Wellness tests are laboratory screenings performed to assess the probability of particular medical conditions. This may include tests for physical, mental, and social health. Here at Susan A. Baker, we use general tests to identify any red flags that could compromise a person’s overall health and well-being and lead to certain health conditions. We embrace a holistic approach and use cutting-edge technology to make wellness testing fast, easy, and accurate.  

Wellness testing is a preventative measure for managing the risk of diseases. Being aware of potential risk factors for certain health conditions can give you the knowledge and power to make certain lifestyle adjustments to cushion the risk factors.

The Role of Wellness Testing

Every day, you make a conscious decision regarding maintaining your health and wellness by eating balanced meals, working out regularly, and being in control of your psychological health. The wellness tests at Dr. Susan Baker are crucial in helping you attain and maintain prime health for improved quality of life. 

Wellness testing also helps identify any nutritional deficiencies you may have. You may have a tremendous dietary balance that enables you to keep healthy and strong, but you need testing to be sure that your body is getting all the necessary nutrients for optimal functioning. With Dr. Susan’s wide range of panel testing, you will be in a position to know what your body is lacking, and she can help you make the necessary changes through diet and supplementation. 

Wellness tests help the doctor to establish a baseline for your health to understand better which tests are appropriate for you and establish a health history to monitor potential triggers and trends in health metrics. The wellness tests help you make informed decisions regarding your diet and lifestyle habits and track any treatments if you already have a preexisting medical condition. Wellness testing should be generally done every year. 

Who Should Get Wellness Testing?

Everyone should get routine wellness testing. You can include it as part of your routine annual health screening. Yearly screening is essential in catching conditions early before the disease progresses. Most people tend to skip their annual wellness exams, especially if they are not feeling unwell. However, it is crucial and beneficial for your health to go for wellness testing even if you are not experiencing any symptoms. This is because the checkups can help identify which health conditions your body is vulnerable to, how to manage and treat them effectively or how to prevent them altogether. 

Regular testing is crucial because every person’s health baseline is different- what might be normal for one person may be unusual for another. So, the best way to ensure that you are in good health is to establish a health baseline that your doctor can use to compare your results against. Establishing a baseline is an excellent step in making necessary modifications to attain your health goals. Wellness testing also helps show you how your health and wellness goals are progressing and monitor any diseases you may have by keeping you well-informed about your treatment.

When to Go for Wellness Testing

It is essential to visit your doctor routinely, even if you are healthy. Additionally, it allows you to ask your healthcare practioner any questions regarding your health.

You may go for wellness testing if you are experiencing unexplained symptoms and to screen for illnesses. If you have a family history of certain diseases or risk factors and want to get ahead of any health problems, it would be best to go for wellness testing. 

During your visit, your doctor may check your age, weight, height, and blood pressure, take your vitals and BMI (body mass index), discuss your current lifestyle and health choices, and establish a plan for your health. They may also ask you about personal and family medical histories, your current state of physical activity, stress levels, drug and alcohol use, and diet. It is vital to be completely honest with your doctor because detailed answers can help prepare you and your doctor to better prepare for any possible outcome.

Types of Health and Wellness Tests

Various tests can be performed depending on a person’s needs. The most common wellness testing is bloodwork and urine analysis. Other common tests include and are not limited to:  

• Comprehensive wellness tests
• Complete Blood Count (CBC)
• White Blood Cell Count Differential
• Anemia tests
• Thyroid tests
• Chemistry panels
• Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
• Glucose Testing
• Platelet Count
• Electrolyte tests
• Protein tests 
• Infectious disease tests
• Kidney disease tests
• Urinalysis tests
• Heart health tests
• Hormone tests  
• Nutrition and vitamin tests
• Allergy tests
• Hemoglobin test
• Liver Panel
• HIV test
• Women’s health tests such as Pap smear or mammogram
• Men’s health tests such as Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) for prostate cancer

Wellness testing can help detect the presence or absence of different health conditions and diseases, including and not limited to the following: 

• Vitamin deficiencies
• Liver and kidney disease
• Anemia
• Diabetes
• Infertility
• Hyperlipidemia

Test Results 

Typically, you will receive your test results during a follow-up appointment with your healthcare practioner, via online medical chats, or a telephone call.  If your test results are abnormal, you will require a follow-up appointment with your doctor to inform you about the way forward in terms of further testing, treatment, diagnosis, and treatment plans. It is usual for your doctor to order further or additional testing concerning any health concerns that might have come up in your test results. They may order a similar or more specific test to confirm the results for consistency or to check whether it was irregular.

The test results are analyzed against your symptoms, family history, and previous checkup test results. Your doctor will work with you to determine the best course of treatment for your disease based on your unique needs. 

Wellness testing is crucial to every person’s health and overall well-being. Take control of your life and get expert and state-of-the-art wellness testing at the practice of Susan A. Baker, M.D, in Los Angeles, California. Contact us today for more information or request an appointment online. We are glad to help.