Believe In Blood

98 million Americans track their health using a digital tool.

Tracking steps, sleep, nutritional information is useful, but it doesn’t tell you how it’s changing your health within. Sure, you might have subjective input such as “I feel better,” but a feeling is far from a certainty.

Over time, we have become compulsively obsessed with complexity.

Simply put, we keep looking for the flashy new thing, and it distracts us from paying attention to what’s already there.

Researchers are discovering that each of us walks around with 1.5 gallons of what may be the most sophisticated and revealing diagnostic available. Each drop teems with data, not just about your current state of health but also about what your future might hold.

It’s the most critical front line diagnostic concerning your health; your blood. Primary blood data contains information that is hundreds of times more informative than your DNA.

[Read: Why Tracking Your Blood Might Save Your Life]

Your Time Is Money

 

The traditional system of getting your blood tested involves multiple time consuming and costly steps. To start, it requires making a call to your doctor, & getting the appointment set up. While this seems harmless, on average, it can take up to 2 weeks plus requiring you to reorganize your daily routine. Add in kids, family, work, or school obligations, and you quickly see the issue.

Now add in driving and waiting rooms and you start to see the time costs involved.

Let’s break that down into genuine dollars…

Start with the fact that Americans make, on average, $27.16 an hour. Now, the drive times to see a doctor (34 minutes one way) and waiting room times (30 minutes), and we’re already at 1 hour and 38 minutes. In other words, that $44 of your time only in driving and waiting.

It doesn’t stop there, though. It took you calling and making the appointment, and time spent during the consultation. In total, it adds up to about $180 of your time.

And that’s before you have even been to the Lab! It’s merely getting the prescription you need to visit the Lab.

The Average Cost Of Lab Work In The USA

 

It’s estimated that the total cost for uninsured routine blood check-ups can run between $600 to $1500 in the USA. You end up getting a single test, that isn’t tracked historically, and is difficult to understand without medical knowledge.

The total time can be up to one month in many cases.

With Lab Me, it takes our users on average 7 minutes to select the test they want and order it online.

Our system gets the MD approvals needed for the patient, virtually instantly and sends out the testing kit to the individual. They then can perform the test themselves and send it back (pre-paid envelope) and have their results on mobile or desktop within 48 hours of the Lab receiving it.

Total time with Lab Me is on average 1.5 weeks and with a cost savings of hundreds. Tests average from $49 up to $149 per test depending on what you want.

Put simply, it can save you at minimum $180 using Lab Me.

Although here is where things get interesting…

 

When you get your blood work done on the day, it’s a snapshot at that moment.

Maybe you had a stressful week, changed your diet, or started a new supplement. You don’t know. Yet, so many clinical decisions are made every day using that single snapshot.

[Read: Controversy Around PSA Testing For Men]

Metaphorically it would be like Warren Buffet deciding not to look at historical charts of stocks to determine their trend. Instead, placing investments (more like bets now) on merely the data of the day.

Your blood work contains information that is telling you about what your future health might hold.

However, to get the complete picture, you need to listen to the information over time to hear what it is telling you. That information can tell you if treatments or medications are working. It can tell you how your dietary changes are affecting you. It can give you information that can assist you in making decisions that lead to a longer, healthier life.

Tracking your blood work isn’t a new thing, but excel spreadsheets don’t inspire most of us. Neither do the associated costs, time, and waits. When was the last time your blood work was pulled up and historically investigated by your healthcare professional?

Help Your Doctor Rather Than Rely On Your Doctor

 

Don’t roll the dice with your health. Understand it so that you can make better decisions. Share it with your doctor so they can make better decisions.

Lab Me’s Executive test kit tracks biomarkers related to heart diseases, stress, bone integrity, immune function, heart disease, liver damage, and more. The cost is $118 if you purchase a bi-annual subscription (you pay every 6 months and get two tests a year).

Imagine for .64 cents a day or $19 a month, never needing to leave the comfort of your home, make multiple appointments, wait in a mind-numbing waiting room, or have a needle miss a vein numerous times, leaving you looking like a pincushion.

Think its expensive still? Then just wait till the bill comes when things go wrong.

At this stage, if you aren’t getting the big picture, we aren’t right for you, and that’s okay.

However, for those that are getting it, you understand that you have one body and being proactive is better than being reactive. More importantly, critical thinkers understand data can drive better-informed decisions. For those people, we know you are going to love this.

Don’t spend hundreds of dollars, waste countless hours only to not have an incomplete picture.

Instead, save hundreds of dollars, forget the waiting room, and save a vein.

Looking back from your future to now, you will at some stage wish you had started tracking your blood work. It may not be today or tomorrow, but one thing is for sure…

The day will come when you wish you (or your doctor) could see your blood history.

