Blood Chemistry Panel

Test

Related to:

Glucose
Triglyceride Diabetes BUN
Creatinine
BUN/Creatinine Ratio
Potassium
Sodium
Chloride
Phosphorus Kidney Function
Hypertension
Renal Disease Alkaline Phosphatase
Calcium Bone Function GGT
SGOT
SGTP
Total Bilirubin
Total Protein Liver Function Albumin
Globulin
A/G Ratio Nutritional Status Cholesterol
Triglyceride
LDL Cholesterol
HDL Cholesterol
VLDL Cholesterol
Total Cholesterol : HDL Ratio
Percent HDL Cholesterol Coronary Risk
Cardiovascular
Disease Risk Serum Ferritin Iron Status hs-CRP Cardiovascular Disease Risk

If you have medical questions or concerns, contact your physician.

CBC – Complete Blood Count

WBC – White Blood Count Infection / Lowered Immune System RBC – Red Blood Count Anemia MCV – Mean Corpuscular Volume
MCH – Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin
MCHC – Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration
RDW – Random Distribution Width Red Blood Cell Index Platelet Count Coagulation (clotting) Neutrophils
Lymphocytes
Monocytes
Eosinophils
Basophils Infection

The CBC is a complex test and requires physician diagnosis for any specific conditions. If you have abnormal values, we recommend following up with your physician

An American Epidemic

Atherosclerosis is a narrowing of the arteries caused by an accumulation of fatty deposits on the artery walls. These fatty deposits result in decreased blood flow to the tissues. Additionally, pieces of fat can break loose and block a blood vessel. All arteries may be affected, but the coronary and cerebral vessels are the areas of greatest concern because insufficient blood flow to the heart and brain can quickly become life-threatening.

Atherosclerosis and its complications (coronary heart disease, stroke) are the major cause of death in the United States. Heart attacks alone account for over 20% of all U.S. deaths each year. When death from strokes and atherosclerotic heart disease are added in, the total of atherosclerotic-caused deaths increases to nearly 50% of the U.S. total. This disease costs over 60 billion dollars per year to treat. The suffering caused is incalculable.

Signs and symptoms of atherosclerosis depend on the degree of obstruction and the arteries involved. They may include angina (chest pain), leg cramps (especially when walking), weakness, dizziness, or gradual mental deterioration. Other “minor” symptoms often caused by the decreased blood flow of atherosclerosis include tinnitus (ringing in the ears), impotence, hearing loss, and diminished vision. Often, there are no symptoms prior to an “event” (heart attack, stroke).

The causes of atherosclerosis are largely known: sedentary lifestyle, smoking, dietary imbalances (esp. high trans fat consumption, lack of dietary fiber, lack of dietary antioxidants) and stress. Since these are all controllable risk factors, the individual can do MUCH to prevent and reverse this degenerative process.

It has been known since 1973 that a diagonal earlobe crease is a sign of atherosclerosis. More recent studies have suggested that it is, in fact, one of the most accurate indications of atherosclerosis – more reliable than any other known risk factor, including age, sedentary lifestyle, elevated cholesterol levels, and smoking.

The earlobe has many small blood vessels, known as capillaries. A decrease in blood flow caused by atherosclerosis causes a “collapse” of the vascular bed – and an earlobe crease results. (NOTE: This physical sign does not correlate with atherosclerosis in Orientals, Native Americans, and children with Beckwith’s syndrome.)

While the presence of an earlobe crease does not by itself prove heart disease, it strongly suggests it. If you have an earlobe crease or known atherosclerosis, begin to reverse the condition by following the recommendations here.

DIET AND LIFESTYLE RECOMMENDATIONS

• Eat a nutritious diet high in nutrients and fiber.
• Regular aerobic exercise (with your doctor’s clearance). Exercise improves circulation and heart muscle pumping ability. It also helps the body use excess fats and cholesterol for energy.
• Drink 8 glasses of pure water daily.
• Maintain a normal body weight.
• Do not smoke. Substances in tobacco smoke can cause spasm of the blood vessels

Limit caffeine intake to 2 cups (including decaf and caffeinated sodas) per day. Avoid these entirely if arrhythmia is present.

