How Often Should You Get Your Blood Tested?

For most people, there really isn’t a reason to get your blood drawn unless you are experiencing symptoms of a disease, or feeling run down. Even then, it is best to meet with your doctor before attempting to self-diagnose any medical condition. You always run the risk of paying for tests that you don’t need.

I am recommending blood tests in order to determine how a particular diet or physical activity affects your body. For example, you could check your cholesterol before and after a start of a diet or exercise and see how did you progress after a 30-day exercise/diet marathon. It is a good idea to get your blood periodically tested if you are following a vegan, raw food, or any other restrictive diet.

Ideally, you would get your blood work done before you start the diet, then retest about six months into the diet to see how the changes you’ve made to your lifestyle have improved your health.

If you are experiencing unexplained symptoms or suspect that you might have an illness, it is important to work directly with a qualified health care professional. Do not try to self-diagnose using your blood test results. However, taking the initiative to order your own blood tests could save you money (especially if you do not have health insurance) and confirm a general, preliminary diagnosis, and save yourself some steps when you consult your doctor.

In short, if I were to ever feel run down or chronically “not quite right”, or I exhibited deficiency symptoms, I would test my blood immediately. If a blood result were to show deficiency in a certain vitamin, I would modify my diet or supplement, then have it retested a month later. In the absence of symptoms or feelings of ill health, I’ll probably test my blood every 12-18 months.