Wellness and wellbeing have become buzzwords seen in most places. With increasing popularity in Western society, marketers and brands have latched onto these terms, promising to heal anything and everything with the latest massages, diets, and the newest pills topped off with some ‘positive vibes only’ slogan. While the quick fix and instant gratification culture remain steadily present in the current socio-political climate, we shouldn’t forget what really matters: good things take time and consistent work. It is essential to get to the root cause of our health issues and address them once and for all.

By getting to the heart of the matter, people will find themselves with a new lease on life, no matter their age. So, what magical solution is to fix almost all of one’s health issues? The answer is simpler than it seems – blood testing. That’s right, thorough testing of the body can not only help prevent diseases and tell patients what is missing but also save, and even extend one’s life. Beau Monde Traveler has had the pleasure of discussing this topic with Katie Coyle, an expert at Randox Health.

Randox Laboratories is a world leader in diagnostics and innovation in healthcare. The company was founded by Dr Peter FitzGerald in 1982 and has been leading the way in the world of testing ever since. Dr FitzGerald is still an integral part of the team, tenaciously continuing to dedicate hard work towards the complex industry of healthcare. Randox is also the official sponsor of The Grand National, known as the world’s most famous race.

Katie Coyle shared her story of how Randox Health testing has changed her life. For Katie, getting diagnosed with celiac disease was no easy journey. Having raised concerns for ten years over her lack of menstrual periods, she was dismissed by health practitioners who claimed that since she was feeling well otherwise, it must have been due to the use of birth control. Describing it as a lucky turn of events, Katie got a job with Randox and got 140 tests done as Randox Health was just starting out the consumer-based blood testing products. The test results found that she had low iron and a dangerously low count of white blood cells, as well as an upturned hormone panel.

After changing up her diet and lifestyle, Katie repeated the testing process, this time with 180 tests. Further results discovered that her celiac antibodies were high, explaining a lot of the symptoms, such as the low white blood cell count, after many years. This meant that upon consuming gluten, Katie’s body was reacting by attacking itself. Moreover, gluten has also impacted her intestines, meaning the nutrients were not being effectively absorbed. Because of this, no amount of healthy eating and supplements would work to help the body recover. After six months of cutting gluten out of her diet, Katie’s periods returned and symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, and heartburn disappeared. ‘There is a scientific reason for most things when it comes to the body: it’s a huge work of art, but it is a larger work of science. We can help more people help themselves by seeking this understanding and identifying the earliest signs of illness and preventing them from turning into diseases,’ shares Coyle.

It is known that one in four people in the UK has an autoimmune disease. Katie’s personal story is proof that thorough and consistent testing can not only find the cause of various symptoms but also prevent further diseases and extend one’s life. ‘This is one of Randox’s worthwhile missions, [so] you can access this information in a personalised way and really put it to good work,’ explains Coyle. The testing process has introduced a new world of accessible diagnostics that provide an abundance of information based on each individual. Katie describes the process as ‘direct access to answers. After all, who wouldn’t want to seek answers to their health concerns?

Patients can also receive pre-diagnostic tests, meaning the information obtained from a single blood sample with Randox can tell if a person has pre-diabetes, pre-heart disease, and more. While pre-diagnostic testing is not a common practice within our society, it can and should be done to improve our quality of life, and even extend it. ‘The need for personalised health care, instead of sick care, is true. We can be benefiting from testing from an as young as possible age.’, says Katie. So, one does not have to have severe symptoms to get treated, it is the prevention mindset that will propel our health into a brighter future.

Randox has a multitude of packages available ranging from the entry-level package to the top package. The entry package comes with two thorough tests done twice a year, containing 165 points of data that provide personalised results, followed by a consultation with a Randox Health expert. The top package includes access to everything, such as genetic testing or home test kits of all sorts that can be consistently obtained throughout the year, helping paint a fuller picture of one’s individual health profile.

Coyle foresees a future where the technology will be smaller and more accessible, going as far as having Randox testing equipment in our homes with quick, accurate results, and a health expert readily available to help understand the findings. The importance of getting accurate answers regarding personal health is life-changing, and people now can get to the root cause of even minor health concerns. Treating the symptoms alone or booking a spa day is not enough anymore; we need to take responsibility for our wellbeing and start digging deeper with the help of blood testing.