Understand Your Paramedical Exam Results
Wellness Event
Additional Testing Available
Cortisol $15:
Cortisol is an essential hormone that affects almost every organ and tissue in your body. It plays many important roles, including regulating your body’s stress response. Helping controls your body’s use of fats, proteins and carbohydrates, or your metabolism. Suppressing inflammation. Regulating blood pressure. Regulating blood sugar.
PSA $15:
The PSA test is a blood test used primarily to screen for prostate cancer. The test measures the amount of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in your blood. PSA is a protein produced by both cancerous and noncancerous tissue in the prostate, a small gland that sits below the bladder in males. The PSA test is only one tool used to screen for early signs of prostate cancer. Another common screening test, usually done in addition to a PSA test, is a digital rectal exam. Please be aware that when testing the PSA level, it is important to not exercise the morning of the test, no heavy lifting prior and no sexual activity for 24hrs prior. We recommend this test for all males 40 and over and anyone with a family history of prostate cancer.
TSH $15:
A TSH test is done to find out if your thyroid gland is working the way it should. It can tell you if your thyroid gland is overactive (hyperthyroidism) or underactive (hypothyroidism). This test can also detect a thyroid disorder before you have any symptoms. If untreated, a thyroid disorder can cause health problems. TSH stands for “thyroid stimulating hormone,” and the test measures how much of this hormone is in your blood. TSH is produced by the pituitary gland in your brain, which tells your thyroid to make and release other key hormones that your body needs to function. Your thyroid manages your metabolism—how quickly your body turns food into energy for your cells.
Vitamin D & Iron $40:
A vitamin D test measures the level of vitamin D in your blood to make sure you have enough for your body to work well. Vitamin D is essential for healthy bones and teeth. It also helps keep your muscles, nerves, and immune system working normally.
Having low levels of vitamin D is a common problem that can lead to bone disorders and other medical problems. Vitamin D testing can let you know if you need to increase your vitamin D levels.
You get vitamin D in three ways:
- Your body makes vitamin D when your bare skin is exposed to sunlight.
- You get vitamin D from certain foods. Only a few foods, such as egg yolks and fatty fish, naturally contain vitamin D. That's why vitamin D is added to foods, including breakfast cereals, milk, and other dairy items.
- You can take vitamin D supplements.
Iron tests measure different substances in the blood to check iron levels in your body. Iron is a mineral that your body needs for growth and development. Your body uses iron to make hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells. It carries oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body, Iron is also important for healthy muscles, bone marrow, and organ function. Your body also needs iron to make some hormones.
You get iron from eating food or taking supplements. There are iron-only supplements, but many multivitamin/mineral supplements also contain iron. Most people in the United States get enough iron. However, certain people may be more likely to have trouble getting enough iron. For example, those who:
- Have heavy periods.
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Are infants (especially if they are premature or low birth weight)
- Are frequent blood donors.
- Have cancer, certain digestive diseases, or heart failure
The amount of iron you need each day depends on your age, your sex, and whether you consume a mostly plant-based diet. Iron levels that are too low or too high can cause health concerns. For example, not having enough iron in your body is the most common cause of anemia. Anemia is a condition in which your blood has a lower-than-normal amount of red blood cells.
Hormone Panel $42:
Hormones are chemical messengers in your body that affect a range of bodily functions, from sleep-wake cycles to digestion.
Progesterone
Progesterone is 1 of 2 female sex hormones, the other being estrogen. Its main functions are regulating menstruation and supporting pregnancy in the female body. In males, adrenal glands also produce progesterone. Its function is associated with sperm development.
Estrogen
Estrogen is a hormone that plays various roles in the body. In females, it helps develop and maintain both the reproductive system and female characteristics, such as breasts and pubic hair. Estrogen contributes to cognitive health, bone health, the function of the cardiovascular system, and other essential bodily processes.
Testosterone
Estrogen is typically called the “female” hormone. Testosterone is called the “male” hormone. This isn’t entirely accurate as both are present in everyone’s bodies. But higher amounts of testosterone tend to be present in biologically male bodies. And higher amounts of estrogen tend to be present in biologically female bodies.
