All the Labs You Need Checked [Does Your Doctor Know?] 2024

KenDBerryMD

20 Nov 202209:34

EducationalLearning

32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this video, Dr. Ken Berry, a family physician, emphasizes the importance of comprehensive lab work during annual check-ups to ensure true health. He critiques the standard practice of ordering minimal tests and instead recommends a detailed panel of lab tests, including hemoglobin A1c, CMP, vitamin D 25, DHEA-S, ESR, ferritin, fasting insulin, ggt, homocysteine, high-sensitivity CRP, lipid panel, magnesium, phosphorus, TSH, and urinalysis. These tests help uncover early signs of conditions like type 2 diabetes, inflammation, and metabolic syndrome, guiding a more proactive approach to health.

Takeaways

🔍 Dr. Ken Berry emphasizes the importance of comprehensive lab work during annual check-ups beyond the minimum tests typically ordered by doctors.
📝 The recommended lab tests are for individuals who generally feel well and are not showing signs of specific diseases or symptoms.
👨‍⚕️ The average doctor's routine check-up usually includes a basic metabolic panel, CBC, lipid panel, urinalysis, and possibly TSH, which Dr. Berry suggests is insufficient.
📉 Hemoglobin A1c is crucial for detecting pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes, even when fasting blood sugar appears normal.
🌡 A complete metabolic panel (CMP) is preferred over a basic metabolic panel (BMP) as it includes liver function tests in addition to other standard checks.
📈 C-peptide is a key indicator of insulin production and can reveal early type 2 diabetes even when other blood sugar markers are normal.
☀️ Vitamin D 25 (not 125) is the correct test to assess vitamin D levels, which are important for overall health.
🌡 DHEA-S is a test that helps evaluate adrenal gland health and is part of a broader assessment of hormonal balance.
🚑 ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate) is a basic but important test for identifying chronic inflammation in the body.
🩸 Ferritin levels, when elevated, can indicate issues related to infection, inflammation, or hyperinsulinemia, rather than just iron overload.
💉 Fasting insulin levels are a good measure of insulin resistance and can be a sign of metabolic syndrome or early type 2 diabetes.
🍻 GGT (Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase) is not just a liver test but can indicate damage to the biliary system, gallbladder, pancreas, or kidneys.
🧬 Homocysteine levels are indicative of B12 status and overall inflammation, and if elevated, warrant further investigation.
🔥 High-sensitivity CRP is another marker for inflammation or infection that should be checked annually.
🍗 Lipid panel focuses on triglycerides and HDL cholesterol, which are more informative about diet and health than total cholesterol or LDL cholesterol.
💧 Magnesium and phosphorus levels in the serum can be affected by various factors and should be monitored for optimal health.
🌡 TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) provides a snapshot of thyroid function and is important for identifying potential thyroid issues.
🌡 Urinalysis is a comprehensive test that checks for various signs of infection, inflammation, or damage within the body.

Q & A

What is the main concern Dr. Ken Berry addresses in his video?
-Dr. Ken Berry addresses the concern that many doctors only order the minimum lab tests during annual checkups, which may not be sufficient to ensure a patient's overall health.
Why does Dr. Berry recommend more than the standard lab tests during a routine checkup?
-Dr. Berry recommends more extensive lab tests to capture a better picture of a patient's overall health, especially considering the prevalence of metabolic diseases and chronic inflammation in modern society.
What is the purpose of a hemoglobin A1c test according to Dr. Berry?
-The hemoglobin A1c test is used to identify pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes, as it can uncover these conditions even when fasting blood sugar levels appear normal.
Why should a complete metabolic panel (CMP) be preferred over a basic metabolic panel (BMP)?
-A CMP provides additional information about liver function, which is not included in a BMP, offering a more comprehensive assessment of a patient's health.
What does the C-peptide test indicate about a person's health?
-The C-peptide test serves as a proxy marker for insulin production by the pancreas, indicating how much insulin is needed to manage the carbohydrates in a person's diet. Elevated levels can suggest early type 2 diabetes.
Why is the vitamin D 25 test preferred over the vitamin D 125 test?
-The vitamin D 25 test provides a more accurate measure of vitamin D levels, which is important for assessing whether a person is getting enough vitamin D from sunlight and diet.
What does Dr. Berry suggest about the focus on LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol in a lipid panel?
-Dr. Berry suggests that focusing on LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol may not be as informative as focusing on triglycerides and HDL cholesterol, and he has other videos that explain why this traditional focus may be inappropriate.
What does an elevated GGT level indicate according to the video?
-An elevated GGT level can indicate damage or issues in the liver, biliary system, gallbladder, pancreas, or kidneys, and it requires further investigation to determine the cause.
Why is the homocysteine level test important?
-The homocysteine level test is an excellent indicator of B12 status and overall inflammation in the body, and an elevated level warrants further investigation.
What does Dr. Berry suggest about the TSH test in relation to thyroid function?
-Dr. Berry suggests that the TSH test provides a quick snapshot of thyroid function, but if there are abnormal results or symptoms of low thyroid function, a full thyroid panel is necessary.
What additional information does the urinalysis provide beyond what standard lab tests offer?
-The urinalysis looks for invisible amounts of microscopic blood, ketones, and other signs of infection, inflammation, or damage within the body, offering a more detailed assessment of a patient's health.