PRIMARY SUPPORT

• Maxi Multi: 3 caps, 3 times per day with meals. This daily “multiple” contains high potency antioxidants. Optimal (not minimal) doses of antioxidant vitamins including C,E, and beta carotene, plus B complex vitamins, magnesium, selenium and bioflavonoids are particularly important for the heart. Take additional B complex vitamins if your multiple does not contain optimal doses. B vitamins, (especially B6, B12, and folic acid) lower homocysteine levels, an independent risk for heart disease that many researchers feel is more important than cholesterol levels.
• Omega 3 fatty acids:
  Flax seed meal, 2 teaspoons per day with food
  OR
  Flax seed capsules: 2-4 caps, 3 times per day (target dose range: 6-12 caps per day)
  OR
  Flax seed oil: 1 tablespoon per day
  OR
  Max EPA (Omega-3 rich fish oil): 1-2 caps, 3 times per day with meals (target dose: 3-6 caps per day).
• CoQ10: 50-300mg per day. This powerful antioxidant, produced by the body, diminishes with age. It is especially valuable for all types of heart disease. CHOLESTEROL-LOWERING DRUGS deplete CoQ10. (Amounts will depend on the severity of the disease. Lower doses may be used for health maintenance; higher doses in cases of arrhythmia, angina, and atherosclerosis).
• Garlic: (Garlitrin 4000®): 1 tablet, once per day with a meal. Other brands, take 1 tab, 3 times per day. Target dose: 10,000mg allicin per day.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT

• L-carnitine: 1 cap (250mg), 3 times per day with meals.
• Bromelain: 1 cap (2400mcu), 3 times per day BETWEEN meals.

DR. MYATT’S COMMENT

Treat all other “heart risk” factors that may be present: High Cholesterol, High Blood Pressure, arrhythmia. Please refer to these sections for more information. See HEART DISEASE for more information.

Natural Support For “Iron Poor Blood”

Anemia is a condition characterized by a decrease in the number of red blood cells or hemoglobin (the oxygen-carrying iron molecule of the red blood cell). Since red blood cells are responsible for carrying oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body, a deficiency of red blood cells or of hemoglobin can cause fatigue, a result of insufficient oxygen being delivered to the tissues.

There are many different kinds of anemia. Some involve a deficiency of iron (iron deficiency anemia), but other types are due to other nutrient deficiencies (B12, folate), inability to assimilate B12 (pernicious anemia), defects in production of blood, low thyroid function, excessive destruction of red blood cells, genetic defects and autoimmune disease (hemolytic anemia) to name just a few.

Diagnosis of anemia should be made by a physician, because one or several blood tests may be required to correctly determine the type of anemia. Do NOT assume that lack of energy is caused by anemia, and NEVER TAKE IRON as a supplement unless you have been told to do so by a physician. Excess iron can be harmful, storing in heart, liver and kidneys where it compromises function. Excess iron also generates free radicals.

DIET AND LIFESTYLE RECOMMENDATIONS

• For iron deficiency anemia, eat iron-rich foods (kelp, brewer’s yeast, blackstrap molasses, wheat germ, sunflower seeds, millet, parsley, clams, almonds, berries, spinach, raisins, beet greens, beets, etc.)

PRIMARY SUPPORT

For iron deficiency anemia:

• Nutrizyme Multiple Vitamin/mineral supplement WITH iron: 2 caps, 3 times per day with meals.
• Liquid Liver: 1-2 caps, 3 times per day with meals. This form of iron is absorbed MUCH more readily than the elemental iron prescribed by conventional doctors. There is no associated constipation with liquid liver (“heme iron”) as there is with ferrous sulfate.
• Vitamin C: 400-500mg, 3 times per day with meals. Vitamin C aids iron absorption.
• Hi-B12/Folic Acid: 1 tablet, 2 times per day with meals (sublingual).

Since a decrease of gastric acid production is a leading cause of iron deficiency anemia in adults (except for women of menstrual age, where monthly blood loss is the primary cause), a Gastric Acid Function Self-Test should be performed.

For B12/Folic acid deficiency:

• Hi-B12/Folic Acid: 1 tablet, 2 times per day with meals (sublingual).

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

In addition to blood tests for iron, serum ferritin (storage iron), B12, and thyroid function should be tested. Low thyroid function can cause anemia. Low sex hormones can also cause anemia in both men and women. A male hormone profile or female hormone profile can help determine if low sex hormone levels are contributing to anemia