D.  About Preventive Blood Testing

Q:  How often should I test?

A:  If you are in good health, testing annually should be fine.  Remember, however, the more frequently you test, the faster you can develop your Personal Normal levels.  If you are involved in rigorous physical training, testing more frequently may also be helpful.  If you have health problems, you may find it helpful to test every six months (or more frequently if the health issues are life-threatening).

Q:  I am in my mid 70s.  Is there any point in getting tested?

A:  YFH routinely sees dramatic positive improvement for clients over seventy who are committed to taking control of their health and committed to making positive changes with their diet and lifestyle.  Preventive measures are far less intrusive than waiting for the symptoms to force action when there are problems.  It is also never too late to start establishing your Personal Normal levels-the key is just to get started.

Q:  At what age do people generally start testing their children?

A:  Although we have tested infants before, the most common age when most children begin testing is age 5.

Q:  I feel healthy, why do I need to test?

A:  There are two reasons: 1.  You want to have a baseline of when you are at your best.  2.   It is important to be proactive about your health and realize that “feeling” means you are relying on symptoms.  Tons of people do not have symptoms but are far from healthy – they just don’t know it yet.  Many health problems such as diabetes and heart disease only show symptoms in the late (sometimes fatal) stages.  Testing with YFH can show developing problems before symptoms are evident.

The goal is to feel good AND have blood test results that confirm you really are healthy.

Q:  I’ve had lots of blood tests run before and I am always normal.  Why should I test?

A:  Two primary reasons.  First, being within the Normal Ranges does not mean you are healthy.  It simply means you are not as sick as the people used to determine the normal range.  Second, there are very important specialized tests that are rarely ordered (even if you are sick already) due to cost containment policies and/or complexities in doing the tests.  If you would like more information please read the book Normal Blood Test Scores Aren’t Good Enough by Ellie Cullen, watch the seminar video “HealthPrint:  Take Back Control of Your Health”, or simply take the Virtual Tour at our website by clicking on any of the “Take the Tour” icons.

Q:  Are my Optimum Ranges based on my blood test history?

A:  No.  Optimum ranges are based on YFH’s decades of testing experience and your age, gender, height/weight, and other blood test scores (an example of “other blood test scores” is that your Optimum Range for magnesium is also based on your phosphorus and calcium scores).  That is why they are available the first time you test.

Q:  How long will it take to develop my Personal Normal levels?

A:  Three to four sets of scores will typically be sufficient to determine your Personal Normals.