What Is A CBC Blood Test?
One of the most common types of medical tests used today to decipher if you are sick, having difficulties, if you aren't sick at all or to best find why you are in discomfort or medical finding is a blood test known as a Complete Blood Count Test, or more commonly, CBC, its acronym.
Humans couldn't get along unless we had blood flowing head to toes within our bodies. Thus it makes perfect sense it is one of the first tests ordered when determining diagnosis. CBC blood tests are often requested by doctors in t.v. dramas these days, which may be a bit of an overkill, but in actuality, it is a crucial step in knowing what is right and what is abnormal with you, internally.
A CBC blood test can be requested by your physician simply when you're not feeling well, always tired, or even if you simply have a flu. You need not be in the jaws of death, nor lying in an emergency room bay to have CBC blood tests ordered.
But, that said, every year when you visit your doctor, physician or alternative practitioner for your yearly check-up, if your physician does not order a CBC Blood Test, by all means, ask he or she does. It is the cheapest, most simple, maybe even life-saving act you can do and definitely should do at least once a year.
Your complete blood count test represents your overall health and if there is trouble, odds are, great clues will be found within your blood and its makeup. There are exceptions to the case, but be on the safe side, anyways. A number of determining factors are researched in CBC Blood Tests: white and red blood cell counts or levels, the HCT (or Hematocrit, which basically is defined by the volume of space which your blood takes up), Hgb (or Hemoglobin which accounts for the oxygen within your blood cells), and platelet count which determines your blood's ability to clot.
Too many of one or too few of another element of your blood, depending on what numbers reveal themselves can be a warning that reveals to your medical team what is really happening inside you. While the diagnosis variables can be numerous and cover a wide spectrum, having your CBC Blood Test at least once per year, after visiting your doctor can supply you the answers to most questions about your overall health, that physical touch, putting a stethascope to your chest, checking your lungs and opening your mouth and saying, 'Ahhhh,' just can't do.
A CBC (Complete Blood Count) Test (or Tests) can give you specific answers to why you're fatigued, not feeling 'normal', showing bruising for 'no reason', having chest pains, have a virus, are having adverse reactions, plus a slew of other potential issues. But, perhaps even more vital, such blood tests allow you the possibly life-saving, time stretching benefit of detecting early alerts and signs of potentially hazardous and life shortening trouble if allowed to grow. Write this down now for you and those you love to consistently (at least once a year) 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 method to increase the quality of your current lifestyle.
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Published December 5th, 2007
Filed in Women
