Lab testing can tell us oh so much about your health and wellness.
Most people look at the numbers on the lab report to see if it fits within the ranges given by the laboratory. However there is something very very important that you need to know.
The ranges on the lab reports are not “normal” nor are they “optimal” ranges for good health.
They are actually just a statistical range whereby if your lab value is in the “range”, your results are with the majority of results, or within a range of 95% of lab values tested. Maybe a simpler way to put it is that 95 out of 100 people tested fall within that reference range.
The other 5%, whether the lab values are above or below the range are perceived as being abnormal. But, and this is an important but, the other 5% are not necessarily unhealthy, nor are the 95% in range healthy.
IMW Pearl: Don’t be fooled by statistics
The important part is not trying to get your lab tests into the lab reference range, but instead to get those levels optimized for your own health.
IMW Pearl: Lab values rarely work independently of other values or systems in the body. We need to look how a system is working together for your health.
In future posts I will get into what I perceive as optimal ranges for lab values and how they work with, relate to, or correlate with other lab tests and bodily systems. But please realize that optimal levels may be different dependent upon your individual health, genetics and lifestyle. So there is more to reviewing labs than looking as a laboratory reference range. What may be optimal for you may not be optimal for your spouse, neighbor or sibling.
If you like what you are reading and find it helpful and of value, consider upgrading to a paid subscription. It does not pay the rent, but it encourages me to keep writing about common sense health and wellness topics.
If you have any topics you would like me to address, please leave them in the comments section. It’s not a guarantee I’ll write about it, but it is definitely food for thought.