One single blood test really only gives you a snapshot view of your health. You do not see trends and the results can be easily influenced by external factors. Have you fasted correctly beforehand? Were you in a stressful period of your life? Were you out with friends the night before the blood draw? Even a seemingly small thing like cutting your finger the day before can impact markers drastically (inflammation marker C-Reactive Protein for instance).
Keep in mind that the only really valuable way to look at your health through blood lab results is by connecting the dots of tests over time. Is it possible to look at a single lab result and take really valuable information out of it? Sure. But make sure you remember though that there are so many variables that can influence your blood.
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So, here’s my mantra for the week:
Connect the dots.
