Blood Tests & Lab Values

Introduction In clinical practice, I may occasionally encounter a situation in which cardiac markers need to be tested in an…

Introduction Serum phosphate in athletes may provide clinically relevant information in blood work when interpreted in context. Phosphate plays important…

Introduction: Albumin in Athletes In my clinical work, I often notice that many patients — and even athletes — associate…

Introduction: Proteinuria After Exercise If a urine sample is collected from an athlete immediately after exercise, it is fairly common…

Introduction: Chloride in Athletes Chloride is often an overlooked electrolyte in clinical practice. When electrolytes are discussed, the focus is…

Introduction: Myoglobin vs Creatine Kinase In sports—especially during prolonged endurance efforts—some degree of muscle cell damage commonly occurs. This is…

Introduction: Myoglobin in Athletes Elevated myoglobin is often one of the first findings that raises concern for clinicians. In the…

Introduction: Why Liver Enzymes in Athletes Require a Different Framework In my clinical work, I frequently encounter elevated liver enzyme…

Why Potassium in Athletes Requires a Different Interpretive Framework Potassium is the body’s principal intracellular cation, with roughly 98% of…

Introduction In the general population, sodium intake is often higher than necessary, and reducing excess salt is commonly recommended due…

Introduction Athletes represent a distinct population in whom creatinine measurements are frequently influenced by factors such as greater muscle mass,…

Introduction: Electrolytes in Athletes Electrolytes in athletes play a central role in athletic physiology, and exercise does affect the body’s…

Introduction EPO in athletes sits at a contested intersection of sports medicine, clinical diagnosis, and anti-doping science. Endurance athletes speak…

Introduction: Why RDW in Athletes Is Often Overlooked In my clinical practice, the evaluation of anemia often focuses primarily on…

Introduction Bilirubin in athletes is observed more frequently than in the general population. In my clinical practice, isolated mild elevations…

Introduction Some of my patients may have heard of the protein haptoglobin, but it remains relatively unfamiliar—and even when recognized,…

Introduction In my experience, athletic patients are often well-informed about nutrition and vitamins. They are typically interested in tracking their…

Introduction Many of my athletic patients follow highly structured training programs. Their routines often include near-daily workouts, carefully planned nutrition,…

Introduction In my practice, most athletes focus on hemoglobin and ferritin, with fewer paying attention to hematocrit. These markers are…

Introduction Iron deficiency is one of the most prevalent nutritional problems in sport — yet many of my patients who…