After all, it could help you doctor make a clinical decision that might just save your life.

Dashboard Upgrading

Upgrading from the dashboard is instant & easier than ever. Source: Youtube - Lab Me Upgrade Select the frequency of new package (quarterly, monthly, bi-annually) Then select when you want it to start:

1. Immediately - this will bill you now and send your new test out ASAP

2. At the end of the billing cycle - wait until your current billing cycle renews for the new billing and test to start.

Log into your dashboard now to get started! About the frequency: Monthly - this means you will get a test and be billed every month. Quarterly - this means you will get a test and be billed every three months. Bi-Annually - this means you will get a test and be billed every six months. Be sure to check out our cancellation policy in our FAQ.  We have this policy to ensure that people don't take advantage of the savings they receive when choosing a subscription policy over a one-off test kit.

Before Upgrading, Understand Our Cancellation Policy

You’re welcome to cancel your subscription at any time given you meet the following requirements:

• We are given 48 hours notice (to ensure we’re able to process your cancellation request in a timely fashion)
• You have received the minimum amount of kits required by your plan. This policy is in place so that people don’t take advantage of our discount pricing for one-off purchases.
• Important to note – Test kits ordered under a subscription are not eligible for refunds or returns.

Subscription Frequency	Minimum Number of Tests Required for Cancellation
Monthly	3
Quarterly (Every 3 Months)	2
Bi-Annual (Every 6 Months)	2

Why do you have this policy?  This policy is in place so that people don’t take advantage of our discount pricing for one-off purchases. We want to make sure our subscription testing is affordable for those who believe in the merits of regular testing. If you’re not sure whether or not you want to make a long-term investment in our product, we recommend taking one of our tests outside of our subscription plan first. If you have any questions contact us for support.

Asking yourself “Why am I so tired” all the time? Join the club, its the most commonly searched term in Google for "Why am I..." Feeling run down is now so common that it’s gained its own nickname: TATT, or “tired all the time.” The vast majority of Americans now proclaim feeling tired multiple days a week — even those who get the suggested seven or eight hours of sleep most nights. All of the fatigue helps explain why more and more Americans are turning to energy drinks, sugary coffees, and other uppers in an effort to remain awake and alert during the day. A whopping 90 percent of Americans use caffeine on a daily basis, earning the substance its status as the "most abused psychoactive drug in the world".

How Your Blood Affects Your Energy Levels

  Key tests include vitamin D for fatigue, Ferritin for checking anemia, CRP-hs status for inflammation and TSH for thyroid function. You can learn more about the markers we test for here. Feeling tired all the time is one of the most common reasons people give for visiting their MD.  Cardiac biomarkers such as HDL, LDL, CRP-hs also have an important bearing on your fatigue as they are a direct result of your heart's health. If these tests are poor for you it could indicate a pending serious issue with your heart. We recommend using this test to get started into looking at why you are so tired all the time.  If you want to include in Vitamin D then we suggest this test.

Three Common Diagnoses of Fatigue

Lack Of Sleep

Hypothyroidism

Hyperthyroidism is where your thyroid isn't making as much thyroid hormone as it should. Thyroid disease is extremely common, especially in women, and affects 27 to 60 million people in the United States alone. An easy way to test that is by getting your thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) checked.  It's especially important to track this over time.  You can spot issues early on, you can also correlate your diet, lifestyle and other changes that may have occurred why your thyroid levels changed.  If you aren't tracking it - it's impossible to tell when the change occurred. TSH can easily be added on to your TSH or added onto an already occurring subscription.  Just send us a message letting us know you want it.  Mention this blog and get a 10% discount.

Lifestyle Factors Leading To Being Tired

No surprise here.  We are what we eat, what we think and what we do.  Most people are "busy" but not always in the best way. Here's a few items from Health Line:

• physical exertion
• lack of physical activity
• lack of sleep
• being overweight or obese
• periods of emotional stress
• boredom
• grief
• taking certain medications, such as antidepressants or sedatives
• using alcohol on a regular basis
• using illicit drugs, such as cocaine
• consuming too much caffeine
• not eating a nutritious diet

Some of those sound close to home?  It could almost be sadly said, that this is more common than it is rare.  Common, yet completely not normal.  These things can lead to extreme stress on the system. Cortisol ends up dominating and destroying your internal systems.  Learn about how cortisol creates heart damage during stress. Most of us already know the answer, eat better and exercise.  Take the first step and do it.  However, before you embark on your transformation, do yourself a favor and baseline your internal health.  It is a major motivator. This way you can actually see the changes that are happening.  Trust us, its better than just looking in the mirror and standing on a scale.

