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Blood tests
Author: Admin
Date: 30 Nov/2010
Understanding Blood Tests
The abuse of anabolic/androgenic steroids can have a number of potential negative health consequences, most commonly with regard to cardiovascular and liver health. These issues, however, can almost always be identified in blood work well before physical symptoms become apparent. Cardiovascular disease, for example, is a disease that can take decades to progress. Cholesterol and triglyceride testing can be used to identify and control early risk factors and decisions that would support the disease over time. Liver damage is also generally obvious in liver enzyme tests well before it becomes visibly noticeable to the person. The same holds true for many areas of general health. If you are using steroids, the regular assessment of health with blood work, and the adjustment of therapy when the results call for it, is regarded as the most effective strategy for reducing health risks.
Blood tests with regard to anabolic/androgenic steroids are usually conducted in three separate phases. The first phase looks at your health before steroid use. This is done to asses your current condition and risks before any therapy is initiated, and to set baselines for later comparison. The next is on-cycle testing, which is used to assess the direct impact of the anabolic/androgenic steroid use (what the drugs are actually doing to your body while they are being taken). The latter phase of testing is the follow-up, which is conducted to ensure your original state of good health has been restored once the drugs are no longer in the body. We generally refer to' these three phases of testing as Baseline, On-Cycle, and Post-Cycle, respectively.
Steroid: This set of testing should look at both total and free testosterone. The former measure is most commonly used by physicians to identify the androgen level and determine ifthere is a need for therapy.The latter measure actually represents the fraction of bioavailable (immediately active) testosterone in the body, and is consequently regarded as more important for assessing the present state of androgenicity. Estradiol is the principle active form of estrogen in the body, and has roles both in potential side effects (gynecomastia, water/fat retention) and hormone balance. This is the estrogen marker most often recommended during hormone profiling.
LH/FSH Panel: Luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) are responsible for stimulating testosterone production and spermatogenesis in the testes.These measures are most relevant when evaluating the cause and potential treatment options for hypogonadism, not the short-term health impact of anabolic-steroid use. The short-term
Thyroid: It is regarded as important to get a baseline measure of thyroid activity, usually once per year. Follow up tests during and after steroid use may be an expense some view as unnecessary. Anabolic/androgenic steroid use is unlikely to permanently affect thyroid function, but may slightly elevate thyroid levels during therapy. A misdiagnosis of hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) is sometimes made in light of these elevated numbers. The effect ofanabolic/androgenic steroid use on thyroid levels should be taken into account before treatment for hyperthyroid is ordered.
Lipids (Cardiovascular)
Anabolic/androgenic steroids can have strong adverse effects on lipids.The abuse of anabolic/androgenic steroids (particularly long-term abuse) can,likewise, increase the risk for developing cardiovascular disease as assessed by these variables. Mitigating these risks with the careful examination of the lipid profile is regarded as one of the most fundamental of all steroid-related blood tests. While far from comprehensive with regard to assessing total heart disease risk, a full panel examining the variables below (and comparing them to your baseline values) can provide a good snapshot of the cardiovascular impact of anabolic/androgenic steroid use. It is important to measure your blood lipids only after 12 hours of fasting, as food intake can skew the outcome of some measures (particularly triglycerides).
Standard Full Set: This is a standard full lipid panel examination. Ideally, all values should be kept within the normal ranges at all times during steroid therapy. Note that the LDL/HDL ratio is regarded as the most important measure of the serum lipid tests, as it reflects the ongoing balance between plaque deposition (LDL) and removal (HDL) in the arteries. The LDL/HDL ratio is used to more closely assess heart disease risk in individuals that have elevated LDL or total cholesterol levels.
Additional Testing: (-reactive protein and homocysteine are two additional markers that are important to examining cardiovascular health. (-reactive protein is a key indicator of inflammation in the body, and homocysteine is involved in blood clotting and LDL cholesterol oxidation. It is also advisable to include these two variables in your cardiovascular testing schedule.
