Health checks: pay attention to the context of your blood values

Blood values should never be taken out of context. Factors such as medications, supplements, pregnancy, alcohol or sports can affect your results. Therefore, always choose a reliable laboratory provider.

More and more people are having blood tests done while they have no symptoms (yet). That's a great development: preventive testing can help you better understand your health and spot possible abnormalities early. One point is essential here: blood values should never be viewed in isolation from context.

Interpreting test results without medical background knowledge, or using AI software incorrectly, can lead to incorrect conclusions. In fact, a value outside the reference value does not automatically mean disease.

Why context is so important in blood values

Reference values are based on averages within a large population. They do not take into account personal factors such as lifestyle, medication use, hormonal situation or recent exercise. As a result, an abnormal value can sometimes be completely explainable and temporary.

Real world examples

• Herbs and self-care drugs: some herbs and over-the-counter medications can temporarily raise liver enzymes.
• Aspirin: can show blood in urine without a condition.
• Contraception or pregnancy: often cause higher cortisol levels.
• Elevation differences: at higher elevations, CRP (an inflammatory value) is often elevated.
• Alcohol: even one glass of wine can temporarily raise triglycerides.
• Exercise right before the test: intense exercise can affect multiple metabolic values.

What does this mean to you?

Preventive blood tests are valuable and can provide great insight into your health. However, interpreting the results always requires common sense as well as a reliable laboratory provider. That way, you can be sure that your results are placed in the proper context and that you receive an appropriate explanation.