A Quick Break Down

Breaking it down really simply:

1. Your Tired & Maybe You Don't Even Know It
2. Your Thyroid Is Acting Up
3. Your Lifestyle Isn't Adding Up

Check out what the Mayo Clinic has to say about it as well.  It's always smart to rule out red flags. If there are no red flags and you don't require medical management, time to make some changes.  You are in charge of your own health, no one else. Therfore, we offer you something better than just looking in the mirror or standing on a scale. See whats happening on your insides in real time.

Cortisol Increases Damage To the Heart

Your body is hard-wired to react to stress in ways meant to protect you against threats from predators and other invaders. Such threats are rare today because of development and technology, but that doesn't mean that life is completely stress-free. Cortisol is maybe more important than we initially thought. In today's fast-paced environment, you most certainly will face multiple demands each day, such as taking on a huge workload, paying the bills and taking care of your family. Your body treats these so-called minor hassles as threats. As a result, you may feel as if you're constantly under attack. But you can fight back and control those feelings. You don't have to let stress control your life.

The natural stress response and your body

Imagine you are walking through the woods.  All of the sudden, you look down  and see a snake.  In that moment, your hypothalamus, a tiny area in your brain's base, sets off an alarm system in your body.

Even if that "snake" ended up being a stick.

Through a combination of nerve and hormonal signals, this system stimulates your adrenal glands, located atop your kidneys, to release a surge of hormones. Some of these hormones include adrenaline and cortisol. Adrenaline spikes your heart rate, raises your blood pressure and boosts energy supplies. Cortisol, the primary stress hormone, increases sugars (glucose) in the bloodstream and enhances your brain's use of glucose. It increases the availability of materials that repair tissues. Cortisol also stops or slows down functions that would be nonessential or detrimental in a fight-or-flight situation. It decreases immune system responses and suppresses the digestive system, the reproductive system, and growth processes. Your body's natural alarm system also communicates with the brain regions that control mood, motivation, and fear.

What happens when you're stuck in stress mode?

The body's stress-response system is typically self-limiting. Once a threat has passed, hormone levels should return to normal. As adrenaline and cortisol levels drop, your heart rate and blood pressure are supposed to return to baseline levels, and other systems continue their regularly scheduled activities. But when stressors are always present and you constantly feel under attack or stressed with life, that fight-or-flight reaction stays turned on. The long-term activation of the stress-response system is damaging to the body. Overexposure to cortisol and other stress hormones that follow can disrupt almost all your body's processes. This puts you at increased risk of many health problems, including:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Digestive issues
• Headaches
• Heart disease
• Sleep problems
• Weight gain
• Memory loss
• Concentration difficulty

That's why it's so important to learn healthy ways to cope with your life stressors and know how to test for Cortisol levels.

Why is it important to develop a baseline

Developing and understanding where you are with your cortisol levels can help you create a plan of action to make dramatic changes in your life.

Cortisol ages your organs faster and creates potential burnout.

You can start by trying our Executive Test to get started on testing for Cortisol levels. The benefits of tracking your levels over time can help you understand the potential damage caused and how to avoid it. When you are able to monitor your blood on at even a quarterly basis, you can objectively observe the changes in yourself when you've made positive lifestyle shifts. Take the time to regain control of your health and create your own action steps to be a better and healthier version of yourself. The first step is the hardest. But, its only a couple clicks away.  Set yourself up for success by visiting www.labme.ai and simply selecting a package that works for your personal needs.

When we learn about dry blood spot cards, the common question is, "how accurate is this"? But... When we hear the phrase "blood sample collection,"… We immediately envision someone inserting a big needle into our veins. Ouch! Yes, most people equate a blood test with pain and discomfort. And, vein sampling dry blood spots (the one described above) could be painful, but did you know there's a better, more convenient, and almost painless way to collect patient blood samples? It's called finger-prick sampling. This blood sample collection method allows you to collect your blood specimens independently in the comfort of your home. However, not all finger-prick sampling methods are created equal. Most labs use the traditional dry blood spot cards, while at Lab Me, we use our flagship PSM System. PSM stands for the plasma separation membrane. In our PSM system, you'll use our patented, FDA-approved device to collect dry blood within a protective cartridge. So what's the difference? What are the drawbacks of blood spot cards? And how our lab PSM system resolves those issues? Let's find out.

The drawbacks of traditional dry blood spot sampling

The concept and use of dried blood spot testing date back more than 50 years. The process works like this. You'll use a finger stick to collect one or two drops of blood from the end of your finger and place the blood on a filter paper. Now let it dry in the open air for some time before shipping it back to the clinical Lab. Typically, one drop of blood is enough to test 100 different analytes. While this process is more convenient than arterial sampling and requires a nominal amount of blood, it is NOT without drawbacks. Depending on the humidity level in your area, the drying could take hours. So, you may have to wait hours before you can ship the dried blood sample back to the Lab for testing. Even worse, long exposure to outside air could contaminate the blood specimen. Also, blood spot cards are not exactly a slam dunk to use! A layperson may need some training before they can execute the process of collecting blood on a filter paper the right way.

