While it can seem scary for your doctor to order blood work, there are actually several common reasons for lab work to be done. Whether it’s to determine the cause of fatigue or to get a more complete view of your health, doctors order blood work on a daily basis. The following are just five common reasons your doctor will order blood work.

Fatigue

Those suffering from fatigue may have a number of medical conditions. While fatigue can be caused by something as simple as poor sleeping or eating habits, there can be a more serious condition causing the problem. Doctors will often order a complete blood count to determine whether or not there is a problem with your blood count.

Glucose Problems

If you’re experiencing the signs of diabetes, a doctor will order a glucose test to be preformed. Many glucose tests are done in the office and require only a prick of the finger. Other glucose tests may require more blood to get a more accurate and lengthier view of your levels. Either way, a fast is usually required before the test is done.

Cholesterol

Another common aliment that doctors routinely check for is high cholesterol. A doctor may run a test to check your lipoprotein levels which will give an accurate view of your good and bad levels of cholesterol. High cholesterol does not come with any symptoms and this test is necessary to determine whether or not your numbers are in line.

Complete Blood Count

A complete blood count is done to check for a variety of illnesses. Those complaining of fatigue, weakness or even depression may be asked to have a complete blood count preformed. The count gives a view of how many white and red blood cells are in the blood along with the number of platelets. These numbers are used to determine whether or not you suffer from anemia, kidney disease and other disorders.

Insurance

Last, but certainly not least, many doctors order blood work not because it is necessary, but because your insurance will pay for it. The problem is when you really do need blood work done, you may be charged for it. Always ask why the doctor is ordering the blood work and if he doesn’t have a good answer, don’t get it done.

There are a number of reasons why blood work is needed by your doctor. Unfortunately, many doctors also put in requests simply because you have a good insurance plan. Be weary of doctors that order blood work too often, especially when you’re only there for a routine checkup.

About the Author: Fatimah Palmeter, NAC, CNA, NHA loves her work in the healthcare field. She started as a CNA and recently went to a phlebotomy training program so that she could start working more in patient care. Visit http://www.associationphlebotomytraining.com/ if you’d like more information about phlebotomy work.

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When Chris from Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition, showed up at the school where LaRhonda was teaching, she almost knocked him off his feet.

Chris new from the beginning this girl was serious about her weight loss journey. LaRhonda was full of life, with a personality that captured the entire room.

LaRhonda had recently lost her mother who was just 48, to an obesity related disease and she fears she will be next. In the refrigerator Chris found her mother’s diabetes insulin, which LaRhonda could not part with.

Chris moved in with LaRhonda for the first 90 days and set a goal of a 100 pound weight loss within that time, if she meets her goal she would receive a much needed new car. Needless she actually worked herself to the limit and hit her goal exactly on the 100 pound mark.

The excitement with which LaRhonda met her weight loss goal was contagious, before long she would have a great body to go with her great personality, at the pace she was going.

When Chris left LaRhonda on her own, he was worried after seeing her eating chips and dip, but at the weigh in she had lost her goal weight of 60 pounds. She told Chris while eating the chips she found she could be satisfied with just four or five chips, instead of the whole bag for the first time in her life she was in control.

When LaRhonda met her goal of 23 pounds in phase three, her excess skin removal surgery was to be done and she met her goal yet again.

LaRonda came onto the stage looking absolutely stunning at her weight loss reveal, her grandmother and father were both in tears and as for the rest of the crowd, they could not stop cheering. LaRhonda now weighs 231 pounds with a total weight loss of 202 pounds.

At the end of the show she took her mother’s needles and left them on the grave, stating she choose to have happy memories, not painful ones of her mother.        

This week on A&E’s Heavy, a 400 pound 44 year old virgin named Debbie gave a heart breaking story, of dealing with being overweight for most of life. Not unlike millions of obese people she has suffered several traumatic events while growing, which made her turn to food for comfort.

Debbie has a magnetic personality, which seems to camouflage what is really going on in her life.

Debbie is an emotional binge eater, which caused her to weigh 500 pounds at one point and endangering her life.

Her father was extremely worried, that he was going to lose his daughter if she did not get her weight under control.

