Whenever you have a health issue internally, the very first thing that a doctor asks you to do is to undergo a blood test. But have to ever come across a bone profile blood test? Well, many of you may not be aware of it. But along with your health, it is necessary to take care of your bones as well. It is due to your bones that you stand erect and perform all kinds of physical tasks at ease.
However, undergoing a bone profile blood test in London can give you an idea about the condition of your bone. To be more precise, your bone contains several vitamins and minerals. Through this bone profile blood test, you can figure out if the proportions of these vitamins and minerals are in the right amount. When the doctor notices that there is a discrepancy in these measurements, he suggests the right treatment for you.
Since many of you are not aware of the bone profile blood test, we have come up with a blog. In this blog, we will share with you everything that you need to know about bone profile tests. Therefore, without any further delay, let’s get started with the details of the blog.
What is a bone profile blood test?
The bone profile blood test is a kind of blood test where the lab technician gathers blood samples to measure and monitor the proteins, enzymes, and minerals situated in the bones. This is an important and impactful test that allows you to get an idea about the present situation of your bones. At the same time, you understand if the bones in your body are repairing and developing.
The purpose of this bone profile test is to determine the present condition of the bones. With age, everybody experiences the wearing and tearing of bones. Naturally, they start becoming weak. However, taking this test at regular intervals can prevent you from various diseases. It also helps to detect if you have osteoporosis.
What conditions can be detected with a bone profile test?
Besides overall health, a bone profile blood test can help you detect these health conditions:
Osteoporosis
In the UK, more than 3 million people are affected by osteoporosis. This is a bone condition where your bones become fragile and tend to break soon. With age, people with osteoporosis tend to have a lack of bone density gradually. As a result, they do not get the strength and stamina to face all odds. Another reason for osteoporosis can be a deficiency of adequate food. So, make sure to consume a balanced diet.
Paget’s disease
This is another very popular bone issue that hampers bone renewal. Also known as bone turnover, bone renewal is the process by which bone tissues alter themselves automatically. For confirmation, your doctor might ask you to undergo a vitamin D test.
Bone cancer
Bone cancer occurs rarely. But when it occurs, it takes away the strength of the bones completely. People with bone cancer suffer from swelling, pain, and lumps. Besides, the bones become more brittle and tend to break easily.
Thyroid and liver diseases
For some medical cases, a doctor may ask you to undergo a bone profile blood test to figure out the problems of parathyroid and thyroid. When there is an imbalance of phosphorous and calcium, you experience thyroid and parathyroid. Further, the bone profile blood test also indicates problems in the proteins and enzymes.
What minerals and components does a bone profile blood test measure?
As discussed above, a bone profile blood test measures a variety of medical conditions. However, your bones are composed of a range of minerals and vitamins. It is the presence of these components that you get the strength to function well throughout the day. Each of these components adds up to a different function which, as a whole, contributes to the better functioning of your body.
Let’s take a look at the different components measured in a bone profile blood test.
Calcium
The primary function of the bone profile blood test is to measure the amount of calcium present in your blood. Calcium is the main component that formulates the creation of strong bones. According to doctors, every human being should have a calcium level of 2.2 to 2.6 mmol/L.
Albumin
The creation of albumin happens in the liver. But having low albumin ranges indicates less bone density. This is a clear hint for the development of osteoporosis in the human body. Again, the normal range of albumin includes 35 to 50 g/L.
Alkaline phosphatase
The alkaline phosphatase present in the liver cells and bones helps to figure out our liver and bone problems. Every adult should have an alkaline phosphatase ranging between 30 to 130 u/L.
Phosphate
Chemicals containing phosphorous that aid in the growth of bones are phosphate. For an adult, this phosphate should be between 0.74 to 1.14 mmol/L.
What to know before the test?
Now that you have a clear idea about the benefit of a bone profile blood test, it is time to pay attention to the things that you ought to do before taking the test. Like most other tests, you do not have to keep a fast for eight hours before the sample collection. However, make sure to avoid eating anything unhealthy or drinking the night before the bone profile blood test. All of these can affect the accuracy of the results.
Once you reach out to a clinic, a nurse will collect a blood sample and put it in a vial for proper storage. Generally, you receive the results within 24 to 72 hours. However, sometimes, there can be a delay. The more accurate the test, the better will the doctor be able to monitor your health and prepare a plan of treatment.
Conclusion
Therefore, like your overall health, it is vital to take care of your bone health as well. Make sure to get the test done from a reputed clinic to get accurate results. Also, ensure to conduct such private blood tests in London at regular intervals to stay aware of your health.
