Episode 8 - Bloodwork

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It’s taken a bit longer than I had anticipated to get this new episode out. Just when I was about to start writing episode 9 - about exercise and bone health - I had something happen to me that I thought would be worth sharing.

For context, now that I’m in my 50s - 53, to be precise - I have an annual blood test done to check things like my cholesterol, fasting blood sugar level, triglycerides and prostate specific antigen. A couple of the other values tested are creatine kinase and liver function. Creatine kinase is an enzyme that can be present in the bloodstream after muscle damage occurs - in the context of this test, it is the enzyme CK-MB, which is a marker of damage to the heart muscle. The liver function test looks for certain proteins and enzymes in the blood that signal damage to the liver. 

These basic but essential tests cover the main pathologies that tend to affect men my age, namely, cardiovascular disease (including heart disease), prostate cancer, and liver disease. This test also checks for specific markers in the blood that may signal as to whether or not other cancers may be present in the system. In Australia, this test is free (with the exception of the PSA test, which is $50), and along with the annual bowel cancer test available to all Australians over the age of 45 (another excellent initiative), it is paid for by the Commonwealth. Just a quick comment - I think it’s pretty outrageous that men have to pay for the PSA test here in Australia, while women get free breast screens and pap smears. It makes no sense whatsoever that the system has such a bias. Prostate cancer is the second-most prevalent cancer in Australian men, and has the second highest rate of mortality. I suppose $50 is not a lot in the scheme of things, but there is a definite asymmetry in health policy here. Anyway… 

Further reading:

Heart Research Institute (NSW, Australia): https://www.hri.org.au/health/learn/risk-factors/what-do-lipids-tell-us-in-a-blood-test?campaignid=22288393601&adgroupid=180837024652&adid=735050693981&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22288393601&gbraid=0AAAAADkaM0K5LODBZQStuqnPi8wxpBU2F&gclid=Cj0KCQjw097CBhDIARIsAJ3-nxe5tnz-YEr2x0cvfS7nx4fI48JDj5rC1zfqSf-1haAVVD__kupZVAkaAq9AEALw_wcB

Lemieux I, Lamarche B, Couillard C, et al. Total Cholesterol/HDL Cholesterol Ratio vs LDL Cholesterol/HDL Cholesterol Ratio as Indices of Ischemic Heart Disease Risk in Men: The Quebec Cardiovascular Study. Arch Intern Med. 2001;161(22):2685–2692. doi:10.1001/archinte.161.22.2685

Mayo Clinic (USA): https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/symptoms-causes/syc-20350800

Silverman MG, Ference BA, Im K, et al. Association Between Lowering LDL-C and Cardiovascular Risk Reduction Among Different Therapeutic Interventions: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA. 2016;316(12):1289–1297. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.13985

Taylor F, Huffman MD, Macedo AF, Moore THM, Burke M, Davey Smith G, Ward K, Ebrahim S, Gay HC. Statins for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2013, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD004816. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004816.pub5. 

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