A practical guide to interpreting blood test results 2nd revised edition by dr graham basten isbn. Even if the laboratory labels a result as being abnormal, this does not necessarily mean that there is a problem. Yfh uses its 40 year data base to compute your optimum. Statistics show that physicians spend an average of nine minutes with each patient, not nearly enough time to understand the complexity of blood work. How to read it and natural ways to improve your results. A lab instrument then automatically counts the number of each type of circulating cell. Learn more about how a cbc is done, what it measures, and what the results mean.
Blood results in clinical practice clinical investigations books. While interpreting blood tests are best left to a physician, it may be helpful to understand what the test is looking for, and whats considered a normal result. Your doctor has ordered blood tests, but do you know how to read the results. Higher bun levels can indicate dehydration, kidney failure or disease, high protein levels, heart failure, gastrointestinal bleeding, or obstruction in the urinary tract. It is highly possible that you will require a blood test at one point in your life.
Knowing your numbers will also help inform your doctor about changes you may need to make to your treatment plan. You can become literate in your blood test results. Understanding your blood test results with michael klaper md. Understanding your results is key to controlling high blood pressure. Look for the blood test abbreviations in alphabetical order. 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. Doctors perform the platelet count blood test on its own or as part of a complete blood count cbc test. See list below or call us should you question your lab normal score. Please look at the understanding blood test results page for more help with reading and interpreting your blood tests. The aha refers to these high measurements as a hypertensive crisis. They can show small changes before problems get serious. In general, normal bun levels range from 620 mgdl in adults. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Reading your results lab tests online au blood test. You will know if you are currently challenged by, or at risk for anemia, diabetes, heart disease, bacterial and viral infections, parasitic activity, inflammatory arthritis, and more. So to empower readers, here is a simplified guide to understanding your blood test results. This book was originally written after feedback suggested that storytelling was very helpful to students and practitioners wanting to remember blood tests and. Increasingly, people are having direct access to their pathology test results and with the introduction of the australian governments my health record. The lab found whatever your doctor was testing for.
The complete blood count, or cbc, is a lab test that provides information about these circulating cells. What doesnt always make sense is the baffling list of medical terms on the blood test results that are often part of routine exams. With this test, we get an idea of the shape and size of red blood cells. Anyone in the same boat then this is the book for your library. You will know if you are currently challenged by, or at risk for anemia, diabetes, heart disease, bacterial and viral infections, parasitic activity, inflammatory. In this case, width refers to a measurement of distribution, not the size of the cells.
If you have enough tests done, something will eventually show up as abnormal. Blood sugar, or glucose, is the main sugar found in your blood. If you have any questions about your test results, discuss them. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. Wbc white blood cell count part of the cbc test blood tests are one of a doctors basic tools to check your health or test for certain conditions, illnesses, and abnormalities. It will then be sent to a laboratory where it will be examined under a microscope or tested with chemicals, depending on whats being checked. A blood pressure reading above 180120 mm hg indicates a serious health problem. There are numerous blood test abbreviations, knowledge of these abbreviations will help you ascertain what blood tests results mean, and help you gather a clear understanding of blood tests.
The best person to help you understand your results is the doctor who ordered the test. Understanding common blood tests and what they mean. All blood and urine tests must include certain basic elements. Creatinine is a nitrogenous metabolic substance in muscle and blood and excreted in the urine. Blood test results that identify prediabetes dummies. 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. A complete blood count cbc is usually a part of your yearly physical exam. This should be a book to use as a reference, not a dvd. Each test for different things, which can be understood through a detailed analysis of the results. To better understand your lab report, its helpful to recognize the. Liver disease, anemia, nutritional deficiencies, and a number of health conditions could cause high or low rdw results. In this case, positive doesnt necessarily mean good and negative doesnt necessarily mean bad.
