HOW TO READ THE BLOOD COUNT: WHAT THE INDIVIDUAL BLOOD VALUES REALLY MEAN

Periodically carrying out analyzes is essential. In fact, the withdrawals make it possible to prevent diseases that could later cause irreparable problems. A correct attention to one's own organism is in fact an excellent starting point for preventing tumors or disorders that could lead to if not stopped or treated from the beginning.

In this short video we propose some methods to prevent cancer, trying to raise awareness of the care that our health requires and deserves.

"Your gamma-globulins are a bit high and your CRP value is high too" - and please say it in Italian! When you visit the doctor, you often don't understand much. Especially when it is not about treating a specific disease like the flu, but to discuss blood values.

With any luck, your doctor will explain what "gamma-globulins" are and what it means if the value is too high. But maybe he just throws you technical terms and abbreviations that don't allow you to understand much of them. In these cases Ask your doctor for a copy so that you can read your blood values at home.

Read the blood count (CBC)

Complete blood count or liver values: There are many blood values that are determined by the doctor. Common terms are partial blood count and complete blood count. The partial blood count is done in case of suspected infections, blood formation disorders and before surgery. Together with the differential blood count, in which the white blood cells are examined more closely, the complete blood count is obtained. often they are other blood values that the doctor checks to rule out various diseases or to make a diagnosis.

Thus, various blood values are determined to detect inflammation in the body. In this case, liver enzymes provide information on liver disease and urea or creatinine on kidney problems.

Partial blood count: the blood cells

The partial blood count consists of three areas: blood cells, hemoglobin, and the blood count. Blood cells include red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

Red blood cells (erythrocytes)
The number of red blood cells provides information about the body's oxygen supply, because oxygen is transported to the organs through them. If there are a lot of red blood cells, this can be a sign of lung and heart disease. A low value can be a sign anemia and iron or vitamin B deficiency 12.

Normal values for women: 4.0 - 5.4 million / µl
Normal values for men: 4.3 - 5.6 million / µl

White blood cells (leukocytes)
If the amount of white blood cells is high, it is often a sign of inflammation or infection in the body.

Normal values for women and men: 3,800 - 10,500 / µl

Blood platelets (thrombocytes)
Platelets are important for blood clotting. If the value is very high, there may be a "severe infection or cancer. Very low levels may be due to vitamin B12 deficiency or medication.

Normal values for women and men: 140,000 - 345,000 / µl

Partial blood count: hemoglobin

Hemoglobin is the red blood pigment. It is often abbreviated as Hb. It determines the total hemoglobin present in the blood (= HbE) or only that bound to red blood cells (= MCH).

An increased hemoglobin value can occur in the case of meningitis, tumors or stroke. A very low value is often a sign of iron deficiency anemia. The Hb value can also be low in chronic intestinal inflammation such as Crohn's disease.

Normal values for women: 12 - 16 g / dl
Normal values for men: 13 - 17 g / dl

Partial blood count: the hematocrit

The hematocrit value strongly depends on age, sex and the amount of red blood cells, which the doctor must take into account in the evaluation. In general, the hematocrit value makes a statement about the flow properties of the blood. If it is very high, the blood tends to be thick and the risk of blood clot formation is higher.

Normal values for women: 38 - 44
Normal values for men: 42 - 50

Differential blood count

The differential blood count is an extension of the partial blood count. Here, the various white blood cells are differentiated and assessed individually.

Granulocytes
Granulocytes are divided into neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils. If the granulocyte value is high, stress, medications, but also pregnancy, an "acute infection, leukemia or" allergy can be the cause. A very low value may indicate a vitamin B 12 deficiency, Cushing's disease or stress.

Normal values for women and men:
rod-nucleated neutrophils: 3 - 5%.
nucleated neutrophil segment: 54 - 62%
eosinophils: 1 - 4%
basophils: 0 - 1%

Monocytes
Monocytes play an important role in the immune system: they attack pathogens and eliminate them. If the monocyte level is elevated, this indicates an "acute infection such as mononucleosis, tuberculosis, malaria or chronic intestinal inflammation such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

Normal values for women and men: 3 - 8

Lymphocytes
There are two types of lymphocytes: B lymphocytes are responsible for the formation of antibodies, T lymphocytes form messenger substances that carry information back and forth between cells of the immune system. If the level is high, the cause may be "infection. A low value may be caused by HIV infection, Hodgkin's lymphoma, or Cushing's disease."

