What You Need to Know About Blood Testing
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BLOOD Blood is tissue, and its function is to transport and distribute numerous substances throughout the body. For example, blood is responsible for carrying oxygen to cells, glucose (energy for the body), proteins, lipids, hormones, neurotransmitters, minerals, vitamins, and other nutrients. For this reason, most measurable substances run through the blood when a specialist extracts a sample. In this case, a doctor can read (interpret) how your body’s machinery works.
THE RESULTS OF A BLOOD TEST The results of a blood test are not easy for most people to interpret. They can even lead to confusion that unnecessarily creates concerns. Therefore, a doctor is a person that must assess a blood test since altered values are not always signs of disease but of a specific imbalance.
Blood Count The complete blood count measures the concentration of each blood’s cellular element (red blood cells, white blood cells or leukocytes, and platelets). It also checks their shape and structure.
RED BLOOD CELLS AND HEMOGLOBIN Red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to all living body tissues and help remove carbon dioxide. Their natural values are 4.32-5.72 million/mm3 in men and 3.9-5.03 million/mm3 in women. Hemoglobin is a protein present in red blood cells and the cause of their color. Its natural values are 13.5-17.5 g/dL in men and 12-15.5 g/dL in women.
WHITE BLOOD CELLS Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell of the immune system, as they can distinguish the body’s cells from foreign elements and defend us against infections. Their average is 1,000-4,000/mL. Neutrophils are the most common type of white blood cell (45-70 percent of all white blood cells) and are the first defense against attack by an antigen. Their reference values are 1,500-7,500/mL.
Blood biochemistry refers to the chemical substances present in the blood to know the condition and function of the liver, kidney, and others. It includes glycemia (blood glucose levels), ions (sodium, potassium, and calcium), liver enzymes, kidney function parameters (urea and creatinine), cholesterol and triglycerides, iron profile, vitamin B12, folic acid, thyroid enzymes, and other enzymes. Standard parameters do not work for everyone because each person has specific values based on their blood and based on statistical references.
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