What your bloodwork says about your health

You might think of bloodwork as the quick cholesterol or blood sugar check that’s part of your annual physical. But your blood holds far more insights into your health than you may realize. It can help tell you how well your heart is functioning, if you’re getting enough—or too many—essential nutrients, whether your hormones are balanced, and if you have inflammation brewing behind the scenes. 

And while many health concerns have their fair share of obvious symptoms — you have a runny nose and it’s a cold—there are also conditions that can develop over time that don’t produce any warning signs until they have progressed into more serious stages. 

Chronic kidney disease, which affects 37 million American adults, can show up with unexplained weight loss, itchy skin, or difficulty urinating. But by the time those symptoms come around, this “silent disease” could have already progressed into an irreversible state where a kidney transplant is required. 

Most lung cancers don’t have any symptoms until they have spread to other parts of the body. 

And some reports show that as many as half of people aged 45 to 84 have atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries from buildup inside them) and aren’t aware of it. 

This is where your blood may help. Testing creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels can help gauge your kidney health. Low blood cell count has the potential to help flag blood or immune system cancers like leukemia. And cholesterol and C-reaction protein tests can help search for early signs of cardiovascular disease. Bloodwork can help give you the chance to act proactively rather than reactively, revealing what’s potentially happening in your body before obvious symptoms appear. 

What your blood can help detect‍

Bloodwork isn’t just a pass-or-fail grade to move on from. It can provide an ongoing glimpse into how key systems in your body are performing–and how factors like sleepless nights, a year of poor sleep, or overdoing it with alcohol can affect your health.

Related: This is what alcohol does to your body

By looking at a range of markers, your bloodwork can help give an in-depth, real-time snapshot of your body. It can help you spot potential issues early, make lifestyle adjustments, or seek medical care before a condition becomes serious. It also helps you track changes over time, showing if and how your diet, fitness routine, and daily habits are potentially impacting your health.
Here’s a deeper look at some key biomarkers in your blood and what testing for them can help reveal:

Metabolic health:

A metabolic blood panel measures different substances in your blood to assess how your body uses food and energy, as well as how well key organs like your liver and kidneys are functioning. It does this by looking at various proteins, enzymes, minerals, and electrolyte levels. Imbalances can raise your risk of conditions like diabetes, heart disease, fatty liver disease, and kidney problems. Some blood markers that check for metabolic health include:

• Glucose (blood sugar): Elevated levels can indicate prediabetes or diabetes. 
• Cholesterol, triglycerides: Types of fats in your blood that impact heart and vascular health.
• Liver function markers: (such as ALT, AST): Enzymes and proteins show how well your liver is working and if it’s inflamed or damaged.
• Insulin: High levels of this hormone that regulates blood sugar can be a sign of insulin resistance. 
• Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH): Responsible for controlling how fast your metabolism works. 
• Calcium: Abnormal levels could be a sign of conditions like thyroid disease, kidney disease, or bone disease. 
• Protein levels: Levels out of range could indicate things like dehydration, chronic inflammation, liver disease, kidney disease, blood cancers, or viral infections.
• BUN (blood urea nitrogen) and creatinine: Waste products that your kidneys remove from your blood

Cardiovascular risk:

Blood tests can help to check in on your heart and estimate your risk of developing cardiovascular conditions like heart disease, blood vessel disease, or stroke. This can help you stay on top of heart health and make lifestyle changes to help manage your risk. Some of these tests include:

• Cholesterol panel: Measures total cholesterol, LDL (“bad” cholesterol), HDL (“good” cholesterol), and triglycerides. Imbalances can contribute to plaque buildup in arteries.
• Apolipoprotein B (ApoB): This is a major protein found in cholesterol. Higher levels mean more cholesterol-carrying particles that can penetrate artery walls and cause plaque.
• Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)]: A type of LDL cholesterol. Elevated levels, which can be genetic, increase lifetime cardiovascular risk.

