often ordered together to help evaluate fertility, thyroid disorders, hormonal imbalances and to determine stages of menopause.

This group of tests would typically cost $750 from your local doctor or hospital lab. At $249, that’s a savings of $500

Blood tests available through HealthCheckUSA are the same medically accepted lab tests ordered by doctors for their patients. The blood tests are analyzed by an accredited medical reference laboratory. The results are confidential, and are available on the HealthCheckUSA Web site within 3-4 business days.

Popular tests include: thyroid testing, complete metabolic testing (CMP), complete blood count testing, heart disease testing, cholesterol testing, diabetes testing (HbA1c), prostate cancer testing (PSA), vitamin D testing, vitamin B-12 testing, testing for osteoporosis, iron deficiency testing, testosterone testing to check for Low Testosterone (Low T), estrogen testing for low levels of estrogen, male hormone testing and female hormone testing for hormone imbalances, drug testing, STD testing for herpes, hepatitis A, B and C testing, HIV, Chlamydia, syphilis, and EBV, herpes type 1 and type 2 testing, fertility testing in men, fertility testing in women, infertility testing in men, infertility testing in women, pregnancy testing, and many more. Please go to HealthCheckUSA or call 800-929-7044 for complete details.

Posted by David | Posted on 20-07-2009

A New Link Discovered with Obesity and Diabetes? Get Tested at HealthCheckUSA.com

Category : Blood Testing, blood tests, health screening, health tests, lab tests, testing for diabetes

Tags: assessment, basic health, blood, blood test, blood testing, bloodstream, causal link, cell metabolism, diabetes, diabetes tests, doctor, fat cells, glucose, HbA1c, health, health and wellness, healthcheckusa, ing, insulin, lab, lab testing, lab tests, liver, low cost blood testing, managing diabetes, no insurance, order a blood test without a doctor's order, overweight individuals, pancreas, panel, physician, pigment, prevention, regulation of blood glucose, risk, risk of diabetes, test, testing, tests, type, type 2 diabetes, type 2 diabetic, types, ultimate health, undefined, wellness, wellness assessment

Scientists have long suspected a connection between obesity and diabetes, but were unable to determine the details of the relationship.

Until now.

According to a recent study published in the journal Cell Metabolism, fat cells secrete PEDF (pigment epithelium-derived factor), a protein that, when released into the bloodstream, desensitizes the muscle and liver to insulin. The pancreas must then produce more insulin to compensate. Because it becomes overworked, the pancreas eventually slows down or stops releasing insulin altogether, which can lead to Type 2 Diabetes. Overweight individuals tend to be less responsive to insulin, and thus need more to maintain their body’s regulation of blood glucose.

The study results showed that while an increase in PEDF causes Type 2 diabetes, obstructing it actually reverses the effects – when PEDF was blocked, subjects became more responsive to insulin, and thus did not need a surplus of it to keep their systems regulated.

Now that this direct causal link between obesity and diabetes has been discovered, researchers can begin working on a new drug that will successfully prevent and treat Type 2 diabetes. Weight loss is certainly an effective means of averting and managing diabetes as well.

The importance of testing for diabetes is greater than ever. Diabetes testing is available through HealthCheckUSA.com at very affordable prices. How much is your life worth? Don’t risk becoming a Type 2 Diabetic. HealthCheckUSA offers many diabetes tests, Click here for more information on ordering a low cost diabetes blood test.

Additional Blood Testing Panels
- Basic Health and Wellness Assessment
- Men’s Comprehensive Blood Testing Profile
- Women’s Comprehensive Blood Testing Profile
- Total Health and Wellness Lab Assessment
- Ultimate Health and Wellness Lab Assessment

HealthCheckUSA is the nation’s leader in low cost, direct-to-consumer blood and lab testing and provides people the ability to access all types of blood tests without a physician’s referral and at half the price. HealthCheckUSA has packages that make it simple for consumers to measure, monitor, and improve their health by being able to order their own lab tests without a doctor’s order. HealthCheckUSA serves customers without insurance, have high deductible insurance plans, and taking control of their health because their doctor won’t order the test.

Posted by David | Posted on 27-05-2009

May 2009 is National Hemochromatosis Genetic Screening & Awareness Month

Category : DNA analysis, DNA testing, health tests, lab tests

Tags: blood, disease, diseases, doctor, healthcheckusa, heart, Hemochromatosis, iron, lab, liver, prevention, test, testing, tests

May 2009 is
National Hemochromatosis Genetic
Screening &Awareness Month
Sponsored by the
American Hemochromatosis Society

Help us to spread the word about Hereditary Hemochromatosis!

The American Hemochromatosis Society’s, “National Hemochromatosis Genetic Testing and Awareness Month” is May 2009 (www.americanhs.org). The American Hemochromatosis Society (AHS) is urging Americans to test themselves for hereditary Hemochromatosis, also known as iron overload or iron storage disease. Hemochromatosis is easy to diagnose. You can even diagnose it yourself through a self testing lab. And, it is also easy to treat with bloodletting, identical to blood donation. In fact, you can prevent Hemochromatosis by becoming an avid community blood donor!

AHS’s president, Sandra Thomas, lost her mother, Josephine Bogie Thomas, 10 years ago today, May 13, 1999 to hereditary Hemochromatosis. Josephine was born in Mt. Sterling and loved it throughout her childhood. She later moved to Louisville, when she met her husband, Joe Thomas and they were married in 1940. The American Hemochromatosis Society salutes the memory of Josephine and her valiant crusade to increase awareness of Hemochromatosis. This is why Sandra founded AHS and has made it her quest to test America for Hemochromatosis! With an early diagnosis, Hemochromatosis is easily treated and the patient can have a normal life span.

By visiting the AHS web site, you can find out why people with European ancestry, especially Irish and Scottish ancestry, should be tested, and how many medical conditions, such as chronic fatigue, arthritis, hair loss, impotence, infertility, diabetes, liver disease, and heart attacks, could be symptoms of this treatable condition. You can also learn more about how to diagnose and treat Hemochromatosis and understand why blood donors will probably never suffer from it.

Finally, even if you don’t have a doctor, you can learn how easy it is to test yourself for this disease without ever visiting your doctor’s office! Simply contact HealthCheckUSA (www.healthcheckusa.com) or call toll free: 1-800-929-2044 to order the tests you need to find out if you have this common condition.

Sandra Thomas always tells patients:
“We all have to die of something, but it doesn’t have to be hereditary Hemochromatosis!”

For more information, please contact:
Sandra Thomas, President, American Hemochromatosis Society
Email: mail@americanhs.org
Office Tel: 407-829-4488 Toll free: 1-888-655-IRON (4766)
4044 W. Lake Mary Blvd., 104, PMB 416, Lake Mary, Fl. 32746

The tests available through HealthCheckUSA are the same medically accepted lab tests ordered by doctors for their patients. The tests are analyzed by an accredited medical reference laboratory. The results are confidential, and are available by fax to you or your doctor, or by mail to you (please allow 10 working days for mailing). Results are also available on the HealthCheckUSA Web site within 3-4 business days. An information sheet with an explanation of each test, including normal reference ranges, accompanies all results.

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HealthCheckUSA News Alert: Condoms Help Protect against Herpes Simplex Virus 2 (HSV-2)

HealthCheckUSA News Alert: Prenatal Blood Testing of Thyroid is Debated

HealthCheckUSA partners with Stop The Thyroid Madness

A New Link Discovered with Obesity and Diabetes? Get Tested at HealthCheckUSA.com

May 2009 is National Hemochromatosis Genetic Screening & Awareness Month

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