164 – 4 Must-Know Lab Tests for Older Adults: Kidney, Liver, CBC & More

In This Episode:

Dr. K explains four common blood tests ordered in older adults: the Complete Blood Count (CBC), the Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP), the Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP), and the Lipid Panel. She goes into detail about what these tests measure, what abnormal results might mean, and how they relate to common health problems like anemia, kidney issues, liver function changes, and high cholesterol.

She covers:

• Why Blood Tests Matter & Why Doctors Order Bloodwork
• CBC: What It Measures and Why It’s Important
• Basic Metabolic Panel: Kidney Function, Electrolytes & Glucose
• Comprehensive Metabolic Panel: Liver Function & Calcium
• Lipid Panel: Cholesterol and Cardiovascular Risk
• Understanding “Normal” vs “Abnormal” Results
• 4 Tips to Benefit From Blood Tests

Related episode:

• 157 – High Blood Pressure in Aging: When to Treat & Why It Matters
• 144 – Anemia in Aging: Symptoms and Solutions

Related Resources:

• • Understanding Laboratory Tests: 10 Commonly Used Blood Tests for Older Adults
  • Anemia in the Older Adult: 10 Common Causes & What to Ask