Apo Ratio: Apolipoprotein ratio testing is also recommended. Although not commonly used in general medical practice, apolipoprotein testing is increasingly regarded as a more accurate predictor of cardiovascular disease risk than cholesterol testing. Apolipoprotein B (apoB) is found in all LDL particles, and is responsible for attaching these lipoproteins to the artery walls. Apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-1) is found mainly in HDL particles, and is responsible for initiating beneficial reverse cholesterol transport. ApoA-1 enables the HDL particles to pull cholesterol from the artery walls and transport them back to the liver. The ratio of apoB to apoA-I, therefore, ~ppears to reflect a much truer measure of the balance of potentially atherogenic and antiatherogenic particles in the blood. A ratio above .9 is generally regarded as indicative of increased cardiovascular disease risk. Lower ratios reflect reduced cardiovascular disease risk assessments.
Muscle Enzyme
The creatine kinase (CK) enzyme is used as a marker of muscle breakdown, kidney damage, and heart damage. High levels usually indicate heart attack or other organ trauma. This enzyme can also become elevated with exercise that breaks down muscle tissue, especially intense endurance or resistance training. Elevated CK levels caused by high intensity training are often mistaken for organ damage. It is important to further examine other markers of kidney and heart heath before such a determination is made. Note that creatine kinase levels may also be useful in determining if liver strain or heavy training is the cause of mild elevations in liver enzymes ALT and AST. Slight increases in ALT and AST caused by muscle damage will usually coincide with elevated CK and normal ALP and GGT levels.
Blood
A full blood count is one of the most commonly run blood tests, and can give you a good snapshot of overall health in many regards. A full blood cell test will give you a measure of white cell count (responsible for fighting infection), platelet count (vital to blood clotting and healing), and red blood cell count (responsible for carrying oxygen). Red and white cell counts will be further subdivided into various individual measurements, often referred to as a differential cell count. Hemoglobin is the specific carrier of gases in red cells, and hematocrit is a measure of the percentage of red blood cells in the total blood volume. Due to their effects on erythropoiesis, anabolic steroids tend to increase red blood cell count, hematocrit, and hemoglobin concentrations. While this may increase oxygen-carrying (aerobic) capacity, as the concentration of red blood cells increases so does the thickness of the blood. Elevated hematocrit can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke.
Kidney
This panel of tests looks at three primary waste products filtered and excreted through the kidneys, urea, uric acid, and I creatinine. Problems here can indicate serious underlying problems with kidney function. Note that Blood Urea Nitrogen : (BUN) is often elevated with excess protein consumption, and is used by many physicians as an indicator that too much protein is being consumed for optimal metabolism. The high consumption of meat or creatine supplementation can also elevate creatinine levels, diminishing the value of blood creatinine testing as a marker of kidney health. Electrolyte, mineral, and fasting glucose testing is important to further assessing kidney health, and is advised in addition to the above kidney markers. A quick urine screen for pH, specific gravity, and the presence of sugar, blood, and ketones is also available at most physicians offices, and is generally advised alongside blood work when possible.
Electrolytes, Minerals, and Glucose
Electrolyte levels are examined to help detect problems with the fluid and electrolyte balance. Abnormal values may reflect something as small as sodium or potassium deficiency, or a more serious condition such as kidney disease. A variety of other health issues may also become apparent by looking at both electrolyte and mineral levels, giving them somewhat broad prognostic value. Fasting glucose is also examined to determine if the individual may be hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) or hyperglycemic (high blood sugar). Problems with fasting glucose may reflect potentially serious health condition including metabolic syndrome, diabetes, pancreati disease, liver disease, kidney failure, or acute stress.
Prostate
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a protein produced by cells in the prostate gland. Its levels can become elevated in cases of benign prostate hypertrophy or prostate cancer. While it remains unknown if elevating the level of androgens in the body with anabolic/androgenic steroids can increase the risk of prostate cancer, it is known that I this disease can be progressed by elevated hormone (androgen and estrogen) levels. The PSA test is regarded as an important diagnostic tool for screening individual prostate cancer risk. If PSA levels are elevated, most will advise against using anabolic/androgenic steroids.