How our lab PSM system resolves those issues

Our patented, FDA-approved blood sample collection device comes with an enclosed cartridge that helps collect and dry the blood sample within minutes. Also, the procedure is simple enough for anyone to self-collect their blood specimens at home. All you need is to open the device, lance your fingertip, apply four drops of blood on the application surface inside the device, wait for 3 minutes, and then close the device. That's it. Your dried blood spot sample is now ready for shipping. As you can see, this process saves more time on blood sample collection and drying. We use a desiccant on the application surface, which helps dry out the blood specimen faster. This also reduces contamination risks to your blood samples, thanks to limited exposure to the outside air. Our patented, FDA-approved device has helped streamline the dried blood sample collection method for good. When doing finger-prick blood tests, consider the dry blood spot testing cards above.

Elevated hsCRP is a sign of inflammation. The inflammation can be from various sources, and depending on the severity - it can speak volumes about your current health and health.

Inflammation is a normal reflexive process in the body and other methods, including disease states such as heart failure, aortic stenosis, and rheumatoid inflammation.

All of these may predispose you to cardiovascular disease. The hs-CRP testing is essential to understand if high hscrp or low hscrp is causing any disease.

High-sensitivity CRP (hsCRP) is a marker of inflammation and increases the risk of future cardiovascular events. However, the relationship between hsCRP and myocardial infarction (MI) remains unclear.

(1.) In a recent study, researchers found that patients with a MI and elevated hsCRP levels at discharge were twice as likely as those without such elevations to experience subsequent major adverse cardiac events (MACE). (2.) Another study found that patients with stable angina pectoris with elevated hsCRP values after exercise testing experienced higher rates of MACE than patients with normal hsCRP levels.

What is the difference between regular CRP and hs-CRP tests?

The two types of CRP tests are similar in their ability to detect an acute inflammatory response but differ in how they measure it. Regular CRP measures the level of CRP in your blood serum, while hs-CRP measures the amount of CRP circulating in your blood plasma. Both tests can determine whether you have an ongoing or recurring infection. However, hs-CRP may provide more information about the severity of the inflammation than regular CRP.

Is hs-CRP specific for predicting heart disease?

Yes. Several studies have shown that high levels of hs-CRP predict future coronary artery disease. One study showed that people with hs-CRP levels greater than three mg/L had a 2.5 times greater chance of developing coronary artery disease over five years than people with lower hs-CRP values.

Inflammation Due To Aging

Aging itself is also associated with increased hscrp inflammatory response. The increased inflammatory response in disease states or the elderly can be a marker of disease progression and an indicator of a poorer prognosis.

In other words, if it gets out of hand (too high for too long), you will have some life-threatening health issues.

Inflammation and oxidative stress are central in many disease states. Stress, poor diet, smoking, and sedentary lifestyles can all lead to increased inflammation.

 

Selenium & Co-Q10 Help With Inflammation

The major anti-oxidative enzymes contain selenium. The selenium intake in the USA is low, and supplementation with selenium and coenzyme Q10, important anti-oxidants, was evaluated in a research study done in 2015. This research aims to assess the response of the inflammatory biomarkers hscrp, C-reactive protein and sP-selectin and their possible repercussions on cardiovascular death.

What the researchers found was simple...

CRP and sP-selectin (the markers involved in inflammation) showed significant changes reflecting effects on inflammation and atherosclerosis in those provided selenium and coenzyme Q10 combined.

The active group could show reduced cardiovascular death, irrespective of biomarker level.

In simple terms, do this:

• Supplement Coenzyme Q10 at 300-400mg/day and Selenium at 200-300ug/day.
• We suggest you use the executive test kit - monthly for at least six months while you do this. This will allow you to track your hsCRP and other important heart biomarkers.
• After six months - inside your user dashboard - reduce your testing to quarterly for one year.
• If everything is stable, you can either keep it as is or reduce it to bi-annually for maintenance tracking.
• Doing so will allow you to ensure that your inflammation levels stay stable.

We also suggest you follow up with your MD to ensure there aren't other sinister forces at play.

