Most likely, there will be a time in your life when you have a blood test. The blood will be taken by a medical officer and then analyzed in a laboratory. The most common blood test performed is the Complete Blood Count (HDL), which measures all the different types of cells and elements that form in your blood, such as red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (SDP), platelets (platelets), and hemoglobin. Other testing components can also be added to the HDL test, such as a cholesterol profile and blood sugar (glucose) test. To understand your health parameters well without relying solely on the doctor's interpretation, it's a good idea to learn how to read blood test results. However, make sure you return to your doctor for further discussion of your blood test results if necessary.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Understanding the Basic HDL Test
Step 1. Know how all blood test results are organized and displayed
All blood tests, including complete blood count tests and profiles and other tests, must include certain basic elements, including: your name and medical ID number, date of completion and printing of test results, name of the test performed, lab and doctor of the test applicant examinations, actual test results, normal limits for test results, marked abnormal results, and, of course, many abbreviations and measurement quantities. To people who are not from the medical field, blood tests can seem daunting and confusing, but there's no need to rush. Slowly identify all of these basic elements and how they are arranged between headings and within the vertical columns.
- Once you feel familiar with the format for presenting a blood test, you can skim through the results sheet to find abnormal results marked (if any), labeled with "L" for too low (low) or "H" for too high (high) results..
- You do not need to memorize the normal limits of the existing measurement components because they will always be printed next to your inspection results as a practical reference.
Step 2. Differentiate the types of blood cells present and the problem indicated by the abnormal results
As previously noted, the main cells that make up your blood are red and white blood cells. Red blood cells (RBCs) contain hemoglobin, which transports oxygen to all tissues in the body. White blood cells (WBCs) are part of the immune system and help destroy pathogenic microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, and parasites. A low RBC count can be a sign of anemia (not enough oxygen reaches the body's tissues), but a high RBC count can be a sign of bone marrow disease or a side effect of treatment, especially chemotherapy. Meanwhile, an increase in the number of SDP (leukocytosis) usually indicates that your body is fighting an infection. Some types of drugs, especially steroids, can also increase the number of SDP.
- The normal limit for red blood cells is different for men and women. Generally, men have 20-25% more HR because men tend to have larger bodies and more muscle tissue, and both require more oxygen intake.
- Hematocrit (the proportion of blood volume made up of red blood cells) and mean erythrocyte volume (VER) are two ways of measuring red blood cells and they are usually of greater value to men because of their higher oxygen requirements.
Step 3. Identify the functions of the other basic elements that make up blood
Two other components of blood that have been mentioned in the complete blood count (HDL) test are platelets and hemoglobin. As mentioned, hemoglobin is an iron-based molecule that binds oxygen as blood circulates through the lungs, while platelets are part of the body's blood-clotting system and help prevent excessive bleeding from wounds. A hemoglobin count that is too low (due to iron deficiency or bone marrow disease) leads to anemia, while a low platelet count (thrombocytopenia) may be the result of prolonged external or internal bleeding, traumatic injury or the cause of prolonged bleeding and other medical conditions. On the other hand, a high platelet count (thrombocytosis) can indicate a serious bone marrow problem or inflammation.
- RBC and hemoglobin levels are related because hemoglobin is transported in the RBC, although it is possible to have a defective RBC without hemoglobin (in the case of sickle cell anemia).
- Many compounds can "thin" the blood, in the sense of reducing platelet stickiness and inhibiting blood clotting, including: alcohol, many drugs (ibuprofen, aspirin, heparin), garlic, and parsley.
- The HDL test also includes eosinophil count (Eos), polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN), mean erythrocyte volume (VER), and mean erythrocyte hemoglobin concentration (KHER).
Part 2 of 2: Understanding Profiles and Other Tests
Step 1. Understand what a lipid (blood fat) profile is
A lipid profile is a more specific blood test that is useful in determining your potential risk for cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, heart attack, and stroke. Doctors review the results of the lipid profile first before determining if a person needs cholesterol-lowering medication. The general lipid profile includes total cholesterol (including all lipoproteins present in the blood), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, HDL ("good" cholesterol), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, LDL ("bad" cholesterol), and triglycerides, which are fats. normally stored in fat cells. Basically, you want your total cholesterol to be less than 200 mg/dL and a good HDL to LDL ratio to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease.
- HDL removes excess cholesterol from the blood and transports it to the liver for recycling. Expected levels are above 50 mg/dL (ideally above 60 mg/dL). HDL levels are the only ones you should want a high score for in this type of blood test.
- LDL deposits excess cholesterol in the blood vessels in response to injury or injury. This can trigger atherosclerosis (blockage of blood vessels). Expected levels are below 130 mg/dL (ideally below 100 mg/dL).
Step 2. Know what a blood sugar test can tell you
A blood sugar test measures the amount of glucose circulating in your blood, usually after fasting for at least 8 hours. This test is usually needed if diabetes (type 1 or 2, or gestational) is suspected. Diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough of the hormone insulin (which captures glucose from the blood) and/or the body's cells do not allow insulin to deposit glucose normally. Thus, people with diabetes chronically have high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia), which is above 125 mg/dL.
- People who are at serious risk of developing diabetes (often classified as "prediabetic") generally have blood pressure in the range of 100-125 mg/DL.
- Other causes of high glucose levels include: high stress, chronic kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, and inflammation or cancer of the pancreas.
- Low blood sugar (below 70 mg/dL) is known as hypoglycemia and is a hallmark symptom of insulin excess, alcoholism and organ failure (liver, kidney, heart).
Step 3. Learn what CMP is
The Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) measures a wide variety of other constituents in the blood, such as electrolytes (electrically charged elements, generally salts), other minerals, protein, protein, creatinine, liver enzymes, and glucose. These tests are instructed not only to determine a person's overall health, but also to check the state of the kidneys, liver, pancreas, electrolyte levels (needed for normal nerve conduction and muscle contraction) and acid/base balance. Usually an application for a CMP test is done at the same time as an HDL test as part of a blood test for an annual medical or physical exam.
- Sodium is one of the electrolytes needed to regulate fluid levels in the body and keep nerves and muscles functioning properly. However, sodium levels are too high can cause hypertension (high blood pressure) and increase the risk of heart attack. The normal limit is in the range of 136-144 mEq/L. Other electrolyte levels may also be noted. Potassium should be in the 3.7 – 5.2 mEq/L range while chloride should be in the 96 – 106 mmol/L range
- Liver enzymes (ALT and AST) can be elevated in the blood due to injury or inflammation of the liver - often from excessive consumption of alcohol and/or drugs (with/without a prescription, or even illegal), or infections such as hepatitis. Bilirubin, albumin, and total protein may also be noted.
- If blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine levels are too high, this is an indication of kidney problems. BUN should be in the range of 7-29 mg/dL while creatinine should be between 0.8-1.4 mg/dL.
- Other elements tested in CMP are albumin, chloride, potassium, calcium, total protein, and bilirubin. If there are elements that are too high or too low, this can be an indication of a disease.
Tips
- Don't forget that there are many factors that can cause variations in your blood test results (advanced age, gender, stress level, altitude/climate where you live), so don't jump to conclusions on your own until you've had a chance to discuss it with your doctor.
- You can study all of the measurement quantities if you want, but this is not necessary because the main thing is to compare the values you get to the normal limits listed.
