Following are the lab results your doctor will use to determine if your blood glucose is normal, if you have prediabetes, or if you have diabetes. If your results fall into this category, stick with hearthealthy habits like following a balanced diet and getting regular exercise. Mar 29, 2019 understanding what your blood test results mean in relation to normal values is important for you to decipher, but only health professionals are qualified to interpret the results and use them as a guide for making an accurate diagnosis. Monitoring your blood glucose levels is an important step in managing your diabetes. Women that menstruate will show a lower iron level than men due to blood loss. Normal blood tests scores simply arent good enough. Understanding your lab test results american cancer society. Know how all blood tests are formatted and presented. Understanding blood test result common blood tests. Understanding how blood works the basics hog handbook.
Nearly every autoimmune and neurodegenerative disorder is associated with low vitamin d levels. A practical guide to interpreting blood test results. What a low number may mean iron, vitamin b12, or folate deficiency. Nevertheless, understanding blood types, and the genetics of human blood is far easier than that of any other human tissue. Understanding blood test results complete blood count. The author was even the tutor at a recent 2 day study course on interpreting blood results. In many cases, test results may be affected by factors such as age, intake of medicines or herbal supplements or when the patient last ate or exercised. Elevated blood pressure is when readings consistently range from 120129 systolic and less than 80 mm hg diastolic. Knowing your numbers will also help inform your doctor about changes you may need to make to your treatment plan. Oddly, the results for the five types of white blood cells basophils, eosinophils, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes often appear below the list of red blood cell results.
Understanding your blood and blood tests myeloma canada. This includes a cbc complete blood count and blood chemistries that analyze chemical components in the blood. The book achieves its aim, which is to give an overview of the interpretation of routine blood results to a readership that has a grasp of anatomy and physiology but no in depth knowledge of laboratory. The usual place for a sample to be taken from is the inside of the elbow or wrist, where the veins are relatively close to the surface. You need to be looking out for your best interests by understanding blood test results for yourself and questioning your doctor when something just doesnt seem right to you. One of the most common blood test analyzed in a medical lab is a complete blood count cbc. This course has been designed to provide an introduction to understanding blood results.
Aug 28, 2008 nevertheless, understanding blood types, and the genetics of human blood is far easier than that of any other human tissue. This book was originally written after feedback suggested that storytelling was very helpful to students and practitioners wanting to remember blood tests and their. Remember its the trends within a normal range that are. Laboratory tests are tools used for evaluating the health status of an individual. Feb 06, 2020 all blood and urine tests must include certain basic elements. If youre waiting for lab test results to come back or youre trying to figure out what they mean, the process and all those medical terms and numbers can be confusing. Understanding common blood tests and what they mean. It contains proteins, fats, salt, and other substances. A guide for nurses and allied health professionals third edition 27 may, 2014 by ibadete fetahu primarily it would be helpful to both those in a hospital or community setting that deal with patients blood results and wish to gain a grasp or why the tests are ordered and initial interpretation. White blood cells, or wbcs, are an important part of your immune system. Red blood cells carry oxygen to all parts of the body. The use of storytelling has also been significantly improved and refined, following several years of feedback on the first edition. Lab tests online is designed to help you, the patient or caregiver, understand the what, why, and how of laboratory testing. See list below or call us should you question your lab normal score.
How to read and understand medical laboratory results. Understanding lab tests and results health checkup. Red blood cells pick up oxygen from the blood and deliver it to tissues throughout the body. Understanding blood test results other blood tests embody blood count complete blood count that essentially counts red and white blood cells. This book is an essential must have for nurses and allied health professionals who encounter routine haematology and biochemistry results. The arm is a convenient part of the body to use because it can be easily uncovered. Need help with interpreting or understanding blood test results.
The blood test abbreviations guide is here to help you. A complete blood count is often a routine part of blood tests. Simply provide your email address in the space provided above and ill immediately email you a free copy of dr. In many cases, test results may be affected by factors such as age, intake of medicines or herbal. A wbc count, also called a leukocyte count, measures the amount of wbcs in a sample of blood. Most clients have scores within the lab normal range. Understanding iron blood test results new doctor insights.
The course gives learners a basic awareness of key tests, disease relevance and demonstrates the need to link tests and organs to better interpret the result. If you are battling any health issue and you want to play an active role in your recovery, this book is an important tool. Leigh erin connealys report, a guide to understanding your blood test results. Cortisol levels chart throughout the day in blood and urine. This healthhearty article presents useful information on blood test results for common tests like a complete blood count, hemoglobin test, and glucose test. Fibrinogen fibrinogen is a test generally utilized to assess the stickiness or coagulation of the blood. The blood cells are red cells, white cells, and platelets. While reading blood test results for a complete blood count, one needs to understand that the results are for three different types of cells, which are red blood cells erythrocytes, white blood cells leukocytes, and. Blood test results that identify prediabetes dummies. To access the primary resources on this website, you can go to the full listings below. Page 2 of 2 high results there can be several reasons for your red blood cells being too high, including dehydration and smoking. This is a very useful test and can detect the possibility of diabetic 10 years before it can really develop.
