Nelson Vergel
Founder, ExcelMale.com
Tired of being tired?: Get these fatigue lab tests to find out why
Getting fatigued is a normal part of life, but certain people feel profound tiredness all the times. Scientists agree that during the evening when it’s time to go to bed, it is normal to feel tired and sleepy, but it’s not normal if you feel that way in the morning after 8 hours of sleep.
Chronic fatigue can be a real problem, and it can stay in the way of living a productive and happy life. Other symptoms may be present along with this problem, and if it persists for an extended period of time, the person may develop more serious health conditions.
Table of Contents
- Tired of being tired?: Get these fatigue lab tests to find out why
- How do I know I’m chronically fatigued?
- How does a complete fatigue panel help me?
- What are the advantages of getting a fatigue lab test panel?
- How does this panel diagnose chronic fatigue?
- Anemia Tests
- Adrenal Glands Tests
- Immune system tests
- Iron tests
- FAQ
- Conclusion
How do I know I’m chronically fatigued?
Again, being tired all the time and feeling like your battery is in “low-power” mode constantly goes beyond a usual headache, sore muscles, or a temporary lack of concentration. You might be chronically fatigued if:
· You start to develop muscle and joint pains
· You feel tired even after a good night’s sleep
· You lack energy, motivation, and you’d rather put your head on a pillow instead of doing something important
· You have periodic mood swings
· You have tried a plethora of energy drinks and drank multiple cups of coffee to no avail
· You have mental fog most of the times
· You feel exhausted, and even small physical efforts are difficult for you
If you have one or more severe symptoms above, it is possible that you might be fatigued. This can happen because of a variety of reasons. For example, there might be hormonal deficiencies in your system which can render one unable to recover properly.
The human body is extremely complex, and your fatigue problem might be difficult to spot at first. For example, some people might have low testosterone levels; others might encounter adrenal deficiencies or thyroid dysfunction.
How does a complete fatigue panel help me?
A complete fatigue panel is designed to analyze multiple hormones in the body to determine in which ones a person might be deficient. This can be done by drawing blood and saliva sample and sending them to a lab for complete analysis.
What are the advantages of getting a fatigue lab test panel?
There are numerous benefits of getting a fatigue panel such as:
· All-in-one testing procedure – the panel monitors the function of multiple organs and hormones such as the thyroid gland, adrenal glands, blood glucose, total and free testosterone, vitamin deficiencies, etc., so you don’t have to do these tests separately
· Order online and get results by email – once you get the panel, you go to a lab to offer a blood sample and get the results back by email, usually in just a few business days
· Get a free consultation with a physician – not everyone is trained to analyze blood results, so once you get those, you will visit a local physician who will take a look at the results and provide professional guidance and counsel based on these results
· 100% confidential and secure – your results are not shared with anyone and ordering a fatigue panel online is completely safe and secure
How does this panel diagnose chronic fatigue?
As mentioned earlier, a complete fatigue panel runs multiple tests to determine vitamin or hormone deficiencies in one’s body. Let’s take a closer look at these tests and learn more about them.
Thyroid tests
The thyroid gland is situated in the neck, responsible forregulating countless hormones and substances in the body. If it doesn’t function correctly, the person in question might feel fatigued and lack motivation.
Hypothyroidism happens when the thyroid gland gets “lazy,” meaning it doesn’t produce the required amount of hormones for the body to function correctly. Peoplewith hypothyroidism might feel tired most of the time, which is usually accompanied by other symptoms such as weight changes, loss of appetite, and poor concentration.
In some cases, people might also experience other symptoms such as hair loss (particularly the eyebrows), brittle nails, and a great sensitivity to cold temperatures. The fatigue panel you order will analyze the function of the thyroid and run tests such as TSH, Free T3, and Free T4:
Free T4 Test – this type of test looks at a hormone in the body called thyroxine (T4). Thyroxine is then converted to T3, a hormone that regulates body temperature, helps in producing energy, and monitors heart rate.
Peoplewith hypothyroidism might experience a decreased production of thyroxine, leading to excessive fatigue, lack of motivation, and other symptoms.
TSH test – TSH stands for thyroid stimulating hormone, a type of hormone produced by the pituitary gland. The fatigue panel looks at the levels of TSH in your bloodstream to determine if you have too much or too little TSH.
This hormone is essential because as its name implies, it stimulates the thyroid gland to produce T4 and T3 hormones. If the TSH levels are too high, the thyroid gland might work overtime, leading to thyroid dysfunction and fatigue.