Outlines

00:00

🩺 Importance of Comprehensive Lab Work in Annual Checkups

Dr. Ken Berry emphasizes the necessity of comprehensive lab work during annual checkups, pointing out that many doctors only order minimal tests. He introduces the video by discussing how metabolic disease and chronic inflammation are prevalent in modern society, making it crucial to have an extensive lab panel checked yearly, starting around age 30. He notes that the standard labs ordered by doctors provide limited information, often missing critical health indicators.

05:01

🧪 Essential Lab Tests to Ask For

Dr. Berry lists and explains the essential lab tests to request from your doctor. These include Hemoglobin A1c for diabetes detection, a complete metabolic panel for liver function, a complete blood count with differential for additional health insights, and C-peptide to gauge insulin production. He also highlights the importance of vitamin D 25 levels, DHEA-S for adrenal health, and ESR for inflammation. Additionally, he covers ferritin levels related to hyperinsulinemia, fasting insulin for metabolic syndrome, and GGT for liver and organ damage. Homocysteine levels, high-sensitivity CRP for inflammation, and a lipid panel focusing on triglycerides and HDL cholesterol are also discussed.

🔍 Additional Critical Lab Tests

Dr. Berry continues by discussing more crucial tests, including magnesium and phosphorus levels for various health conditions and medications. He stresses the importance of TSH for thyroid function and the need for a complete thyroid panel if abnormalities are detected. Lastly, he covers the urinalysis for detecting microscopic blood, ketones, and other signs of infection or inflammation. Dr. Berry invites viewers to explore his book 'Common Sense Labs' for more in-depth information on optimal lab ranges and their significance.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Annual Visit

An annual visit refers to the routine medical checkup that individuals undergo once a year to monitor their health status. In the video, Dr. Ken Berry emphasizes the importance of comprehensive lab work during these visits to ensure a more accurate assessment of one's health, rather than relying on the basic tests that some doctors might order.

💡Lab Work

Lab work, short for laboratory work, involves various tests conducted on patient samples to diagnose, monitor, or prevent diseases. In the context of the video, Dr. Berry discusses the inadequacy of the standard lab tests ordered during routine checkups and advocates for a more extensive panel of tests to better evaluate health.

💡Hemoglobin A1c

Hemoglobin A1c is a blood test that reflects the average blood sugar levels over the past 2-3 months. It is crucial for identifying diabetes or pre-diabetes. In the video, Dr. Berry mentions it as a key test to uncover pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes, even when fasting blood sugar levels appear normal.

💡Complete Metabolic Panel (CMP)

A complete metabolic panel (CMP) is a group of tests that measures various substances in the blood to assess organ function, including liver and kidney function. Dr. Berry recommends a CMP over a basic metabolic panel (BMP) for a more thorough checkup, as it includes additional tests for liver function.

💡C-Peptide

C-Peptide is a biological marker that indicates insulin production by the pancreas. Elevated levels can suggest early type 2 diabetes. In the video, Dr. Berry explains that a high c-peptide level, even with normal fasting blood sugar and A1c, can indicate the early stages of diabetes.

💡Vitamin D 25

Vitamin D 25, also known as 25-hydroxyvitamin D, is a blood test that measures the levels of vitamin D in the body. It is essential for assessing whether an individual is getting adequate vitamin D from sunlight and diet. Dr. Berry points out that many doctors mistakenly order a vitamin D 125 test instead, which is less informative.

💡DHEA-S

DHEA-S, or dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, is a blood test that reflects the overall health of the adrenal glands. In the video, Dr. Berry includes DHEA-S as part of the recommended lab tests to assess adrenal function and overall health.