When looking at the full blood count the important indices to look at are. The course is active for 30 days from the payment date. All blood tests, including the cbc and other panels and tests, must include certain basic elements including. Megan ralf published january 16, 2020 last modified february, 2020. Understanding your cbc complete blood count test results. This revised, updated edition continues to use storytelling to aid understanding, and introduces a unique 10point system to help explain blood results. When you have cancer it often seems like someone is always taking blood for some kind of test. Now with interpreting your blood work, im empowered to take a further step in understanding my own blood work. They help fight infections by attacking bacteria, viruses, and germs. Understanding your blood test results reveals line by line how to read the data available to you on a lab report and tells you what it means about your current state of health.
Generally the normal range is worked out on the assumption that it covers 95 percent of the healthy patients. Understanding your cats blood work results all feline. Following are the lab results your doctor will use to determine if your blood glucose. Understanding your complete blood count results nz healthinfo reference. Understanding blood pressure readings american heart. What a high number may mean dehydration, renal problems, pulmonary or congenital heart disease. Understanding blood test results is extremely important because your doctor is not always right or necessarily looking out for your best interests. I am 67 yrs old and getting concerned that my blood levels keep changing and to my reasoning after reading this. Blood tests are done to help watch your bodys response to treatment. A blood test usually involves taking a blood sample from a blood vessel in your arm. Thats why your doctor will probably want to obtain at least three. A cbc measures the most common types of cells and elements in your blood, such as red blood cells rbc, white blood cells wbc, and platelets. How to read your wellness blood test results walkin lab. Blood pressure numbers of less than 12080 mm hg are considered within the normal range.
May 19, 2014 understanding blood test results other blood tests embody blood count complete blood count that essentially counts red and white blood cells platelets, hemoglobin, and mean somatic cell volume. It also gives you tips on how to track blood test results. To make things a little easier to understand, here are some guidelines for understanding how both the abo blood types and the rh system work. Dan makes it clear and easy to comprehend what my blood work shows.
May 07, 2016 understanding blood test results and lab test results are equally important for the patient so that he can stay better informed about his condition. Your wbc count, usually tested as part of a normal. Reading blood test results is not as difficult as it is made out to be. Understanding blood test results is easy, if you know what to look out for. May 31, 2007 this book is an essential must have for nurses and allied health professionals who encounter routine haematology and biochemistry results. Understanding your blood test results invite health. Each person receives an a, a b, or an o gene from each parent. This test shows your average blood sugar level over the last 2 to 3 months.
As the cortisol hormone level changes during the day, we listed below the normal ranges used by medical laboratories to measure how normal or abnormal the cortisol. The ultimate guide to decoding your blood test results. Understanding blood test results and lab test results are equally important for the patient so that he can stay better informed about his condition. A blood test or lab test allows us to learn information about your dogs health which can only be found from collecting a sample of blood and having it analyzed. In just minutes, a guide to understanding your blood test results delivers clear, concise, easytounderstand explanations for more than 30 of today. Please look at the understanding blood test results page for more help with reading and interpreting your blood tests. Rbcs contain hemoglobin, which carries oxygen to all your cells, whereas wbcs are part of your immune system and help to. Yfh uses its 40 year data base to compute your optimum. Some of the proteins are important in blood clotting. Even with my training, looking at lab results can be confusing they arent always straightforward to read and results can be put in different orders, depending on the lab. A urine test will show if there is sugar in urine,but its main job is to show if your urine has ketones. Look for the blood test abbreviations in alphabetical order. Blood results in clinical practice clinical investigations.
Understanding your cbc complete blood count test results 2 comments advice posts, blood tests by admin know your blood is a participant in the amazon services llc associates program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to. On a typical day, your blood pressure is likely to fluctuate up or down by about 20 percent. Cbc results can be used to help diagnose some types of blood cancer, identify whether a cancer has spread to the bone marrow, and identify potential side effects of cancer treatment. Knowing and understanding your blood levels allow you to have a better idea of how much vitamin d3 to supplement with daily. Sometimes the normal range is in front of the result and sometimes it is the other way around. To learn more about laboratory medicine in general. Ketones in urine mean your blood sugar is out of control. Understanding blood test results let a nurse teach you what. If the mchc level is below 28%, this is considered too low. As you read through this infoguide, you may refer to the more detail boxes to read more. You will know if you are currently challenged by, or at risk for anemia, diabetes, heart disease, bacterial and viral infections, parasitic activity, inflammatory. Understanding blood test results if you are suspected of having iron deficiency your doctor will ask you to have a blood test to check your full blood count and iron studies.
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