Free T3 Test – We talked about the T3 hormone earlier in the “Free T4 Test,” and learned that the T3 gets converted from T4. This hormone (T3) is also responsible for regulating the heart rate, body temperature, and other essential body functions.
If the levels of unbound triiodothyronine (T3) are too low, this might result in excessive fatigue, which can last for weeks and even months. It is essential to mention here that a high-quality fatigue panel looks at the free levels of T3 in the body, not only at the total T3 levels because these are the most responsible for regulating energy and causing fatigue.
Total and Free Testosterone Tests
Testosterone is one of the most essential hormones in the body for men AND women. Today, it is a well-known fact that low testosterone levels are responsible for the lack of motivation, low energy, and even mild depression in some cases.
Testosterone is available in 2 ways – free and bound to proteins. A high-quality fatigue panel looks at the total testosterone levels and free testosterone levels (unbound to proteins) to determine if this is indeed the leading cause of excessive tiredness in men and women.
The total testosterone test measures the whole spectrum of testosterone in one’s body. This should be between 300 and 900 nanograms per deciliter of blood for men, but this depends on lifestyle, age, body composition, and other factors.
When the total testosterone levels drop below 350 ng/dl, a condition known as hypogonadism develops. This diagnosis can be a severe cause of excessive fatigue and other symptoms and body changes such as lack of concentration and male breast development (gynecomastia).
The free testosterone test looks specifically at unbound testosterone levels. It is important to measure those in particular because a low amount of them can account for excessive fatigue in men and women of all ages.
Anemia Tests
Anemia is a severe problem which can become very dangerous for one's health if left untreated. As you probably already know, red blood cells are responsible for transporting oxygen and nutrients to cells, tissues, and organs throughout the body. Anemic people usually have too few red blood cells in the bloodstream.
Too few red blood cells can cause various symptoms such as excessive tiredness, dizziness, irregular heartbeats, etc.
The fatigue panel runs various tests to determine the level of hemoglobin in the body (a protein responsible for carrying oxygen) and analyze hematocrit values (the volume of red blood cells in the bloodstream).
The hematocrit tests look at the percentage of red cells in the bloodstream. A small rate might be indicative of anemia as well as chronic fatigue.
The hemoglobin tests measure the level of hemoglobin in the body. Again, if this protein is in small quantities, one can develop anemia.
The Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) tests look at the size of the red blood cells. This is important because if the size of these cells is too small, this might result in iron deficiency. If the cells are too large, this might be linked to vitamin B6 or folic acid deficiency.
The Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW) values are also measured in conjunction with the MCV to determine the potential cause of anemia.
Glucose Tests
Just as cars need to burn fuel to move from one place to the other, your body also requires an adequate fuel supply to function correctly. If vehicles have gasoline, we humans have glucose (or sugar). Normal blood sugar levels help one have sufficient energy to get through the day.
However, too much or too little blood sugar levels can lead to multiple severe health conditions and excessive fatigue.
When the body detects a high amount of sugar in the bloodstream (particularly after eating meals full of carbs and fats, which are metabolized into glucose in the body), it will signal the pancreas to produce a hormone called insulin.
The importance of insulin in the body
Insulin acts as a locksmith that opens up cells, so they can absorb the excess glucose in the bloodstream and produce energy. When the blood sugar levels return to normal, the pancreas stops producing insulin, and the cycle repeats.
However, when too much glucose is detected in the bloodstream regularly, the pancreas is forced to produce higher amounts of insulin which might then drop the sugar levels too low. As a result, your cells and organs won’t have as much fuel at their disposal, and you always feel tired.
Furthermore, when there is an excessive amount of sugar in the blood for several years in a row, the cells in the body start to develop insulin resistance, meaning that they won’t “open up” as efficiently as before to absorb glucose and produce energy. This can lead to diabetes which is a severe medical condition.
High sugar levels in the blood can cause multiple health problems
High amounts of glucose can also lead to other issues such as slow circulation, higher risk of inflammation in the body, less oxygen transported to cells, organs, etc. People who experience these symptoms are fatigued most of the time, despite having regular sleep schedules.
Even those who have high blood sugar levels but do not have diabetes can still feel tired most of the time, compared with people with normal glucose levels.
A fatigue panel is designed to test glucose levels and determines if one is predisposed to diabetes type I and II. Such tests also measure the average glycated hemoglobin levels (A1c), which are sugar-coated oxygen-carrying red blood cell proteins. A high level of these cells can indicate a predisposition to diabetes at some point in the future and can be linked to chronic fatigue.