View the research here

Regarding the heart attack scenario. Today I am on the phone with Kathryn. Kathryn is an experienced college educator with a demonstrated history of working in the non-profit organization management industry. She is skilled in Research, QuickBooks, Microsoft Office, teaching, and public speaking. Strong community and social services professional with a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) focused in Educational Psychology from Regent University. Today Katy is sharing her experiences so that we can learn more about how she has used Lab Me to her advantage to take better control of her health. How are you today, Katy? Katy:  I am doing great.  Thanks for asking. Lab Me: So Katy, tell us about the first test you had with Lab Me. Katy: I took my first test in September 2019, and the results were poor. I used the Executive Test.  The test itself was easy to complete and understand, and the results were delivered to me within two weeks. I had both “borderline” and “risk” blood results with total cholesterol, VDL, and LDL, among others. Today I am on the phone with Kathryn. Kathryn is an experienced college educator with a demonstrated history of working in the non-profit organization management industry. She is skilled in Research, QuickBooks, Microsoft Office, teaching, and public speaking. Strong community and social services professional with a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) focused in Educational Psychology from Regent University. Today Katy is sharing her experiences so that we can learn more about how she has used Lab Me to her advantage in order to take better control of her health. How are you today Katy? Katy:  I am doing great.  Thanks for asking. Lab Me: So Katy, tell us about the first test you had with Lab Me? Katy: I took my first test in September 2019, and the results were poor. I used the Executive Test.  The test itself was easy to complete and understand, and the results were delivered to me within two weeks. I had both “borderline” and “risk” blood results with total cholesterol, VDL, and LDL, among others. Today I am on the phone with Kathryn. Kathryn is an experienced college educator with a demonstrated history of working in the non-profit organization management industry. She is skilled in Research, QuickBooks, Microsoft Office, teaching, and public speaking. Strong community and social services professional with a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) focused in Educational Psychology from Regent University. Today Katy is sharing her experiences so that we can learn more about how she has used Lab Me to her advantage in order to take better control of her health. How are you today Katy? Katy:  I am doing great.  Thanks for asking. Lab Me: So Katy, tell us about the first test you had with Lab Me? Katy: I took my first test in September 2019, and the results were poor. I used the Executive Test.  The test itself was easy to complete and understand, and the results were delivered to me within two weeks. I had both “borderline” and “risk” blood results with total cholesterol, VDL, and LDL, among others. Today I am on the phone with Kathryn. Kathryn is an experienced college educator with a demonstrated history of working in the non-profit organization management industry. She is skilled in Research, QuickBooks, Microsoft Office, teaching, and public speaking. Strong community and social services professional with a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) focused in Educational Psychology from Regent University. Today Katy is sharing her experiences so that we can learn more about how she has used Lab Me to her advantage in order to take better control of her health. How are you today Katy? Katy:  I am doing great.  Thanks for asking. Lab Me: So Katy, tell us about the first test you had with Lab Me? Katy: I took my first test in September 2019, and the results were poor. I used the Executive Test.  The test itself was easy to complete and understand, and the results were delivered to me within two weeks. I had both “borderline” and “risk” blood results with total cholesterol, VDL, and LDL, among others. Today I am on the phone with Kathryn. Kathryn is an experienced college educator with a demonstrated history of working in the non-profit organization management industry. She is skilled in Research, QuickBooks, Microsoft Office, teaching, and public speaking. Strong community and social services professional with a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) focused in Educational Psychology from Regent University. Today Katy is sharing her experiences so that we can learn more about how she has used Lab Me to her advantage in order to take better control of her health. How are you today Katy? Katy:  I am doing great.  Thanks for asking. Lab Me: So Katy, tell us about the first test you had with Lab Me? Katy: I took my first test in September 2019, and the results were poor. I used the Executive Test.  The test itself was easy to complete and understand, and the results were delivered to me within two weeks. I had both “borderline” and “risk” blood results with total cholesterol, VDL, and LDL, among others. In the photo above, we have marked what the indicator mean so that you can understand the improvement.  The dark blue pointer is the result after Katies training.  The light blue pointer is pre-training (or previous test result).  This is the same for all the biomarkers in each photo. Lab Me: Wow, so this was a surprise? Katy: Yes, it was shocking to find out.  I don’t want to die from a heart attack, who does?! Lab Me: What appealed to you about the Lab Me process? Katy: How simple and quick it was. When you go to a lab to get blood drawn, you sit and you wait, and you sit and wait some more. This was in the comfort of my own home, and done within a couple minutes. Lab Me: Agreed!  Waiting and driving adds up.  Also, being able to fast while you sleep, wake up and take the test in your own house is great right? Katy: It is, because I can eat my breakfast and have coffee immediately after.  The test only took 3 minutes! Lab Me: What else did you really like?
 Katy:  The convenience. I don’t like doctors telling me when I can/cannot take my own blood. And I don’t like them dictating to me what blood markers I should and should not be checking. Taking ownership of my health includes being able to freely monitor my own blood (without a script/order) and check markers that I feel are most important to my overall health. I want to ensure that my risk of heart attack is reduced.  It’s the top killer after all! Lab Me: What would you like to change or do differently? Katy: With the test itself, nothing. With my results, I wanted to change the borderline and risk numbers to optimal through diet and exercise. Lab Me:
 That empowering!  After your first test – what lifestyle changes did you make?  Did you achieve your goals? Katy: I began doing Fartlek sprints and making sure that I was in the gym and being active AT LEAST 30 minutes per day. I also began strength training regularly (3-5xweek) and eating a balanced diet. Lab Me:  Fantastic.
How did that influence your next test? Katy: All my results were optimal! I had zero borderline or risk numbers.  Also, I can do push-ups on my toes now (laughing). I do have a lot more energy, no fatigue like I used to have. Lab Me:  
Great work!  Your hard work and dedication paid off. How do you see yourself using Lab Me in the future? Katy: I will continue to monitor my health through my blood. I will know if my work in the gym and with my diet is working based upon what my blood is telling me. It’s an easy way to check that everything is working. Lab Me:  I think this will be inspirational to many people reading this. Thank you for sharing your experience and being kind enough to share real photos of your progress.  I know you are busy so we will keep it at that. Please keep us up to date on your progress. Katy:  No problem.  Looking forward to it! Learn more about Kathryn here.