Normal values for women and men: 25 - 45%.

Inflammatory values

Inflammation can also be detected through the blood. There are three important values for this: erythrocyte sedimentation rate, white blood cell count and C-reactive protein (CRP).

Blood Sedimentation Rate (ESR):
The erythrocyte sedimentation rate measures how long it takes for blood cells to settle to the bottom. If the value is high, this indicates an "inflammation.

Normal values for women: 6 - 10 mm after 1 hour
Normal values for men: 3 - 10 mm after 1 hour

Number of white blood cells (leukocytes):
White blood cells play an important role in immune defense. If the blood value has increased, this indicates an "infection, for example by bacteria.

Normal values for women and men: 3,800 - 10,500 / µl

C-reactive protein (PCR):
The CRP level is a good measure of the inflammatory activity in the body because it peaks faster than the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Already six to ten hours after the illness, this level is high.

Normal values for women and men: less than 5 mg / l

Values of lipids in the blood

When it comes to blood fat values, most people think directly of cholesterol. But there is a whole series of other values that are evaluated in the analysis of blood lipids. This analysis determines the risk of lipometabolic disorders and atherosclerosis.

Triglycerides
Triglycerides are also called neutral fats and make up most of the fat ingested with food, they serve as storage fat. High triglyceride levels can be caused by obesity, diabetes, alcohol consumption, pregnancy, or liver disease. Too low values are quite rare.

Normal values for women and men: <150 mg / dl; <1.7 mmol / l

Cholesterol
Cholesterol is often at the center of blood lipid analysis. Two values are measured: low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). HDL is the so-called good value, which should be the as high as possible, while the LDL should be as low as possible.

Normal values for women and men:
Cholesterol: <200 mg / dl; <5.2 mmol / l
LDL cholesterol: <160 mg / dl; <4.1 mmol / l
HDL cholesterol:> 40 mg / l; > 1.0 mmol / l

Values of the liver

Various liver values are among the most frequently evaluated test data. The reason is simple: elevated liver values are the result of certain diseases, for example hepatitis, fatty liver, liver cirrhosis or gallstones; alcohol abuse also leads to elevated liver values. These four enzymes are usually controlled: GOT, GPT, GGT and alkaline phosphatase (ALP).

GOT (glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase):
Normal values for women: less than 35
Normal values for men: less than 50

GPT (glutamate-pyruvate transaminase):
Normal values for women: less than 35
Normal values for men: less than 50

GGT (gamma-glutamyl transferase):
Normal values for women: less than 40
Normal values for men: less than 60

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP):
Normal values for women: 35 - 105
Normal values for men: 40 - 130

Values of the kidneys

The kidney is one of the most important organs in the body, because it maintains water, mineral and acid-base balance. As a result, blood values are often determined, which tell us if everything is OK.Usually urea, creatinine and creatinine clearance are checked. In addition to blood values, urinalysis is also done if disease is suspected.

Urea
Normal value for women: 17 - 43 mg / dl
Normal value for men: 18 - 55 mg / dl

Creatinine
Normal value for women: 0.66 - 1.09 mg / dl
Normal value for men: 0.84 - 1.44 mg / dl

Creatinine clearance
Normal value for women (25-50 years): 70 - 110 ml / min
Normal value for men (25-50 years): 95 - 140 ml / min

Thyroid levels

The thyroid gland is involved in many important processes in the body and regulates, among other things, the hormonal balance. If irregularities are suspected, various values in the blood are checked, especially the so-called TSH value. If it is normal, the thyroid is functioning. normally and there is no disease. If the TSH value is too high, an underactive thyroid may be present, while if the TSH value is low, an overactive thyroid may be present.

Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
Normal value for women and men: 0.27 - 2.5 mU / l

Triiodothyronine (T3)
Normal value for women and men: 2 - 4.4 pg / ml

L-thyroxine (T4)
Normal value for women and men: 8 - 18 pg / ml