💡Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)

ESR is a test that measures how quickly red blood cells settle in a test tube, which can indicate inflammation in the body. Dr. Berry mentions ESR as a rough marker for chronic inflammation, which is an important factor to consider in overall health.

💡Ferritin

Ferritin is a protein that stores iron in the body and is also an indicator of inflammation and hyperinsulinemia. Elevated ferritin levels do not necessarily mean iron overload but can suggest underlying issues. In the video, Dr. Berry explains the significance of ferritin in assessing inflammation and metabolic health.

💡Fasting Insulin

Fasting insulin is a blood test that measures insulin levels when the body is in a fasting state. High levels can indicate that the pancreas is overworking to manage carbohydrate intake, which is a sign of metabolic syndrome or early type 2 diabetes. Dr. Berry recommends this test to identify issues with carbohydrate metabolism.

💡GGT

GGT, or gamma-glutamyl transferase, is an enzyme test that can indicate liver, biliary system, gallbladder, pancreas, or kidney damage. Dr. Berry explains that elevated GGT levels can be caused by various factors, including excessive alcohol consumption or anti-inflammatory medication, and warrant further investigation.

💡Homocysteine

Homocysteine is an amino acid that, when present in high levels, can be an indicator of B12 deficiency and overall inflammation. Dr. Berry includes homocysteine as a recommended test to assess B12 status and inflammation levels, which are important for overall health.

💡High Sensitivity CRP (hsCRP)

High sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) is a blood test that measures inflammation levels in the body. An elevated hsCRP can indicate the presence of inflammation or infection that requires further investigation. Dr. Berry mentions hsCRP as a valuable test for identifying underlying health issues.

💡Lipid Panel

A lipid panel is a group of blood tests that measure different types of lipoproteins, including triglycerides and HDL cholesterol. Dr. Berry emphasizes the importance of focusing on these levels to assess dietary habits and potential issues with lipid metabolism.

💡Magnesium and Phosphorus Levels

Magnesium and phosphorus are essential minerals that can be affected by various medical conditions, medications, supplements, and dietary habits. Dr. Berry recommends testing these levels to get an indication of their status in the body, as imbalances can lead to a range of health issues.

💡TSH

TSH, or thyroid-stimulating hormone, is a blood test that evaluates thyroid function. A quick snapshot of TSH levels can indicate whether the thyroid is functioning properly. Dr. Berry includes TSH in the list of recommended tests to ensure a basic understanding of thyroid health.

💡Urinalysis

Urinalysis is a test that examines urine for various substances to detect signs of infection, inflammation, or other health issues. Dr. Berry mentions urinalysis as a crucial test that can reveal microscopic blood, ketones, and other indicators of health conditions.

Highlights

Doctors often order the bare minimum lab work during annual visits, which may not provide a complete picture of your health.

Even if you feel healthy, you should get a comprehensive lab panel checked at least once a year, starting around age 30.

Common lab tests ordered by doctors include basic metabolic panel (BMP), complete blood count (CBC), lipid panel, urinalysis, and TSH.

A hemoglobin A1c test can detect pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes, even if fasting blood sugar levels appear normal.

A complete metabolic panel (CMP) checks liver function in addition to the components of a BMP.

A complete blood count with differential can help identify other health issues.

A C-peptide test measures how much insulin your pancreas is producing, helping to detect early type 2 diabetes.

Vitamin D 25 level test indicates if you are getting enough vitamin D from sun exposure and diet.

DHEA-S test assesses overall adrenal gland health.

ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) is a rough marker for chronic inflammation.

Ferritin level can indicate issues related to hyperinsulinemia and chronic inflammation.

A fasting insulin test helps identify metabolic syndrome and early type 2 diabetes.

GGT (gamma-glutamyl transferase) test assesses liver, biliary system, pancreas, and kidney health.

Homocysteine level test indicates B12 status and overall inflammation.

High sensitivity CRP test is another marker for inflammation or infection in the body.

Lipid panel results should focus on triglycerides and HDL cholesterol rather than total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol.

Magnesium and phosphorus levels give an indication of overall mineral balance in the body.

TSH test is a quick look at thyroid function, but if abnormal, a full thyroid panel may be needed.

Urinalysis checks for microscopic blood, ketones, signs of infection, inflammation, or damage.

For deeper understanding of these labs and their optimal ranges, refer to the book 'Common Sense Labs' co-authored by Dr. Ken Berry.

Transcripts

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