What Is A CBC Blood Test?
One of the most common types of medical tests used today to decipher if you are ill, having difficulties, healthy or to better pinpoint a current complaint or medical red-flag is a blood test referred to as a Complete Blood Count Test, or more often explained as, CBC, its acronym.
Humans couldn't exist unless we had blood flowing head to toes within our bodies. It, makes sense it is one of the first places to look when determining diagnosis. A CBC blood test is often requested by doctors in t.v. dramas these days, but in reality, it is a vital step in being sure what's right and what's abnormal with you, at least, on the inside.
CBC blood tests may be requested by your doctor simply when you're are under the weather, fatigued, or even if you simply have a cold you can't get rid of. You need not be inches from your death bed, nor obviously ill to have CBC blood tests ordered.
But, that said, every year when you visit your doctor, or physician for your annual physical, if your physician doesn't order a CBC Blood Test, by all means, ask for one. It is the cheapest, 'no brainer', maybe even life-saving act you can do and should do at least once a year.
Your complete blood count test represents your internal (which fuels your exterior) health and if there's something to worry about, odds are, life saving alerts will be found within your blood and its makeup. Not always, but more often enough. Several determining variables are studied in CBC Blood Tests: white blood cells and red blood cells or levels, the HCT (or Hematocrit, which basically determines the volume of space which your blood takes up), Hgb (or Hemoglobin which accounts for the oxygen inside your blood cells), and platelet counts which determines your blood's ability to clot.
Too many or too few of another element of your blood, depending on those numbers can be a warning that reveals to your medical staff what's really going on. While the diagnosis variables can be numerous and cover a wide spectrum, having your CBC Blood Test at least per year, after visiting your physician can provide you the answers to many questions about your overall health, that physical touch, listening to your heart, checking your breathing and using a tongue depressor just can't do.
A CBC (Complete Blood Count) Test (or Tests) can give you specific reasons why you're fatigued, not feeling 'normal', showing bruising for 'no reason', having chest pains, have an infection, are having adverse reactions, plus a slew of other possibilities. But, perhaps even more important, such blood tests allow you the potentially life-saving, time stretching benefit of catching early warning signs of potentially debilitating and life shortening trouble if allowed to grow. Write this down now for both yourself and those you love to consistently (at least annually) take part in a CBC Blood Test or Complete Blood Count Tests. Sure, could spare your life and theirs, but even if nothing is terribly out of order, it's an easy way to increase the quality of your current lifestyle.
Finding tell it to you straight and healthy information about the healthy living you want to adopt, is not 'brain surgery'. No matter your interest: from healthy eating to how to really lose weight once and for all, you name it. Deciding to have a healthy living doesn't have to be hard, or at all life altering if you don't want it to be, nor is it mandatory that you have to forgo all the tastes, fun and adventure you now appreciate as often is the myth.
Published October 3rd, 2007