Low testosterone levels
Low levels of testosterone, also called low T levels, can produce a variety of symptoms in men, including:
- decreased sex drive
- less energy
- weight gain
- feelings of depression
- moodiness
- low self-esteem
- less body hair
- thinner bones
While testosterone production naturally tapers off as a man ages, other factors can cause hormone levels to drop.
Injury to the testicles and cancer treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation can negatively affect testosterone production.
Chronic health conditions and stress can also reduce testosterone production. Some of these include:
- AIDS
- kidney disease
- alcoholism cirrhosis of the liver
Testosterone levels decline steadily in adult women; however, low T levels can also produce a variety of symptoms, including:
- low libido
- reduced bone strength
- poor concentration
- depression
Low T levels in women can be caused by removal of the ovaries as well as diseases of the pituitary, hypothalamus, or adrenal glands.
Testosterone therapy may be prescribed for women with low T levels, however, the treatment’s effectiveness on improving sexual function or cognitive function among postmenopausal women is unclear.
Homocysteine $30:
What is a homocysteine test?
A homocysteine test is a blood test that measures the amount of an amino acid called homocysteine in your body.
Homocysteine is a chemical that exists in small amounts in your blood. Vitamins B6, B9 and B12 help break down homocysteine, changing it into other substances your body needs. This process should leave behind very small levels of homocysteine in your blood.
But if the process isn’t working properly, your level of homocysteine may be high. Homocysteine can build up in your blood arteries, increasing your risk of cardiovascular disease, specifically:
- Blood clots.
- Coronary artery disease.
- Hardened arteries (atherosclerosis).
- Heart attack (myocardial infarction).
- Peripheral vascular disease.
- Stroke
When is a homocysteine test performed?
A homocysteine test often helps healthcare providers:
- Identify a vitamin deficiency (shortage) of B6, B12 or B9, also known as folate or folic acid.
- Assess heart disease or stroke risk.
- Monitor people with heart disease to determine whether the condition is worsening.
Homocysteine testing also may be part of newborn screening. It can identify a rare inherited condition called homocystinuria. The disorder means your body can’t process certain amino acids.
What are the symptoms of vitamin B deficiency?
Your healthcare provider may order a homocysteine test if they suspect you aren’t getting enough vitamin B. Symptoms of a vitamin B deficiency may include:
- Depression.
- Diarrhea or constipation.
- Fatigue and weakness.
- Heart palpitations.
- Numbness or tingling in your fingers and toes.
- Problems with balance, concentration or memory.
- Scaly skin.
- Shortness of breath.
- Tongue changes, such as swelling or redness.
Who performs a homocysteine blood test?
A healthcare provider such as a nurse, doctor, phlebotomist or laboratory technician takes a blood sample for the test. Then, staff in a laboratory measure the level of homocysteine in the blood.
Prescription or over-the-counter medications you take, including supplements. They may affect the results of homocysteine testing.
What do homocysteine results mean?
High levels could mean you aren’t getting enough vitamins because you’re malnourished, have poor nutrition or can’t absorb enough dietary vitamins.
Consume more alcohol than the recommended amount.
Have higher risk for heart disease or stroke.
Have homocystinuria, which requires additional testing.
Have another health condition, such as hypothyroidism or Alzheimer’s disease.
However, higher homocysteine levels don’t necessarily mean you have a medical condition. Your healthcare provider will consider many factors besides homocysteine level to make decisions about your health, such as:
- Age, as men generally have higher levels.
- Menopause, because homocysteine increases in postmenopausal women.
- Medications that can elevate homocysteine.
- Smoking history, which can affect homocysteine levels.
Carcinoembryonic Antigen $18.00:
A CEA test measures the level of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in the blood or other body fluid. As a type of tumor marker, CEA is an indicator of whether cancer is growing and spreading or diminishing with treatment. It is also known as a CEA assay, CEA blood test and carcinoembryonic antigen test. The patient may be tested before treatment to set a baseline level, then again during and after treatment