To read blood test results, scan the results and look for anything labeled l, which means its too low, or h, which means its too high. The blood test abbreviations guide is here to help you. 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. I am 67 yrs old and getting concerned that my blood levels keep changing and to my reasoning after reading this. Blood test results help your doctor identify infections and allergies or diagnose potential diseases and conditions such as anemia and leukemia. The characteristics of test population may also affect results. Taking time to unravel the mystery of your blood panel results is well worth the effort, since it can reveal a great deal about your overall health status. What are we actually measuring and why does this matter. Buy routine blood results explained 2rev ed by andrew blann isbn. Women that menstruate will show a lower iron level than men due to. When you have cancer it often seems like someone is always taking blood for some kind of test. For clarification on blood test abbreviations other than those listed above just ask your medical professional. Results, relevant ranges, and alerts are highlighted for illustrative purposes.
This healthhearty article presents useful information on blood test results for common tests like a complete blood count, hemoglobin test, and glucose test. The only way to know if you have high blood pressure hbp, or hypertension is to have your blood pressure tested. If you have a low red blood cell count, it could mean that you have anemia, whereas a high red blood cell count could indicate bone marrow disease. If youre like most patients, youve probably looked over the alphabet soup of acronyms and abbreviations in your blood test results and wondered what it all means.
Your guide to understanding blood tests numbers and results. Blood test results your complete guide to understanding. Learn whats considered normal, as recommended by the american heart association. A practical guide to interpreting blood test results. How to read it and natural ways to improve your results wagner, dr. Most clients have scores within the lab normal range. Understanding blood pressure readings american heart. How to read and understand medical laboratory results. Running or any highintensity exercise can cause slight dehydration and show up as kidney insufficiency. This book was originally written after feedback suggested that storytelling was very helpful to students and practitioners wanting to remember blood tests and their.
Unless the test results are cleareither you are pregnant or youre notyour doctor will rarely make a decision or diagnosis based only on the results of a lab test. Instead, he or she will use the results of your tests along with information about your health, gender, age, and other factors. But allowing prediabetes to develop into diabetes will most definitely lead to symptoms, which is exactly what you want to avoid. These results are usually written as positive or negative. 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. Monitoring your blood glucose levels is an important step in managing your diabetes.
A sunburn can elevate white blood cell count, which typically signals inflammation. Blood test results reveal blood disorders in blood tests and also with a blood test with rare blood types. This is the main pigment in bile and the major product of haemoglobin catabolism. Blood tests are done to help watch your bodys response to treatment. As i have to have a lot of blood tests it is good to read and understand what the results mean. There are many variables that must be considered when interpreting the results of any laboratory or diagnostic test. And instead of seeing a doctor, ive been thinking about how to write this post how to describe my carnivore diet blood work in the most helpful way.
So if you had a test for strep throat, testing positive means you do have strep throat. Understanding what is normal and what is abnormal can be a little daunting. A blood test is typically composed of three main tests. Understanding your lab test results american cancer society. Understanding the complete blood count cbc sonora quest. You likely will not experience any symptoms from it. First, a sample of your blood is collected and sent to the lab. Understanding blood test results is easy, if you know what to look out for. After the blood sample has been taken, it will be put into a bottle and labelled with your name and details. Blood test results explained health testing centers. A nonsymptomatic cold virus can raise or lower white blood cell count. Sample test results and specific blood test results explained. Understanding your cbc complete blood count test results. When my test results arrived, they came with a warning from the facility to go see a doctor.
The ultimate guide to decoding your blood test results. Following is a general example of the results of a blood test, a cholesterol blood test. The serum creatinine test provides a sensitive measure of renal damage because renal impairment is virtually the only cause of creatinine elevation. Normal blood tests scores simply arent good enough. Need help with interpreting or understanding blood test results. Understanding blood test result common blood tests. How to read your wellness blood test results walkin lab. The results give information on the components of a persons blood. Good blood tests make possible stateoftheart lab procedures that can be provided directly to the public in private and these blood tests can be provided affordably. The time of day, fasting, postprandial, supine, upright, age, gender, climate, effects of drugs, and the effects of diet may all affect test results. If results from the automated instrument are outside specified limits, a medical. With your newly acquired understanding of the terms and. Know boxes provide additional key facts as quick references throughout the book.
318 631 1095 813 467 303 1219 1151 1036 685 264 458 1613 312 1177 709 487 1104 1127 711 538 938 1390 92 82 850 1147 721 1314 230 1169 1393 1193 300 192 1322