Why Bother With Complete Blood Counts?
One of the most common types of medical tests used these days to determine if you are ill, experiencing trouble, 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, the acronym.
You and I could not survive unless we had blood flowing from top to bottom within our bodies. Thus it makes perfect sense it is one of the first places to look when figuring out diagnosis. CBC blood tests are often called out by doctors in television shows 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 wrong with you, internally.
A CBC blood test may be requested by a doctor simply when you are not feeling well, chronically tired, or even if you simply have a common cold. You don't have to be in the jaws of death, nor lying in an emergency room bay to have a CBC blood testCBC blood test ordered.
Next time you have an appointment with your doctor, or physician for your annual check-up, if your doctor does not order a CBC Blood Test, by all means, ask for one. 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, or CBC represents your internal (which fuels your exterior) health and if there is something to worry about, odds are, warning signs will be found within your blood and its components. Not always, but more often enough. Many determining variables are examined in CBC Blood Tests: white and red blood cell counts or levels, the HCT (or Hematocrit, which basically determines the volume of space which your blood takes up), Hgb (or Hemoglobin that accounts for the oxygen within your blood cells), and platelet counts which determines your blood's ability to clot.
Too many of one or too few of another element of your blood, depending on those numbers could be a alert that reveals to your medical team what is really going on. While the diagnosis variables can be vast and cover a wide spectrum, having your CBC Blood Test at least once per year, after visiting your physician can provide you answers to most questions about your internal and external health, that physical touch, putting a stethascope to your chest, checking your breathing and using a tongue depressor just can't do.
A CBC (Complete Blood Count) Test (or Tests) can give you exact answers to why you are fatigued, not feeling 'normal', bruising more often than normal, having chest discomfort, have an infection, are showing allergic reactions, plus a truck load of other possibilities. But, perhaps even more important, these blood tests allow you the potentially life-saving, longevity stretching benefit of detecting early alerts and signs of maybe hazardous and life threatening trouble if ignored. Make a note now for you and your family to regularly (at least annually) take part in a CBC Blood Test or Complete Blood Count Tests. Sure, may spare your life, but even if nothing is terribly wrong, it is a simple way to boost the quality of your current lifestyle.
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Published December 5th, 2007
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