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Health Testing Centers Research for Assessing COVID-19 Risk Factors

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Health Testing Centers releases COVID-19 research guide.

“These easily accessible lab tests should be considered as part of an individualized strategy to manage your coronavirus health concerns”


FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (PRWEB)

Health Testing Centers has published a COVID-19 research guide compiling the latest findings and evidence on useful clinical markers for COVID-19 preparedness to assess your health risks. These easily accessible lab tests should be considered as part of an individualized strategy to manage your coronavirus health concerns:

1) Vitamin D, 25 Hydroxy

Vitamin D deficiency affects 35% of adults and 61% of the elderly population in the United States. Clinical evidence indicates that Vitamin D levels are deeply correlated to patient outcome following a COVID-19 infection. One recent study showed patients with severe Vitamin D deficiencies are twice as likely to develop life-threatening complications after exposure to the virus.

2) Hemoglobin A1C (Blood Sugar)

The correlation between blood sugar and COVID-19 outcomes is emerging. Sugar impairs immune function, seriously affecting and potentially crippling the immune system’s ability to subdue COVID-19 when it enters the body. Half of COVID-19 patients that require hospitalization have dangerously elevated blood sugar levels (hyperglycemic). Taking steps to understand your blood-sugar measurements and reduce blood-sugar concentrations is an easy step in COVID preparedness.

3) C-Reactive Protein, CRP (Inflammation)

Inflammation drives much chronic disease with links to diabetes, cancer, autoimmune disorders, heart disease, and other major chronic illnesses. Inflammation hinders the immune system’s ability to effectively neutralize an invading pathogen. When uncontrolled inflammation can lead to serious and often-fatal complications. In COVID-19 cases, unchecked inflammation can lead to a deadly cytokine storm. Understanding your current inflammation levels should be a part of assessing your overall risk of complications from COVID-19.

4) Zinc

Zinc is believed to support the immune response by halting viral replication, cutting off a viral infection’s spread. Growing research shows zinc levels to be a possible predictor of COVID-19 mortality among infected patients. With as much as 25% of the population suffering from zinc deficiency intervention in high risk groups such as the elderly through immune-boosting zinc supplementation is highly recommended.

5) Iron and Ferritin                                                                                                                                                

Iron plays an important role in generating new red blood cells and hemoglobin that helps carry oxygen throughout your body. Ferritin is a protein that stockpiles iron, making it an accurate gauge of how much iron is in your body.

New research indicates that elevated ferritin levels represent a substantial risk factor for hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Patients abnormally high ferritin levels suffer serious complications associated with COVID-19 infections, including cytokine storm response, at substantially greater rates than patients with normal iron levels.

Another study, found a negative correlation between COVID-19 severity and iron levels in the blood. As iron levels dropped in patients, the likelihood of experiencing life-threatening inflammation increased, particularly in the lungs.

6) Interleukin-6 protein (IL-6) Levels and Genetic Markers    

There is evidence that patients with a genetic predisposition for abnormally upregulated interleukin-6 (IL-6) cell activity, suffering from a viral infection may experience an increase in levels of IL-6. These higher levels of IL-6 have been linked to the deadly cytokine storm response to COVID-19. Specifically, elevated levels of IL- 6 and ferritin have been noted.

IL-6 cells are pro-inflammatory components of the immune system. Elevated levels or over production of IL-6 in the body have been linked to the systemic inflammatory process. In the case of a patient with such a genetic predisposition and elevated IL-6 levels, IL-6 inhibitors may be useful to slow the inflammatory cells’ activity.        

Clinically Assessing COVID-19 Risk                                                                                    

Health Testing Centers is committed to equipping patients with lab tests, home test kits, and online resources to develop an individualized strategy to manage your health. If you are concerned about COVID-19 susceptibility the findings discussed above and lab tests to quantify these factors could provide a helpful analysis of your individual risk as it pertains to the coronavirus.

About Health Testing Centers

Since 1980, Health Testing Centers has enabled consumer access to laboratory testing, including Doctor’s oversight, and providing helpful resources for individuals to understand their health. Health Testing Centers works nationwide with major laboratories, as well as the premier specialized laboratories to provide an online menu of best-in-class testing, delivered with a 100% satisfaction guarantee and the highest level of service.

For more information, please visit our website at http://www.HealthTestingCenters.com.

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