The life threatening diseases caused by obesity, such as diabetes, heart failure, high blood pressure and some types of cancer were threatening to shorten her life. She now suffers from cellulitis, sleep apnea, and gastro esophageal reflux disease.

Debbie stated she wanted to face her food addition and learn how to control it, so she will never have to battle weight loss again. She also wants financially independent, move out of her parent’s home and re-enroll in nurses training. She dreams of finding someone special and having an intimate loving relationship, like the one her parent’s have.

In six months, working with the trainers at the Heavy resort, Debbie lost a total of 105.6 pounds; friends and family attending her homecoming were thrilled and amazed with her accomplishments.

Wow comes to mind when thinking of how you have grown within six months at the Heavy resort Debbie; we hope to follow your weight loss journey until you reach your goal, good luck.

To view Debbie on A&E’s Heavy click here: Heavy

When Kevin came to the A&E series Heavy, he weighed 596.7 pounds, he had been heavy as long as he could remember, this is why his friends and family call him Big Kev.

Kevin stated as a child his mother had a difficult time finding cloths to fit him, his weight continued to be a problem even throughout his teen years. He admitted after he had gotten married his weight spiraled out of control until he is now considered morbidly obese.

After gaining 300 pounds his wife was afraid she and the children, would lose him to diseases caused by his weight gain. The danger of dying from diseases such as heart failure, diabetes, high blood pressure and some types of cancer are very real threat in Kevin’s life.

Kevin is a teacher and coaches both jobs, which he loves, but is in danger of losing it unless he takes off a great deal of weight.

When he arrived at the resort, the trainers found food in his bags, which told them he was not taking his weight loss goal seriously. The Trainers struggled with Kevin to keep him motivated; his weight went up and down from one weigh in to another.

Working with Kevin was a challenge, due to his lack of interest in taking his obesity seriously. At the end of 6 months he lost 95.7 pounds, but the trainers felt it could have been much more.

During the 6 months he had gained weight several times, at one weigh in he had gained 14 pounds, with more substantial weight gains over the 6 month period.

Losing the 95.7 pounds proves he can have a successful weight loss, but only if he dedicates himself to it.

We would love to follow you on your journey Kevin and we will be cheering you on, losing your excess weight is a challenge, winning the challenge will literally be giving you, your life back.

Good luck Kevin, we know you can come out a winner in all areas of your life, at the end of your weight loss journey.

To view the A&E Heavy episode, with Kevin click here: Heavy

A&E welcomed Ricky Wayne, this week on the TV series Heavy, the thirty five year old, 5”11’ Ricky Wayne weighed in at 555 pounds when coming the resort, which makes him morbidly obese.

Ricky Wayne’s obesity puts him at risk of dying at an early age due to the risk of diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and some types of cancer.

Changing his lifestyle is not an option, if he does not change his eating habits and daily diet as well as implementing a daily exercise into his life, Ricky Wayne will surely die at an early age.

When given the news of a pending early death, Ricky Wayne’s reply was he would choose life over death, knowing his new lifestyle would be a lifelong struggle. Knowing he is morbidly obese is very scary, but now vows he will not be obese for the rest of his life.

Ricky Wayne’s unhealthy eating habits started when he was 11 years old, he would eat a sack lunch his mother packed, on the bus on his way to school and eat a second lunch at school for fifty cents. While the rest of the family was in bed for the night, he would sneak into the kitchen for a snack. When his parent’s found out about the snacking, he was threatened with diets and chains on the refrigerator.

He was confronted by his trainer’s at the resort for not trying hard enough and not taking his obesity seriously. Ricky Wayne lost all control and became very belligerent, screaming for them to just leave him alone. At that point he had a major breakthrough, stating the loss of his mother hunted him, due to the fact she blamed herself for his out of control weight.

Ricky Wayne is like all men his age, he wants to enjoy the same things in life, such as going to watch sports competition, driving, flying, working and starting a family of his own.  At this point in his life all these things are impossible, due to his obesity.

The first time Ricky Wayne left the resort and went home there wasn’t any support system for him there, so he asks to come back to the resort for added help and encouragement.

When he left the resort for the second time his weight was 407 pounds, he was thrilled with his accomplishments and the 148 pound weight loss and vowed he would never let his weight get out of control again.

Good luck Ricky Wayne, we will certainly be rooting for you and watching for your final weigh in.