Hormonal health:

Hormones are chemical messengers in the body that regulate metabolism, growth, reproduction, mood, and stress responses. When hormone levels are off, you may experience fatigue, weight changes, mood swings, sleep disturbances, or reproductive issues. Blood tests can assess whether your hormone levels are in balance:

• Thyroid panel (TSH, T3, T4): Evaluates thyroid function, which affects energy levels, metabolism, and weight regulation.
• Testosterone: This hormone present in both men and women supports muscle mass, bone health, libido, and mood. Imbalances can lead to sexual dysfunction, depression, fatigue, reduced muscle mass, increased risk of blood clots, heart issues, and more. 
• Estrogen: Essential for reproductive health, bone strength, and cardiovascular protection. Imbalances may affect menstrual cycles, menopause symptoms, or mood.
• DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone): A hormone made by the adrenal glands that helps produce other hormones, including testosterone and estrogen. Too much or too little can lead to severe acne, infertility, sexual dysfunction, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), adrenal tumors, or pituitary issues. 
• Cortisol: The body’s main stress hormone. Chronic elevations or low levels can impact weight, immunity, and energy.

Nutrient markers:

Nutrient blood tests can reveal whether you’re getting enough—or too much—of the vitamins and minerals your body needs to function well. Deficiencies of key nutrients can lead to fatigue, weakened immunity, poor bone health, or anemia. On the other hand, an excess of certain nutrients can cause organ stress, toxicity, or other health issues. These tests typically check for key nutrients like:

• Vitamin B12: Vital for DNA synthesis, red blood cell production, and nerve functions. Low levels can cause fatigue, numbness, or memory problems.
• Iron: An essential mineral for the production of hemoglobin, which carries oxygen in the blood. Low iron can lead to anemia, while high levels may damage organs.
• Ferritin: This tests for your level of ferritin, a protein that stores iron in your cells to determine if you have a healthy amount of iron in your body.  
• Vitamin D: Supports bone strength, immune health, and muscle function. A blood test can identify deficiencies which can contribute to fatigue, weakened immunity, or bone disorders. Too much vitamin D can lead to a build-up of calcium in the blood. 

Inflammation & immune system:

• Complete blood count (CBC): Measures red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. It can help detect anemia, infections, immune suppression, clotting disorders, and certain cancers.
• C-reactive protein (CRP): A protein made by the liver that rises in response to infection or inflammation. Higher levels are linked to a greater risk of heart attacks and strokes. Elevated levels can be due to infections or autoimmune diseases. 

• White blood cell (WBC) count: Measures the number of white blood cells, which are a crucial part of your immune system, in your blood. Elevated counts can signal infection or inflammation. Low counts can indicate immune suppression and could be caused by things like cancer, bone marrow damage, or autoimmune disorders. 

• Other inflammatory markers (such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate, cytokines): Detect and monitor inflammation over time, helping to identify underlying conditions even before symptoms appear.

A complete—and ongoing—look at your health‍

Your body is constantly changing and “normal” results today don’t always mean you have a completely optimal state of health–especially if you’ve only scratched the surface by ordering a basic blood profile. 

By monitoring your blood biomarkers over time, you can help detect changes in your hormones, inflammation levels, liver function, heart health, and more. For example, your blood sugar might still be within the “normal” range, but if it’s slowly creeping up, it could be an early sign of insulin resistance. Paying attention to these types of bloodwork changes allows you to take action sooner—adjusting your lifestyle or seeking medical care—before conditions could turn into something more serious.

Prenuvo’s Enhanced Screening combines a comprehensive whole body MRI scan with an advanced brain health assessment, body composition analysis, and blood panels that checks 50+ biomarkers.

The blood tests can help detect early functional changes in metabolism, hormones, and inflammation. And the whole body MRI can help scan for hundreds of conditions, looking for structural or tissue changes that may not be reflected in your blood. Paired together, it’s a more complete picture of your current state of health. 

Your blood is more than just numbers that fall within a range—it’s a window into how your body is functioning. Bloodwork gives you a clear picture of what’s changing day to day and the chance to use that insight to live your healthiest life.

To learn more about the benefits of whole body MRI and / or Prenuvo’s Enhanced Screening, book a call with a member of our team.