Test Name Reference Range
PSA 45-49 years – 0,0 – 2,5 ng\ml
50-59 years – 0,0 – 3,5 ng\ml
60-79 years -- 0,0 – 4,0 ng\ml
Author: Admin
Date: 30 Nov/2010
Understanding Blood Tests
The abuse of anabolic/androgenic steroids can have a number of potential negative health consequences, most commonly with regard to cardiovascular and liver health. These issues, however, can almost always be identified in blood work well before physical symptoms become apparent. Cardiovascular disease, for example, is a disease that can take decades to progress. Cholesterol and triglyceride testing can be used to identify and control early risk factors and decisions that would support the disease over time. Liver damage is also generally obvious in liver enzyme tests well before it becomes visibly noticeable to the person. The same holds true for many areas of general health. If you are using steroids, the regular assessment of health with blood work, and the adjustment of therapy when the results call for it, is regarded as the most effective strategy for reducing health risks.
Blood tests with regard to anabolic/androgenic steroids are usually conducted in three separate phases. The first phase looks at your health before steroid use. This is done to asses your current condition and risks before any therapy is initiated, and to set baselines for later comparison. The next is on-cycle testing, which is used to assess the direct impact of the anabolic/androgenic steroid use (what the drugs are actually doing to your body while they are being taken). The latter phase of testing is the follow-up, which is conducted to ensure your original state of good health has been restored once the drugs are no longer in the body. We generally refer to' these three phases of testing as Baseline, On-Cycle, and Post-Cycle, respectively.
Steroid: This set of testing should look at both total and free testosterone. The former measure is most commonly used by physicians to identify the androgen level and determine ifthere is a need for therapy.The latter measure actually represents the fraction of bioavailable (immediately active) testosterone in the body, and is consequently regarded as more important for assessing the present state of androgenicity. Estradiol is the principle active form of estrogen in the body, and has roles both in potential side effects (gynecomastia, water/fat retention) and hormone balance. This is the estrogen marker most often recommended during hormone profiling.
LH/FSH Panel: Luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) are responsible for stimulating testosterone production and spermatogenesis in the testes.These measures are most relevant when evaluating the cause and potential treatment options for hypogonadism, not the short-term health impact of anabolic-steroid use. The short-term
Thyroid: It is regarded as important to get a baseline measure of thyroid activity, usually once per year. Follow up tests during and after steroid use may be an expense some view as unnecessary. Anabolic/androgenic steroid use is unlikely to permanently affect thyroid function, but may slightly elevate thyroid levels during therapy. A misdiagnosis of hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) is sometimes made in light of these elevated numbers. The effect ofanabolic/androgenic steroid use on thyroid levels should be taken into account before treatment for hyperthyroid is ordered.
Lipids (Cardiovascular)
Anabolic/androgenic steroids can have strong adverse effects on lipids.The abuse of anabolic/androgenic steroids (particularly long-term abuse) can,likewise, increase the risk for developing cardiovascular disease as assessed by these variables. Mitigating these risks with the careful examination of the lipid profile is regarded as one of the most fundamental of all steroid-related blood tests. While far from comprehensive with regard to assessing total heart disease risk, a full panel examining the variables below (and comparing them to your baseline values) can provide a good snapshot of the cardiovascular impact of anabolic/androgenic steroid use. It is important to measure your blood lipids only after 12 hours of fasting, as food intake can skew the outcome of some measures (particularly triglycerides).
Standard Full Set: This is a standard full lipid panel examination. Ideally, all values should be kept within the normal ranges at all times during steroid therapy. Note that the LDL/HDL ratio is regarded as the most important measure of the serum lipid tests, as it reflects the ongoing balance between plaque deposition (LDL) and removal (HDL) in the arteries. The LDL/HDL ratio is used to more closely assess heart disease risk in individuals that have elevated LDL or total cholesterol levels.
Additional Testing: (-reactive protein and homocysteine are two additional markers that are important to examining cardiovascular health. (-reactive protein is a key indicator of inflammation in the body, and homocysteine is involved in blood clotting and LDL cholesterol oxidation. It is also advisable to include these two variables in your cardiovascular testing schedule.