Adrenal Glands Tests
The adrenal glands are situated just on top of your kidneys and generate multiple important hormones such as epinephrine (adrenaline) and cortisol. Think of them as responsible with the “fight or flight” response when you’re stressed out, scared, or excited.
These glands are essential because if they don't function correctly, one can develop chronic fatigue and mild signs of depression. Studies show that approximately 40% of people over 60 have to deal with constant tiredness associated with reduced adrenal function.
We all live stressful lives and have to juggle a thousand daily problems and responsibilities. This makes the adrenal glands pump a lot of cortisol and adrenaline into the body. Too many hormones can make someone feel very stressed, mildly depressed, and fatigued.
Poor sleep quality can also worsen the problem because the adrenal glands tend to recover when the body is at rest. Most people don’t get enough sleep during the night, so these glands don’t get a chance to rejuvenate properly. Add periodic stimulants to the equation (alcohol and drugs), and the load on the adrenal glands can quickly become overwhelming.
Adrenal problems don’t only translate into constant fatigue. Dizziness, poor concentration, anxiety and panic attacks, etc also accompany them.
A complete fatigue panel looks at the hormones produced by the adrenal glands and determines if they are in sufficient quantities. For example:
The DHEA test looks at the levels of DHEA-S in the body. This is an androgen hormone, and if it is in excessively high quantities, the person in question might suffer from adrenal hyperplasia. Similarly, if the levels of DHEA-S are insufficient, this can lead to chronic fatigue.
The salivary cortisol test is also essential in determining the differences in cortisol levels at different moments of the day. Patients will be asked to collect four saliva samples during the day, and this will indicate whether the adrenal glands function correctly or they produce too much cortisol regularly.
Immune system tests
As you probably already know, the immune system is responsible for neutralizing viruses and bacteria which get in the body so you don’t get sick all the time. It relies on a series of cells, such as the T cells and other hormones, to identify viruses and eliminate them before they get a chance to multiply.
An immune system that functions properly requires energy.Suppose there is too much inflammation in the body (as a result of injury, being exposed to a lot of viruses and toxins, etc.). In that case, this system will work overtime to protect your health, and it will consume vast amounts of energy, leaving you tired and in a bad mood.
A complete fatigue panel includes tests that measure the number of white cells in the bloodstream. These cells are responsible for neutralizing viruses and bacteria as well. In some rare cases, the bone marrow might not produce sufficient white cells, which can signify a more severe problem.
Iron tests
Iron is an essential element in the body, as it produces red blood cells that help carry oxygen to organs and tissues. Anemia, which is characterized by exhaustion, wooziness, and a general feeling of weakness, can result from not having enough iron in one's body.
A fatigue panel looks at different hormones in the body which are responsible for metabolizing and storing iron. For example:
The ferritin test looks at the ferritin levels in the bloodstream. This protein is responsible for storing iron, and if its levels are insufficient, one can develop anemia, which leads to excessive tiredness.
One reason ferritin levels might be low is that one donates too much blood each year. Studies show that donating blood more than twice a year can deplete ferritin levels, leading to anemia.
The TIBC test (total iron binding capacity) looks at the absolute levels of iron available in the bloodstream. If this value is too high, then the amounts of iron in the body are insufficient, which can cause excessive fatigue.
FAQ
1. Do I need to fast before getting tested?
Doing a fasting session of 8-12 hours is recommended before drawing blood. Also, biotin supplementation should be stopped 72 hours before being tested.
2. How quickly are the results delivered?
You will usually get the results by email in a few business days.
3. What specimens are submitted for testing?
Fatigue panels require patients to submit a blood specimen and, in some cases, a saliva specimen for testing. The instructions on managing and properly collecting these samples are provided within the package, so you will know precisely what to do.
4. What should I do after I get the results?
Your healthcare provider will interpret your results and, if necessary, will suggest effective treatment options. For example, if you have iron deficiency and this is the leading cause of your fatigue, you’ll be guided to supplement with iron for some time.
Similarly, suppose low testosterone or thyroid hormone blood levels cause your fatigue. In that case, you'll be advised to explore solutions such as Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) or thyroid hormone replacement to help deal with your fatigue problem.
5. Is this test safe?
Yes! The submission of samples and results analysis is entirely confidential, and you’ll be drawing blood in a medical setting under specialized supervision.
Conclusion
Diagnosing chronic fatigue is not easy, but you’re one step closer to feeling better by ordering a comprehensive fatigue panel. Order the complete fatigue panel today from Discounted Labs, and you can drastically improve the quality of your life!
BUY THE COMPREHENSIVE FATIGUE BLOOD TEST PANEL HERE
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