This way, if you ever have questions about your health, or need to see a different doctor, you’ll be able to quickly access this useful information about yourself. (And then, keep it in your personal health record!) In fact, one of my top recommendations to older adults and family caregivers is to always request a copy of your laboratory results. But today, it’s becoming more common for patients to ask questions about their results, and otherwise become more knowledgeable about this aspect of their health.

Historically, laboratory results were reviewed by the doctors and were only minimally discussed with patients and families. So as a geriatrician, I routinely order or recommend blood tests for older adults. But often, it’s an appropriate and an important part of evaluating an older person’s health care concerns. Like much of medical care, blood testing is probably overused. Blood tests can also provide us with information related to infection, kidney function, and much more.

Last but not least, blood testing is usually - although not always - very helpful when it comes to evaluating many common complaints that affect aging adults.įatigued and experiencing low energy? We should perhaps check for anemia and thyroid problems, among other things.Ĭonfused and delirious? Bloodwork can help us check on an older person’s electrolytes (they can be thrown off by a medication side-effect, as well as by other causes). Such testing is also often done as part of an annual exam, or “complete physical.” For instance, it’s pretty much impossible to be hospitalized without having bloodwork done, and it’s part of most emergency room care. Most older adults have been through this. This is sometimes referred to as “checking labs,” “doing bloodwork,” or even “checking blood.” In this article, I’ll address a real mainstay of modern medicine: laboratory tests that require drawing blood.

Cbc blood test results