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Tests regarding deficiencies
I sit for 8-12 hours in gaps as I'm a govt-job aspirant... lately i have been facing obesity,grey hair, extreme hair loss, foot pain or uneasiness in foot at nights while sleeping, swelling in foot, dark finger knuckles also i want to get my gut and liver checked cuz of frequent acid reflux I really want to start taking supplements for deficiencies though I'm already on a healthy diet under a nutritionist.... i also take breaks to walk a little...
I want to get everything tested so i can take better care of myself considering entering 30s I want to make the most of it now to my body so that i wont suffer in future
Please let me know what are all the tests I can go through with names and other details
Answers (9)
Plz firstly consult a physician and after that connect with me for customised diet plan
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Hello, thank you for writing in. It's wonderful that you're thinking about your health this early, and that you've put together such a clear picture of your symptoms.
Long hours of sitting, weight gain, dark knuckles, hair fall, early greying, night-time foot discomfort and reflux can feel unrelated, but they often share a few common threads: insulin resistance (dark knuckles are a classic clue), low iron, vitamin D or B12, thyroid changes, and a liver or gut that is working under strain. Foot swelling is worth including in the checks too. The encouraging part is that you're already eating well and walking, so a few targeted tests can show what your body specifically needs. Your pattern is the key to an effective plan.
Next Steps
Here are the tests I'd suggest asking for, with their names:
- Blood and nutrition: CBC (complete blood count), serum ferritin and iron studies, vitamin B12, vitamin D (25-OH), folate, calcium, magnesium
- Thyroid: TSH, free T3, free T4, anti-TPO antibodies
- Sugar and insulin: fasting glucose, fasting insulin, HbA1c (and HOMA-IR, which is calculated from the first two)
- Lipids: full lipid profile
- Liver: LFT (SGOT, SGPT, ALP, GGT, bilirubin) and an ultrasound of the abdomen, which also shows fatty liver
- Kidney and swelling: creatinine, urea, uric acid, electrolytes and a urine routine test
- Inflammation: hs-CRP
- Gut and reflux: H. pylori stool antigen test. An endoscopy is only needed if your doctor advises it
- Hormones, if your periods are irregular: LH, FSH, testosterone, DHEAS, prolactin
Once the reports are ready, a video consult would let me connect them with your sitting hours, sleep, stress and diet, and plan the right order of care for you. I wouldn't pick supplements before the reports, since the right choice depends on what comes out low. If the swelling is only in one leg, or comes with calf pain, breathlessness or chest discomfort, please get it examined the same day.
Health Tips
- Stand up and move for 3 to 5 minutes every hour, and stretch your calves and ankles
- Keep your feet raised for 10 minutes when you take breaks, which helps swelling and night-time discomfort
- Eat dinner 2 to 3 hours before sleeping, and avoid lying down right after meals to ease reflux
- Limit tea, coffee, fried and spicy food, and carbonated drinks
- Keep protein at every meal (dal, paneer, curd, sprouts, eggs)
- Sip water through the day, and avoid long gaps without eating
- Add strength exercise or yoga 2 to 3 times a week, since muscle helps insulin and weight
- Keep a fixed sleep schedule, as long study hours with late nights raise stress and hair fall
If you're still worried, do book a consult and we can look at it together. Take care.
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Please ask me directly for personalized diet plan for you.
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Need detail conversation required to take treatment consult online through practo app for proper management
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Good morning pls consult physician for it.
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Ms. Deepti Aggarwal
Dietitian/Nutritionist
5 yrs exp
Delhi
Hi! Considering your symptoms, I recommend a medical evaluation and relevant tests such as CBC, iron profile with ferritin, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, thyroid profile, HbA1c, and liver and kidney function tests, as advised by your doctor. Please get the foot swelling and pain evaluated promptly and avoid starting supplements without confirmed deficiencies. Once your reports are available, we can plan your nutrition accordingly.
Next Steps
Avoid self-prescribing supplements, take short movement breaks every 30â60 minutes, maintain balanced protein-rich meals, and avoid lying down immediately after meals to manage acidity. Please get the foot swelling and pain evaluated promptly.
Health Tips
Take a 3â5 minute movement break every 30â60 minutes\. ⢠Include protein\-rich foods and iron\-rich foods in your daily diet\. ⢠Avoid lying down for 2â3 hours after meals to help manage acid reflux\. ⢠Maintain adequate hydration and a consistent sleep routine\. ⢠Avoid starting supplements without confirming deficiencies\.
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Ms. Durdana Ansari
Dietitian/Nutritionist
4 yrs exp
Mumbai
1. Blood tests for nutritional deficiencies :-
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
Serum Ferritin and Iron Profile
Vitamin B12
25-OH Vitamin D
Folate
Thyroid Profile (TSH, with Free T4 if indicated)
2. Metabolic and hormonal assessment :-
Fasting Blood Glucose and HbA1c
Lipid Profile
Liver Function Test (LFT)
Kidney Function Test (KFT), including creatinine and eGFR
Serum Electrolytes
Urine Routine Examination and Urine Albumin-to-Creatinine Ratio
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Dr. Ankita Gahlot
Obstetrician
12 yrs exp
Bangalore
Hair loss, greying, weight gain, foot swelling and dark knuckles together often point toward a thyroid issue or a deficiency rather than separate problems. Long sitting hours can also add to the foot swelling and night discomfort you're noticing.
Next Steps
Ask your physician for a thyroid profile, vitamin D, vitamin B12, ferritin (iron stores) and a fasting blood sugar or HbA1c. A basic liver and kidney panel is worth adding given your reflux.
Health Tips
Hold off starting supplements until these results come back, since what you actually need depends on what's low.
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