Apo Ratio: Apolipoprotein ratio testing is also recommended. Although not commonly used in general medical practice, apolipoprotein testing is increasingly regarded as a more accurate predictor of cardiovascular disease risk than cholesterol testing. Apolipoprotein B (apoB) is found in all LDL particles, and is responsible for attaching these lipoproteins to the artery walls. Apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-1) is found mainly in HDL particles, and is responsible for initiating beneficial reverse cholesterol transport. ApoA-1 enables the HDL particles to pull cholesterol from the artery walls and transport them back to the liver. The ratio of apoB to apoA-I, therefore, ~ppears to reflect a much truer measure of the balance of potentially atherogenic and antiatherogenic particles in the blood. A ratio above .9 is generally regarded as indicative of increased cardiovascular disease risk. Lower ratios reflect reduced cardiovascular disease risk assessments.
Muscle Enzyme
The creatine kinase (CK) enzyme is used as a marker of muscle breakdown, kidney damage, and heart damage. High levels usually indicate heart attack or other organ trauma. This enzyme can also become elevated with exercise that breaks down muscle tissue, especially intense endurance or resistance training. Elevated CK levels caused by high intensity training are often mistaken for organ damage. It is important to further examine other markers of kidney and heart heath before such a determination is made. Note that creatine kinase levels may also be useful in determining if liver strain or heavy training is the cause of mild elevations in liver enzymes ALT and AST. Slight increases in ALT and AST caused by muscle damage will usually coincide with elevated CK and normal ALP and GGT levels.
Blood
A full blood count is one of the most commonly run blood tests, and can give you a good snapshot of overall health in many regards. A full blood cell test will give you a measure of white cell count (responsible for fighting infection), platelet count (vital to blood clotting and healing), and red blood cell count (responsible for carrying oxygen). Red and white cell counts will be further subdivided into various individual measurements, often referred to as a differential cell count. Hemoglobin is the specific carrier of gases in red cells, and hematocrit is a measure of the percentage of red blood cells in the total blood volume. Due to their effects on erythropoiesis, anabolic steroids tend to increase red blood cell count, hematocrit, and hemoglobin concentrations. While this may increase oxygen-carrying (aerobic) capacity, as the concentration of red blood cells increases so does the thickness of the blood. Elevated hematocrit can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke.
Kidney
This panel of tests looks at three primary waste products filtered and excreted through the kidneys, urea, uric acid, and I creatinine. Problems here can indicate serious underlying problems with kidney function. Note that Blood Urea Nitrogen : (BUN) is often elevated with excess protein consumption, and is used by many physicians as an indicator that too much protein is being consumed for optimal metabolism. The high consumption of meat or creatine supplementation can also elevate creatinine levels, diminishing the value of blood creatinine testing as a marker of kidney health. Electrolyte, mineral, and fasting glucose testing is important to further assessing kidney health, and is advised in addition to the above kidney markers. A quick urine screen for pH, specific gravity, and the presence of sugar, blood, and ketones is also available at most physicians offices, and is generally advised alongside blood work when possible.
Electrolytes, Minerals, and Glucose
Electrolyte levels are examined to help detect problems with the fluid and electrolyte balance. Abnormal values may reflect something as small as sodium or potassium deficiency, or a more serious condition such as kidney disease. A variety of other health issues may also become apparent by looking at both electrolyte and mineral levels, giving them somewhat broad prognostic value. Fasting glucose is also examined to determine if the individual may be hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) or hyperglycemic (high blood sugar). Problems with fasting glucose may reflect potentially serious health condition including metabolic syndrome, diabetes, pancreati disease, liver disease, kidney failure, or acute stress.
Prostate
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a protein produced by cells in the prostate gland. Its levels can become elevated in cases of benign prostate hypertrophy or prostate cancer. While it remains unknown if elevating the level of androgens in the body with anabolic/androgenic steroids can increase the risk of prostate cancer, it is known that I this disease can be progressed by elevated hormone (androgen and estrogen) levels. The PSA test is regarded as an important diagnostic tool for screening individual prostate cancer risk. If PSA levels are elevated, most will advise against using anabolic/androgenic steroids.
Test Name Reference Range
PSA 45-49 years – 0,0 – 2,5 ng\ml
50-59 years – 0,0 – 3,5 ng\ml
60-79 years -- 0,0 – 4,0 ng\ml