Blood tests are essential in the treatment journey… When does it turn into an obsession?

Blood tests play a key role in assessing general health, diagnosing diseases, and monitoring the response to treatment, as they provide accurate information about blood components, organ functions, and the state of the immune system, helping doctors to make correct treatment decisions and prevent potential complications.

Early diagnosis and follow-up of chronic diseases

Blood tests contribute to the early detection of diseases that may not show symptoms in their early stages, such as anemia, thyroid disorders, and diabetes.

It is also used to monitor chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, liver and kidney diseases, by tracking any changes that may occur in the health condition.

Blood tests also help to measure the effectiveness of medications or therapeutic interventions, enabling the doctor to adjust the treatment plan when needed to ensure the best possible response.

Risks of excessive blood tests

Despite their benefits, excessive blood tests can turn into a health obsession when performed frequently and unnecessarily, especially without medical consultation. This can cause psychological anxiety, additional financial costs, and sometimes inaccurate results due to the inappropriate frequency of the tests.

Family physician Sinan Jabbar told the “Your Health” program, which airs on Al-Araby 2, that while numerous medical tests may be necessary in some cases, they can harm the patient if performed excessively or unnecessarily.

He added that the real need lies in using the tests as part of monitoring chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

According to him, the problem occurs when results are viewed as isolated numbers without considering clinical symptoms and complementary examinations.

Jabbar stressed that relying solely on periodic tests may lead to an inaccurate diagnosis, noting the need to interpret the results within the patient’s complete medical context.