What comes to mind when you think of knee replacement and testosterone?

Maybe it’s bodybuilding or cheating athletes.  Perhaps you think of poor sex drive and lack of masculinity.

However, recent studies show interesting correlations between common and not-so-common health issues in both men and women.

Yes, women as well.

The number of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) procedures performed annually has increased from around 15,000 in 2005 to over 100,000 in 2016. This increase was mainly due to an aging population and better surgical techniques. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, TKAs are the third most commonly performed orthopedic surgery in the U.S., behind only hip and shoulder replacements. There are two types of TKAs: primary or revision. Primary TKAs replace damaged knees without removing existing bone. On the other hand, revision TKAs remove damaged bones and then insert new ones. Both types are effective at relieving pain and improving mobility.

Relation of Testosterone and Knee Arthritis

Testosterone is a male sex hormone that helps build muscle mass and maintain healthy bones. It also plays a role in maintaining sexual function and libido. In women, it can help with mood swings and depression. In men, testosterone levels decline as they age. The average man’s testosterone level drops by about 10% per decade after age 40. 1 A study published in 2017 found that low testosterone levels were associated with more severe osteoarthritis symptoms. 2 A 2018 study showed that patients who had undergone knee replacement surgery had lower testosterone levels than those who hadn’t. 3 Another study found that testosterone levels declined significantly after knee replacement surgery. 4 How does this relate to knee arthritis? Many factors contribute to knee arthritis, including genetics, obesity, physical activity, and diet. 5 However, one factor that seems to be overlooked when discussing knee arthritis is hormones. Testosterone is known for its positive effects on muscles and bones. However, some recent studies have shown that high testosterone levels may cause joint damage. This means that if you have knee arthritis, your body could be producing higher.

What is Testosterone?

Testosterone is a hormone found in humans (and animals). The testicles primarily make testosterone in men. Women’s ovaries also make testosterone, though in much smaller amounts. knee replacement

Testosterone production starts to increase significantly during puberty and begins to dip after age 30 or so.knee replacement

Testosterone is most often associated with sex drive and plays a vital role in sperm production. It also affects bone and muscle mass, the way men store fat in the body, and even red blood cell production. A man’s testosterone levels can also affect his mood.

In September 2019, regarding total knee replacement surgery  research published by Gregor Freystaetter and colleagues found eye-opening information on how this sex hormone plays a deeper role in pain and recovery in those with osteoarthritis of the knee – in both – men & women.

Knee Pain & Total Testosterone Levels In Men & Women

In men and women knee replacement candiate diagnosed with severe knee osteoarthritis (OA), Researchers were curious if testosterone was a culprit.  They looked at testosterone and how it influenced knee replacement surgery – both pain and outcomes.

272 adults that had undergone a total knee replacement on one leg due to severe osteoarthritis were enrolled in the study.  The researchers measured testosterone levels and did a WOMAC pain questionnaire. They also looked at the function of the operated and non-operated knee before and 6-8 weeks post-surgery.

They found the operated knee had higher testosterone levels with lower pain scores in men and women.  When looking at the “good knee”, they found testosterone levels didn’t influence debilitating pain in either gender. However, higher testosterone levels caused less disability in women.

Overweight men had more pain with lower testosterone levels. Obese women with higher testosterone were less likely to have knee osteoarthritis!

