Vitality News Health Articles

A commonly prescribed medical test currently used to decipher if you are ill, experiencing trouble, healthy or to better pinpoint a current complaint or medical finding is a blood test referred to as a Complete Blood Count Test, or more often explained as, CBC, the acronym.

Humans couldn’t survive unless we had blood flowing head to toes within our bodies. Thus it makes sense it is one of the first tests ordered by your doctor when figuring out diagnosis. A CBC blood test is often shouted by doctors in t.v. dramas these days, which may be a bit of an overkill, but in reality, it is a vital step in understanding what is normal and what is not right with you, internally.

A CBC blood test may be prescribed by your doctor simply when you are not feeling well, fatigued, or even if you simply have had difficulty and don’t know how to get rid of a cold. You don’t have to 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 yearly physical, if your doctor doesn’t order a CBC Blood Test, you should ask for one. It is the cheapest, most simple, perhaps 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 trouble, odds are, great clues will be found within your blood and its components. There are exceptions to the case, but be on the safe side, anyways. Many determining factors are researched with 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 which accounts for the oxygen inside your blood cells), and platelet count which makes it possible for your blood’s ability to clot.

Too many or too few of another element of your blood, depending on those numbers can be a ‘red-flag’ that tells your medical staff 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 per year, after visiting your doctor can hand you answers to most questions about your internal and external health, that just an external examination, putting a stethascope to your chest, checking your lungs 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 tired, not feeling ‘normal’, bruising more often than normal, having chest pains, have a virus, are having adverse reactions, plus a truck load of other possibilities. But, perhaps even more important, such blood tests allow you the possibly life-saving, longevity stretching benefit of catching early alerts and signs of potentially debilitating and life threatening trouble if ignored. Make a note now for both yourself and those you love to regularly (at least annually) take part in a CBC Blood Test or Complete Blood Count Tests. It could save your life, but even if nothing is seriously wrong, it is an easy way to boost the quality of your life.

Finding tell it to you straight and good for you insight about the healthy lifestyle you want to adopt, doesn’t require a Masters Degree in Physics. No matter your interest: from blending up a favorite banana smoothie recipe to how to really lose weight, you name it. Becoming more aware and creating a healthy life does not need to be hard to do, or at all challenging if you do not want it to be, nor is it mandatory that you have to forgo all the tastes, joy and adventure you have grown to love as often is the myth.

- Robert McMackey