When was the last time you went and got a test done? Medical test? Diagnostic test? Practice test?
No matter how you cut it, testing yourself is important. You can’t fix what you don’t know is broken.
Read on to learn about how health testing relates to optimal wellness.
Table of Contents
- Why Testing Yourself Leads to Optimal Wellness
- What Types of Tests Are Important?
- Using Test Prep Websites and Apps to Reach Your Wellness Goals
- How to Create a Testing Routine That You’ll Follow
Why Testing Yourself Leads to Optimal Wellness
Visiting the doctor should happen routinely, not only when you feel unwell. Tests performed on the human body can detect underlying issues before they become major.
Prevention > Treatment.
The earlier an issue is caught, the less it will cost you in the long run—not just money, but your time and stress levels.
As shown by this article from McKinsey, the global wellness market is expected to reach $1.8 trillion by 2024. Americans are starting to take their wellness more seriously, with 82% ranking it as a critical part of their daily routine. And that number is growing!
With more Americans getting on board with the idea of preventive care, it’s clear that waiting around for something to feel wrong isn’t good enough anymore. Testing yourself empowers you to take control of your wellness journey.
Without a starting point, it’s difficult to measure improvement. Regular testing can help you identify where your numbers came from originally.
Knowing where you start is just the first step. Tests can identify potential problems before you’re even aware there is an issue.
Thanks to the internet, we live in a day and age where testing is extremely accessible. Whether you’re going to take a professional certification test or you want to prepare for your upcoming driving test with practice tests, online practice test platforms like https://onedaytests.com/ make it easier than ever to get ready. People are testing more now than ever before Health testing.
What Types of Tests Are Important?
There are different types of tests you should be taking. Yes, some are more important than others. Here are a few that you should be prepping for.
Blood Tests
There’s a reason your doctor asks you for a blood test every time you visit.
Blood tests can identify issues before you’re feeling symptoms related to they’re causing. Getting your bloodwork checked annually is one of the best things you can do for yourself.
Lipid panels, metabolic panels, and hemoglobin tests are all great ways to identify if something is off within your body.
Not only will these tests let you know where you stand, but by getting them done regularly, you can identify if there is a trend.
Don’t rely on one test to dictate your health or Health testing. Stay consistent and re-test if something comes back that you don’t like.
Age Appropriate Tests
Some tests you’ll want to start preparing for as you age. These types of tests can detect cancers, colon issues, etc.
Just because you’re young now doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be preparing for these tests. The earlier you know, the better.
The CDC says that, during 2020, fewer people visited their doctors for preventive services than before the pandemic. We’re seeing an increase in these services being used but have not fully returned to prepandemic times.
These services include wellness checks, flu shots, and many of the tests we’re talking about here.
At-Home Tests
COVID taught us all that at-home tests are pretty dang accurate.
While at-home tests are normally used for things like COVID and pregnancy, there are at-home tests you can order that check your cholesterol levels or Health testing, vitamin deficiencies, hormone levels, and more.
At-home tests are a great option for those who have a phobia of doctors’ offices. Don’t let that stop you from knowing your wellness status.
Using Test Prep Websites and Apps to Reach Your Wellness Goals
Technology these days has made it so you can track just about everything.
We have apps that can track how well you sleep at night. We have watches that notify us when our heart rate variability is low. We have access to online platforms that store all of our medical information and can schedule us for testing.
Tracking your progress.
One of the best features of technology is the ability to track your progress. If you’re working towards a specific wellness goal and using an app to track your progress, you’ll likely see a graph of how you progressed.
Seeing that you lost 10 pounds in 6 months will make you want to continue moving forward. Seeing your blood pressure decrease after making lifestyle changes is rewarding and encourages you to keep up the good work.
Anything that you can track and see progress is more Health testing likely you’ll continue to use that to track your wellness.
Test prep websites aren’t just for tests you physically take at a testing center. We mentioned earlier how there are tons of at-home tests you can take to better understand your wellness.
If you’re studying for a medical-related certification or want to become a healthcare professional, online practice test sites are a great way to ensure you’re prepared to ace your test when it comes.
Learning about the tests you will be taking and what they mean can help reduce some anxiety you may have about testing.
How to Create a Testing Routine That You’ll Follow
Anyone can buy a gym membership in January and tell themselves they’re going to start working out. But what happens when January comes and goes?
Building a routine you will actually follow starts with planning.
Don’t just wait until you’re feeling sick to make a doctor’s appointment. Schedule regular visits and testing throughout the year.
Start by getting a calendar.
Mark your calendar for your annual physical. Set reminders on your phone for when it’s time to get that age-appropriate test you started preparing for last year.
Instead of trying to do it all in one month, space your tests out throughout the year.
For example, you could get your blood work done in January and schedule your dental cleaning in June and your eye exam in October.
Get specific with the tests you’re taking and why.
Perhaps you’ve started running and want to test your inflammation levels to make sure you aren’t overtraining. Maybe you want to test your cortisol levels because your body has a hard time managing stress.
When you give yourself a reason to get tested, you’re more likely to follow through with it. Plus, you’ll be able to actually watch that test result decrease as you implement healthy lifestyle habits.
Review your results, don’t just let them hang out in your patient portal.
Schedule a follow-up appointment with your doctor to go over the results of your tests. Ask questions if you don’t understand something.
Your doctor can explain to you what that number means and what you should do next.
Just because you got tested doesn’t mean you’re done. Take the information you learned from your test and use it to your advantage.
Conclusion
Testing yourself is one of the best ways to ensure you’re putting your best foot forward with your wellness routine.
There are so many types of tests you can take. Some can be prepared for and others you’ll want to start practicing as you get older.
No matter what tests you’re taking, utilize websites and apps that allow you to store all of your information in one place.
Not only will this help you stay prepared for your next test, but it’ll help you create a routine you know you’ll actually follow.
Take that test tomorrow. You’ll thank yourself later.
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