Testosterone in older men

Testosterone is the primary male hormone. It’s produced by the testes, adrenal glands, pituitary gland, ovaries, and brain. The amount of testosterone a man produces declines with age. This decline can be slowed or stopped by taking supplemental testosterone. The most common form of treatment for low levels of testosterone is replacement therapy. There are two types of testosterone replacement therapies: injectable (immediate-release) and oral (long-acting). Injectables are generally used to treat low testosterone levels that occur during an acute illness such as pneumonia or flu. Oral forms are usually prescribed for long-term use. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that even though men over 50 have lower levels of testosterone than younger men, they may still benefit from testosterone supplementation. “The results suggest that aging alone does not necessarily cause a decrease in serum total T concentrations; rather it appears to be due to a decreased bioavailability of circulating testosterone,” said lead researcher Dr. Michael B. Zemel, director of the Center for Aging Male Health at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. A recent analysis of data from more than 12,000 men aged 40–79 years who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III revealed that there was no association between baseline total testosterone levels and risk of death from all causes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, or other specific causes. However, this doesn't mean that testosterone therapy won't help you live longer. Male hormone deficiency symptoms include loss of sex drive, erectile dysfunction, increased body fat, depression, fatigue, decreased muscle mass, reduced bone density, and lack of energy. Low testosterone levels may also increase your risk of heart attack or stroke.

Hormone replacement therapy may reduce the need for a second total joint replacement

Testosterone is the main hormone responsible for maintaining and growing strong bones. Men tend to lose about 10% of their peak bone mineral density after reaching middle age. As a result, osteoporosis becomes more prevalent in men.

Low testosterone levels may contribute to some of these conditions. For example, low testosterone has been linked to higher rates of obesity and diabetes. Studies have shown that people with high levels of testosterone tend to eat less, exercise more, and maintain better weight control. In addition, research suggests that low testosterone levels may play a role in certain cancers. A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that men with prostate cancer had significantly lower testosterone levels than those without prostate cancer. Another study published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention suggested that women with breast cancer had lower blood levels of testosterone compared to healthy controls. A third study published in the journal Breast Cancer Research showed that women with breast cancer were more likely to have low levels of free testosterone (the active form of testosterone) than healthy women. Testosterone can be measured using either a blood sample or urine sample. Blood samples are easier to obtain but require a doctor's visit. Urine samples are collected at home and provide information about how much testosterone is being excreted into the urine. Both methods will give you a rough idea of what level of testosterone you're producing. In one study, researchers looked at whether testosterone levels could predict mortality after hip fracture in elderly men. They followed up with the participants every two years for an average of eight years. The men who died during follow-up had lower testosterone levels than the ones who survived. The most common way to treat hypogonadism is by prescribing testosterone supplements. Some doctors prescribe testosterone gel as well. These treatments work by increasing the amount of testosterone available to the body. But a new study from the University of California San Diego School of Medicine shows that testosterone therapy isn't always beneficial. Researchers analyzed data from the Women's Health Initiative Study, which included 4,739 postmenopausal women ages 55 to 79 who participated in the study. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either placebo pills or testosterone pellets. After four years of treatment, there was no significant difference between the groups in terms of their physical function, quality of life, or mental health. There was also no difference in death rates between the two groups. This doesn't mean that testosterone supplementation isn't useful for treating other medical problems. In fact, it might even help prevent diseases like osteoporosis. However, when used alone, it seems unlikely that testosterone would improve any of the major symptoms associated with low testosterone. For example, if your testicles aren't making enough testosterone, you won't feel very sexy. You'll also probably notice changes in your mood, sleep patterns, and libido. If your testosterone levels are too high, you'll experience similar effects.

In Summary

Higher total testosterone levels resulted in less pain (in the operated knee) in both men and women undergoing total knee replacement (with less disability in women).  The knee that didn’t undergo the operation? Well, higher testosterone levels didn’t show anything significant. The Knee replacement can be minimized if before indication of knee replacement proper control on testosterone level is done. knee replacement knee replacement

How to use this information:

If you are worried about your knees or suspect osteoarthritis (fear or current diagnosis) try Lab Me Total Testosterone to simply prescreen yourself.

Keeping track of your hormone levels a couple of times a year used to cost thousands.  Lab Me allows you to do this for less than the cost of a Sonicare toothbrush!

Speak with your doctor, share this research and look to see if they are able to assist you.

See what your levels are – if they are low – here are some ways to naturally boost them.

Check Your Testosterone Levels Now!

Vitamin B12 (or cobalamin) is a vitamin that is essential for our health. It serves as a co-factor for enzymes, which means that it must be present for these enzymes to be active. The body uses it for the following functions, among others:

1. Formation of red blood cells in the bone marrow.
2. Synthesis of DNA.
3. Metabolism of fatty acids and amino acids.
4. Neurological function (synthesis of myelin sheaths)

Because this essential vitamin is required for all of these processes, symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency can include, for example, red blood cell disorders. Furthermore, a deficiency can lead to neurological impairments. But these are just a few examples of the multitude of deficiency symptoms.

