Business Owners and Professionals Hidden health Issues. Assessing Immune Function – How NHS tests rarely tell the whole story!
When we say our members are diverse we are not joking!
We have a number of very talented staff from the NHS as members too. Here Dr Anca-Liana Ciobotaru medically trained doctor, specialist in allergy and clinical immunology, now has a private practice in the conventional medical system and a background in scientific research in a reputable Institute of Microbiology and Immunology.
Dr Anca also has an Applying Functional Medicine in Clinical PracticeTM (AFMCP)and immune advanced Practice Module® trainings with The Institute for Functional Medicine® (IFM), master of science degree in personalised nutrition and a BANT and CNHC member the Accredited Register by the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care; Dr Anca’s research was featured by the British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine and she is a member of The Assocation of NLP!
Yes, Dr Anca, really is that exceptional and we know Dr Anca would roll her eyes and smile at this, however we genuinely value her expertise at our networking events and on the mastermind group because good health impacts on a businesses success.
Put bluntly poor health can damage, profits and kill a business!
So we are honoured to publish this article from Dr Anca, the Allergy Immunology Doctor.
Are you a successful business person or doing your best to get there?
Then you probably appreciate the value of good health even beyond everyday comfort and quality of life. Your health is the foundation of your success.
One of the main drivers of your health is your immune system. It is probably a good idea to make
sure your immune system is balanced and working optimally, whether you are experiencing any
health challenges, or you would like to prevent future problems.
However, it may seem overwhelming to start assessing its function, because of its high complexity.
Indeed, many sophisticated tests are available, but did you know that most usual test recommendations (i.e., what your GP might routinely order) include a simple assessment which is the first step in evaluating your immune function?
When you hear about lab tests, the first thing that comes to mind is probably blood tests. Easy to get
the sample (in most cases!) and many useful markers. Probably the easiest immune assessment is a
full blood count with differential.
Read on to see what that is.
Blood is liquid with lots of cells floating about, doing their jobs. Some of these cells, the white blood cells, are immune cells. Yes, immune cells may also reside in other parts of the body, but the easiest assessment that provides reliable data remains counting immune cells that are found in blood. Unlike red blood cells, which are pretty much all the same, white blood cells consist of different types, all with their own functions. When we see those types of white blood cells individually counted, that is when we have the differential on a full blood count. Why is this important?
We know how a full blood count should normally look like in a healthy person. If there are changes, then we have clues about what may be happening in the body that involves the immune system. For example, if there is an infection going on, then we would expect an immune reaction. Depending on the kind of infection, various changes can be seen on the full blood count with differential. So, the changes on the differential count help identify what may be wrong and design any further investigations and the appropriate interventions to put things right again.
Other than infections, either bacterial, viral or parasitic, we may get clues about allergies, autoimmune processes, cancers, medication side effects, or even genetic problems affecting the immune system.
The full blood count with differential is an accessible investigation, not expensive and available at
most labs. It offers a wealth of information to the trained clinician and should not be omitted from
any usual tests that we employ to check our health status. If we have several full blood counts done
over time, we can get even more reliable clues because then it won’t be just a snapshot.
Beyond the obvious changes in cell counts, noticing some subtle tendencies to deviate from the
normal may allow for timely interventions, especially when correlated with clinical details.
Problems can be addressed early, even before they escalate.
Don’t worry, nobody will expect you to interpret your own blood tests results if you are not a trained healthcare practitioner. However, the informed patient will make a better partner on their healthcare journey. Just like you want to succeed in your business, or maybe exactly because of that, you may wish to be aware and proactive with your health.
You can also find other articles, free ebooks and a free immune system quiz on the website https://immunityspecialist.com and for a 1-1 conversation with Dr Anca you can book a free discovery call.
Dr Anca provided an in-depth and unique training on the best way to use lab tests to support health
and on how to source the best assessments to our Insiders mastermind group. The training was free to
watch for those joining us on the day and even if you were not a available on the day you can watch again anytime. Just look up my name on the Insiders. And tag me for any follow up questions or discussion.
Disclaimer: This content is not intended to diagnose, treat or substitute medical advice and care in
any way. This is for educational and informational purposes only. Consult a healthcare professional
for personalised guidance.
About the author
Dr Anca-Liana Ciobotaru applies comprehensive and targeted assessments and interventions to help
people optimise their immune systems, which influences their overall health and well-being. She is
the only medically qualified Allergist and Clinical Immunologist practising functional and lifestyle medicine in the UK and she is also a qualified and registered nutritionist. Whether you have allergies, autoimmune issues, or those weird symptoms your doctors were not able to diagnose, you will probably benefit from an immune system MOT. Your quality of life and your business will thank you for it!
Thank you for sharing Anca, in our experience business owners and professionals that ignore their health find it fails at the most inopportune moment, so it’s worth ensuring you and your employees are in the best health possible.
