Decoding a blood test in adults

Everyone had to donate blood. Therefore, everyone knows how this simple “barter” happens – you give a little blood from your finger, and in return you get a sheet with a list of the elements and with numbers opposite them.

But not everyone succeeds in “decrypting” these records. Let’s see what the main indicators mean.

First of all, you need to pay attention to the level of leukocytes (white blood cells) – they perform protective functions. If it is elevated, it means that an inflammatory process is taking place in the body. Norm: 4 – 8,8.

Separately, neutrophils (stab, segmented, norm: 1-6 and 47-72) are isolated – these are also leukocytes, they are able to absorb small foreign particles, microbes and bacteria. An increase in neutrophil levels also indirectly indicates inflammation. For example, a sharp increase in the level of stab is one of the signs of appendicitis.

Eosinophils (granular leukocytes) are elevated with allergies and if parasites (for example, worms) have settled in the body. Norm: 0,5-5.

The next important indicator is hemoglobin. It is a complex protein that is part of erythrocytes and consists of two parts: the protein itself (globin) and an iron compound (heme). Hemoglobin is involved in the transport of oxygen and it is he who makes the blood red.

The lower the hemoglobin count, the less iron in the body. With a sharp decrease, anemia is suspected. In this case, you need to do an additional biochemical analysis for serum iron.

By the way, a high level of hemoglobin in an athlete’s blood means that he either trained in high altitude conditions or was taking illegal drugs. Both are direct paths to disqualification. Norm: 120 – 150.

Don’t forget to look at the red blood cell (red blood cell) readings. A decrease in their number is characteristic of anemias, and an increase is observed in cardiovascular diseases and acute poisoning. By the way, these cells live for 100 days. Norm: 3,7-4,7.

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