Foods with vitamin B12 are primarily animal products such as meat, fish, eggs and dairy products, whereas plant foods do not usually contain them. The vitamin is formed by microorganisms which occur in the soil or in water. These B12-producing microbes are then transferred to grazing animals such as cows or taken up in plankton and thus accumulate in fish. However, there are also some foods that are enriched with this vitamin. You can get an overview of these foods in Part 3 of our B12 series.

Vitamin B12 Absorption

The vitamin B12 naturally contained in food is bound to proteins. After it has been ingested with food, it is released from the food by the acidic environment in the stomach and transferred to binding proteins. In the meantime, food supplements and fortified foods contain the vitamin in free form, which does not have to be released by stomach acids. The B12-binding protein complexes are then recognized and absorbed by a section of the small intestine. The B12 bound to the transcobalamin transport protein then enters the bloodstream. It takes about 3-4 hours from the absorption to the releasing in the bloodstream. The absorption mechanism of this vitamin can, therefore, be described as very complex and, in the case of disorders, can contribute to a long-term deficiency.

The body can absorb about half of a dose of 1 µg of this vitamin at a time. The total amount of B12 absorbed increases with higher doses, but the percentage of the amount absorbed decreases with increasing dose. The ability to reabsorb is approximately every 4-6 hours. Too much vitamin B12 is stored in the liver, which can last for a few years. A deficiency, therefore, occurs when this memory is used up and no new vitamin B12 is taken up. In contrast, a vitamin B12 overdose cannot be achieved through food. However, excessive intake of high-dose supplements or, for example, parenteral administration can lead to certain side effects. These side effects mainly include allergic skin reactions or acne-like skin changes, which some people.

Vitamin B12 Levels Measurement

Vitamin B12 is most often checked for a deficiency since symptoms can occur especially with a vegan or vegetarian diet. Low serum levels indicate a deficiency, while high levels are an indicator of adequate care. Values ​​in the middle and low range, a diet adjustment or the intake of nutritional supplements is recommended.

Holo-transcobalamin (Holo-TC) is another marker to check the vitamin B12 supply. Studies show that both measurement methods have similar specificity and sensitivity.

There are many reasons why vitamin B12 level drops. The next article in this series describes the symptoms and causes of vitamin B12 deficiency.

Do you think you could have a deficiency or do you have a vegetarian or vegan diet? Head to your local MD and ask about getting checked.

Otherwise here are the test we can provide you from the comfort of your own home.

Read Part Two Here>>

References

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3257642/
2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10926922/
3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23193625/
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441923/
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5788147/
6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16384886/

Health AI are buzzwords thrown around like confetti at a tay-tay concert. Sure it gets attention, but at the end of the day, you have some explaining to do.

Here is the deal. If you are a smoker, drinker, or vice addict of any kind, then you don't need AI to tell you that the end is either near or soon to be.

Meaning that you probably don't give a shit about AI as a consumer. In fact, you probably don't even know what that fully means and that is 100% ok because neither does anyone else.

What probably does sound more interesting to you is this. Did that last month abstinence actually have an impact and if so, how much? Did that last Chipotle burrito binge in February cause things to get weird (besides bowel movements)?

Guessing, this is more interesting than - Health AI 😴

On the flip, as consumers of at-home healthtech, we get carried away in teddy bear metrics. Steps, calories, sleep, mood, pulse and so on - but what does that really tell us about the happenings on the inside?

You can take a photo of a phone but it sure doesn't mean it's ringing.

Maybe this seems like a crazy concept; but the next generation of patients (sorry baby boomers, you're on your way out) are going to be tech savvy, self-trusting, in control people that will care about health AI but not like you think.

If you were a doctor of today - the self-aware patient is scary.

"What's that Doc? Yeah well, Ada symptom checker says your 60% correct and that antibiotic, yeah, according to my pharmacogenetics report, it isn't going to cut the mustard."

-Patient Of Tomorrow

I am not advocating it nor am I not. It just is and it's going to be for the foreseeable future. Self-discipline, self-motivation, self-tracking - why not? When it cost up to $10,000 a night in the hospital - can you blame them?

What's worse, being a know it all or dead?

The guy that didn't go get treatment because his deductible was too high.

So, let's just quit with the hyperfocus on consumer AI. Focus on what is going to actually improve the patients' outcome and perspective right now, so that they may change behaviours and lead a longer healthier life.

Knowing that you drank 12 beers last week and that it's affecting your liver is pretty obvious 🙄 .

Knowing that you took 10,000 steps between March and July and that reduce your LDL cholesterol (bad stuff) by 2% every 1,000 steps - that is worth talking about.

Which Test Is Best?