A blood test is an example of a medical test that examines your blood to check for signs of disease and illness. A blood test can show your doctor how your body is responding to treatments for specific health conditions.
List of Blood Tests
The list of blood tests you can have done depends on your needs and what's recommended by your doctor or healthcare provider. There are many types of blood test, but each one provides important information regarding your health.
Some blood test may require you to go to a laboratory while others can easily be taken at home. Some tests will require you to fast (not eat or drink) for several hours before they can be done. Your doctor will tell you if it is necessary to do this before your test.
In general, blood tests carry a low risk of infection. Occasionally, people will feel a sting or prick as the needle is being inserted. However, this sensation usually disappears.
What's a blood test called?
A CBC is a comprehensive blood count that checks the levels of red and white blood cells, platelets, and hemoglobin. It can help diagnose or monitor health issues, like anemia, infection, and immune system disease. It can also be used to keep track of certain cancers.
The CBC can be called a "complete blood count" and is used to diagnose HIV, hepatitis C or other serious illnesses. Your doctor can use it to detect problems with your bones and kidneys.
When you have a blood test, your blood is withdrawn from a vein in your arm, usually by the doctor or healthcare professional known as a phlebotomist. During venipuncture, your provider will secure a rubberband around your arm in order to better see your veins and clean the area using an alcohol swab. Your blood is collected after the phlebotomist inserts a needle.
Blood clotting tests, also known as a coagulation panel, can help diagnose disorders that cause too much bleeding or too little clotting in the blood. This can include conditions like aplasticanemia, sickle cell disease, or other blood-related diseases.
The results of your test are compared to the range of values that is considered normal for a healthy group. As the range of values can vary for every person, it is important to speak with your healthcare provider regarding what they consider normal.
A CBC may also reveal the number of blood red cells in your system, along with a reticulocyte (the number of new blood red cells that you produce), and mean corpuscular size (the average diameter of your blood red cells). These numbers will help you diagnose anemia. They can also tell your doctor how severe your condition is.
TSH is produced by your pituitary gland. This small organ sits at the bottom part of your brain. This hormone controls the way your thyroid produces hormones. A higher level of TSH indicates that your thyroid is not working properly. A lower TSH level could suggest hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism is when your thyroid produces insufficient hormones.
FAQ
What is the importance and purpose of the health system?
The health care system is an important part of any country's economy. It helps people live longer and better lives. It also creates employment for nurses, doctors, as well as other medical professionals.
Access to high-quality healthcare services is possible through the health care system.
It is important to understand how healthcare systems work if you're interested in a career as a nurse or doctor.
Who is responsible?
Public health is a responsibility of all levels of government. Local governments are responsible for roads, schools as well parks and recreation facilities. Laws and regulations regarding food safety and workplace safety are provided by the federal and state governments.
What should you know about immunizations
Immunization is the process of stimulating an immune response to a vaccine. The body reacts to the vaccine by producing antibodies (immunoglobulins), which protect against infection.
Statistics
- About 14 percent of Americans have chronic kidney disease. (rasmussen.edu)
- Price Increases, Aging Push Sector To 20 Percent Of Economy". (en.wikipedia.org)
- For instance, Chinese hospital charges tend toward 50% for drugs, another major percentage for equipment, and a small percentage for healthcare professional fees. (en.wikipedia.org)
- Foreign investment in hospitals—up to 70% ownership- has been encouraged as an incentive for privatization. (en.wikipedia.org)
- The healthcare sector is one of the largest and most complex in the U.S. economy, accounting for 18% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2020.1 (investopedia.com)
External Links
How To
What are the main segments of the Healthcare Industry industry?
The healthcare industry is made up of key segments such as medical devices, pharmaceuticals and diagnostics, biotechnology, therapy, health information technology, medical equipment, and other medical devices.
Defibrillators, blood pressure monitors (defibrillators), stethoscopes, and ultrasound machines are some examples of medical devices. These products are typically used to diagnose, prevent, and treat diseases.
Pharmaceuticals are drugs that are prescribed to treat disease or reduce symptoms. Examples include antibiotics, antacids, antihistamines, contraceptives, etc.
Diagnostics are tests done by laboratories to determine illness or injury. There are many types of diagnostics: blood tests; urine samples; CT scans; MRI scans; X-rays.
Biotechnology refers essentially to the use of living organisms (such bacterium) to create useful substances which can be used by humans. There are many examples, including vaccines, insulin, or enzymes.
The treatment of disease or symptoms with therapeutics is a medical procedure that humans receive. These treatments can include drugs, radiation therapy and surgical interventions.
Software programs for managing patient records, including health information technology, are used by physicians and their staff. It helps them keep track of which medications they're taking, when they should take them, and whether or not they are working properly.
Medical equipment is anything used to diagnose, treat, or monitor conditions or illnesses. Dialysis machines are dialysis tables, pacemakers ventilators, operating rooms, and other medical equipment.