I've Been a Physician for Over 20 Years. Always Ask Your Doctor These 5 Questions About Your Lab Results

At least once a year, you should be going to the doctor and undergoing a fair amount of lab work to make sure you're as healthy as you can be. Your doctor will likely gather a variety of metrics, including cholesterol, blood sugar, kidney function, complete blood count and more.

But once you get these test results sent to you in your patient portal, knowing what to do with this information can be more complicated.

"Most people get their lab results, scan for 'normal' or 'abnormal' and move on," Dr. Cedrek McFadden, colorectal surgeon, tells TODAY.com. "But those numbers are telling a much bigger story."

Here are five questions McFadden wants you to ask your doctor to make sure you really understand your lab results.

“Is It Changing?”

"One of the biggest things I tell patients is that one number by itself doesn’t mean much," McFadden explains. "I care more about where it’s going. You can still be in the normal range but trending in the wrong direction, and that’s where we catch things early."

“What Does This Mean for Me?”

What is considered healthy a lab range is based on research on "big populations, not you personally," McFadden says.

"Your medical history, baseline, even medications all play a role. The same result can mean something completely different depending on the person."

“Why Might This Be Off?”

"A lot of times, I explain that not every abnormal result is a disease," McFadden emphasizes. "Sometimes it’s dehydration, something you ate, a supplement, even intense exercise the day before. Context matters more than people realize."

“Do We Need to Check It Again?”

"One result doesn’t always tell the whole story. I’ll often repeat labs just to make sure it’s real and an isolated abnormality. That alone can save people from a lot of unnecessary worry," McFadden says.

“What Do I Actually Need to Do About This?”

"The most important thing is that labs should lead to a plan," McFadden says. "Sometimes that’s lifestyle changes, sometimes it’s more testing, and sometimes it’s just watching it over time. But there should always be a clear next step for you."