The Chem 7 is a frequently ordered “panel of tests” that gives your doctor important information about the current status of your kidneys, liver, and electrolyte and acid/base balance as well as of your blood sugar and blood proteins.
“In other words, it checks for what’s in Gatorade,” Ramirez says. “It is looking at sugar, salt and chloride in the blood. It is important because if people have been dehydrated, their sugars get high and salts gets low. That can cause heart arrhythmias and other problems.”
Liver panel – A liver panel, also known as liver (hepatic) function tests or LFT, is used to detect, evaluate and monitor liver disease or damage. It usually consists of seven tests that are run at the same time on a blood sample, including ALT, ALP, AST, bilirubin, albumin, and total protein antibodies.
Cholesterol – Doctors now recommend that all adults, not just those who are at risk for heart disease, over age 20 should have a cholesterol test at least once every five years, Results are obtained through a simple fasting (done on an empty stomach) blood test.
“The cholesterol test gives us a screening of the risk of cardiovascular disease,” Fuselier says. “Often high cholesterol is genetic and is not always diet related. Providers like to start managing abnormal cholesterol results early with exercise, diet and medication before they start developing coronary artery disease or other cardiovascular disease risk factors.”
A person should have a baseline established in their 20s and then be evaluated at least every five years. Cardiac risk factors and the patient’s provider determine the frequency of testing.
Cholesterol below 200 milligrams per deciliter indicates low risk of heart disease. Values of 200 to 240 indicate moderate risk and cholesterol of 240 or higher indicates high risk for heart disease. Some physicians believe, however, that even numbers approaching 200 are too high.
If you are at high risk, your doctor may order a lipid profile and other tests to try to determine the cause of your high cholesterol or additional risk factors such as low levels of good cholesterol versus bad and abnormal levels of triglycerides.
Fasting Blood Glucose Level – The fasting blood glucose level test is the number one screening test for diabetes. It is also a standard test used in emergency rooms for any patient who comes in with a medical emergency. Patients should be screened every three years beginning at age 45, or sooner if diabetes risk factors are present, or a health care provider recommends.
The test is used to detect too much sugar in the blood (hyperglycemia), or too little (hypoglycemia). Diabetes is diagnosed if:
For more information go to: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia and Labtestsonline.org, a public resource on clinical lab testing published by the American Association for Clinical Chemistry.
UPDATED: 9-20-2006
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©2000-2006 Office of Institutional Advancement, UT-Houston
Elizabeth Fuselier is a Doctor of Nursing Practice.
Elda Ramirez is an associate professor of nursing at the UT School of Nursing and a nurse practitioner.
Food Irradiation
and Safety
On August 22, 2008, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a final rule that allows the use of irradiation to make fresh iceberg lettuce and fresh spinach safer and last longer without spoiling.
Irradiating fresh iceberg lettuce and spinach will help protect consumers from disease-causing bacteria such as Salmonella and Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E. coli). Illnesses from these bacteria range from uncomfortable symptoms to life-threatening health problems.
The foods affected by the final rule are
Irradiation (also sometimes termed "ionizing radiation") is a process of treating products with a measured dose of radiation. Food irradiation is not new. FDA has conducted irradiation safety evaluations for more than 40 years and has determined the process to be safe for use on a variety of foods.
After studying the safety of irradiating fresh iceberg lettuce and fresh spinach, FDA has determined that these greens, when irradiated under the conditions specified in the final rule, retain their nutrient value and are safe to eat.
FDA considers irradiation a complement to, not a replacement for, proper food-handling by producers, processors, and consumers. Irradiation is just another tool to reduce the levels of disease-causing microorganisms on fresh iceberg lettuce and fresh pinach.
Irradiation does not take the place of washing. FDA continues to recommend that consumers wash fresh and bagged produce before eating unless the packaging specifically states that the product has been pre-washed.
For more information, go to: http://www.fda.gov)
