What Blood Tests Reveal

“It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.” Mahatma Ghandi.

Blood Test

In recent years I have lost count of the blood tests I have had to take. My late forties is when it all began. On my way down from the summit of the local mountain, a big hill is what it is, the path was rocky. I stumbled and twisted my ankle after stepping on a small rock. It was painful hobbling down the track, thankfully home was on a street near the foot of the hill.

My partner took me to her doctor; I hadn’t had the need to see one since my mid teenage years. Her doctor after checking the sprain scheduled me to take a blood test. As I remember it, this was my very first blood test. The test came back showing I had elevated blood pressure plus some other issues. It was the start of having to take daily two heart tablets and one for cholesterol, for the remainder of my life. Years later it was reduced to one heart tablet and one for cholesterol.

Years later, during the pandemic, I found a lump on the side of my neck. A week or two passed before I was able to see a doctor, he immediately scheduled an appointment for me at the hospital, who in turn got me to take a blood test. After more blood tests and scans I was diagnosed with cancer. Two or three months later I began chemotherapy and radiation treatment over a number of weeks.

Thankfully it has been in abeyance for the past six years.

My Blood Tests

I really didn’t think too much about why I had to take a blood test. I just left it up to the medical people, when they asked me to get a blood test I just did it; they are the professionals with more health knowledge than I would ever have. If I wanted to get back to good health, I had to do my part and follow their directions. That was my attitude, to follow their counsel to the letter. I have no reason to change this approach. I’m healthy, reasonably active, and get to the driving range and golf course often enough to keep me happy.

However, it piqued my interest in what the result of a blood test revealed.

What Does a Blood Test Reveal

I’m not a medical person of any description. What I wrote about were my own experiences with taking blood tests. Do your own research, even double check what AI says. Always follow the direction of the doctors and other medical professionals for any treatment program you are participating in.

I asked AI, MS Copilot, this question. When a doctor asks you to get a blood test, what are the main issues a blood test will reveal?

MS Copilot

Blood tests are like the body's report card—they can reveal a lot about what’s happening behind the scenes. Here are the key things they commonly check for:

General Health Checks

• Complete Blood Count (CBC): Assesses red and white blood cells, hemoglobin, platelets—can detect infections, anemia, blood disorders.

• Basic or Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (BMP/CMP): Measures electrolytes, glucose, kidney and liver function.

• Lipid Panel: Evaluates cholesterol levels (HDL, LDL, triglycerides), helping assess cardiovascular risk.

Nutrient & Hormone Levels

• Iron, Vitamin D, B12, Folate: Checks for deficiencies that could cause fatigue, weakness, or neurological symptoms.

• Thyroid Function (TSH, T3, T4): Reveals if your thyroid is overactive or underactive.

• Sex hormones (e.g. estrogen, testosterone): Evaluates reproductive and endocrine health.

Markers of Disease or Risk

• Blood Sugar (Glucose, HbA1c): Screens for or monitors diabetes.

• Liver Enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP): Can signal liver inflammation or damage.

• Kidney Function (Creatinine, BUN): Identifies impaired filtration or dehydration.

• Inflammatory Markers (CRP, ESR): Elevated levels may suggest infection, autoimmune conditions, or chronic inflammation.

• Tumor Markers (in specific cases): May be ordered when screening or monitoring certain cancers.

Infection & Immunity

• White Blood Cell Count: Indicates infections, inflammation, or immune issues.

• Antibody Tests: Can reveal past exposure or immunity to viruses (like COVID-19 or Hepatitis).

• HIV, Hepatitis panels, STD screening: Ordered if relevant to symptoms or risk factors.

Neurological or Mental Conditions

• Vitamin B12 deficiency: Can cause memory issues, nerve damage, or mood changes.

• Thyroid hormone imbalance (TSH, T3, T4): Hypothyroidism may lead to depression or fatigue; hyperthyroidism might cause anxiety or insomnia.

Cardiovascular Disease

• High LDL/Low HDL (Lipid Panel): Signals risk for heart attack, stroke, or atherosclerosis.

• High CRP (C-Reactive Protein): Indicates inflammation—linked to heart disease risk.

Diabetes

• Elevated glucose or HbA1c: Confirms poor blood sugar control—used to diagnose diabetes or prediabetes.

• Insulin levels: Can help distinguish between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

Infection

• High white blood cell count (WBC): Often shows the body is fighting a bacterial infection.

• Presence of antibodies or antigens: Helps detect viral infections like HIV, Hepatitis B/C, or COVID-19.

Autoimmune Conditions

• Elevated ESR or CRP: Suggests chronic inflammation, typical in rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.

• Autoantibodies (ANA, RF): Specific markers for autoimmune diseases.

Liver & Kidney Disorders

• High ALT/AST (liver enzymes): Can signal hepatitis, fatty liver disease, or medication side effects.

• Elevated Creatinine/BUN: Suggests impaired kidney function or chronic kidney disease.

Cancer

• Tumor markers (e.g., PSA, CA-125, AFP): May help detect or monitor prostate, ovarian, or liver cancers.

• Note: These aren't definitive for cancer on their own—often used alongside imaging and biopsies.

  
  

Putting It Together

Doctors look not just at one value but at constellations of results—paired with symptoms, history, and sometimes imaging. For example, chronic fatigue with low iron and low hemoglobin may indicate anemia, but adding elevated inflammatory markers could shift the suspicion toward an autoimmune condition.

Summary

Blood tests are a vital diagnostic tool that offer a snapshot of your internal health, revealing how organs like your liver, kidneys, and heart are functioning, whether you have infections or nutritional deficiencies, and helping to detect or monitor conditions such as diabetes, autoimmune disorders, or even cancer. They’re often used not just to confirm a diagnosis but to catch problems early—sometimes before symptoms even appear—making them an essential part of preventive care and personalized treatment.

Thank goodness for blood tests.