What to Do When Your Lab Results Are ‘Normal’ But Your Symptoms Persist
Lindsay Knake
| 3 min read
Lindsay Knake is a brand journalist for Blue Cross B...
Key Takeaways
- Talk to your primary care provider to review lab results, discuss possible causes and determine if further testing or a mental health screening is needed.
- Keep a detailed symptom log — including severity, timing, diet, stress and sleep — to help you and your clinician spot patterns and guide next steps.
- Prioritize a healthy lifestyle — balanced diet, hydration, about eight hours of sleep and regular exercise — to support overall well‑being while you investigate persistent symptoms.
If you feel lingering fatigue, pain or discomfort, you may talk to your primary care provider (PCP) and get a blood test to look for a cause.
But if your lab results don’t reveal a cause and your symptoms continue, what next? Here are some tips to move forward seeking effective health care after a blood test.
Talk to your primary care provider
Your first step should be to talk to your PCP. A typical blood test will look at measures of your:
- Kidney function
- Blood acidity and base balance
- Sugar levels
- Fluid and electrolyte balance
- Liver function
- Protein in blood
While lab results can look normal, your PCP can help you go through the results in more detail and determine whether your lab results are optimal for you. Your ferritin levels, for example, may be in the normal range compared to the average population but not right for your levels of physical activity and health conditions.
Your PCP may recommend further testing depending on your symptoms. More testing isn’t always better, so work with your PCP to determine the next steps.
The cause of your symptoms may not be something you can find in a lab test or screening. Conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, for example, aren’t easily tracked with lab results but can cause daily discomfort. Medication side effects or medication interaction likewise can cause unwanted symptoms; discuss your medications, including over-the-counter medications and supplements, with your PCP.
Seek immediate medical care if you have any of the following symptoms:
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness or fainting
- Ongoing fatigue
- Chronic pain
- Unexplained weight loss or loss of appetite
- Neurological symptoms such as sudden headaches, weakness, numbness or confusion
- Sudden changes in vision, speech or coordination
Keep track of your symptoms
Use a notebook or phone app to note your symptoms, their severity and frequency. Adding more detail will help, including factors such as diet, stress levels, sleep, allergies or even weather changes. This can help you and your health care team notice patterns.
Consider your mental health
Mental health conditions such as chronic stress, anxiety and depression can cause fatigue, appetite changes, physical pain such as migraines and body aches and sleep changes. All of these can contribute to feeling generally unwell.
Most PCPs will offer mental health screenings in office to look for recent symptoms of severe stress, anxiety or depression. Sometimes, you may not realize you have these conditions, especially if you are getting through your daily routine. Your PCP can help you discuss mental health treatments such as therapy or medication.
Focus on a healthy lifestyle
Healthy habits are essential to overall physical and mental well-being. While these tips may not fix a health condition, they can help support how you feel immediately and in the long run.
- Eat a healthy diet of fruits, vegetables, lean protein and whole grains.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Get seven to eight hours of sleep.
- Reduce or eliminate alcohol.
- Don’t smoke.
- Get at least 150 minutes of exercise a week.
- Get your annual physical and recommended screenings.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network members can find a doctor near them by using the Find a Doctor tool, available on both bcbsm.com and the BCBSM mobile app.
Image: Getty Images
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