Posts Tagged ‘Blood Tests’

What is Hemoglobin A1C, Anyway?

Comments: 0December 4th, 2011 by admin



If you have diabetes, then I am sure that you have had – or are about to have – a battery of blood tests. One of those tests is the A1C test that every diabetic is required to have. So what is it?

The A1C test measures the percent of glucose-containing red blood cell molecules in the bloodstream. Now, I realize that none of that makes sense until you understand what all of these words mean.

Hemoglobin A is a protein in red blood cells that is used to transport oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. When glucose molecules combine with hemoglobin A in the bloodstream, the hemoglobin A1C molecule is created. Following me? Good. Now here is the kicker: the more glucose in the bloodstream, the more hemoglobin A1C molecules are created. Right? Right. Now that we understand that part, we can go on to what the A1C test measures.

The A1C test measures the percentage of hemoglobin A1C molecules that have formed in the bloodstream. If you have your A1C tested and the result is say, 5, then 5% of the hemoglobin A in the bloodstream has glucose stuck to it and has become hemoglobin A1C. Make sense? In other words, if your A1C is 5, then 5% of the hemoglobin in the bloodstream is hemoglobin A1C. For those of us with diabetes, it is suggested that we try and keep the A1C at or below 7 percent. It is also suggested by the American Diabetes Association that the A1C test be repeated every three months to check for consistency.

Understanding diabetes is tough. Hopefully, understanding the A1C is not.

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STD Testing For Genital Herpes

Comments: 0September 21st, 2011 by admin



Sexually transmitted disease (STD) testing for genital herpes is important for those who are sexually active because the herpes simplex virus (HSV) can be easily transferred to another person through oral, vaginal or anal sex. Most of the time, those who are carriers of the disease are not aware of it because there are usually no symptoms. And if there are symptoms, the indications are usually minimal and are often ignored by the infected person.

Herpes is a chronic disease but it could go into remission and if it recurs, the symptoms tend to be milder the next time around. Moreover, the length of the remission periods become longer over time. Some of the symptoms that may occur at the time when a person is first infected include vaginal discharge, ulcers and blisters on the cervix, painful urination, fever, cold sores usually around the mouth, malaise, and red blisters around the thighs, buttocks, genital area and anus. HSV is found on the skin surface and is transmitted to another person through moist skin, such as the genitals, rectum, the mouth and even the eyes.

One method of testing for herpes is through viral culture. A swab sample is taken within 48 hours after a lesion has appeared. This technique is highly accurate when it provides a positive result. However, it has the disadvantage of having a high probability for false negatives. Thus, blood tests may be recommended. These tests are based on measurements of the quantities of IgM and IgG antibodies in the blood because HSV itself is not found in the blood. IgM appears during the first infection but it may not appear during the recurrences of the disease. IgG is produced right after infection and remains in the blood for life. The problem with IgG tests is that they require a certain length of time before the quantity of IgG is detectable. Thus, there is a possibility of getting a false negative if the test is conducted too early. An alternative method for detecting herpes is the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test that detects the presence of the virus itself.

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Blood Transfusions – What to Expect

Comments: 0August 29th, 2009 by admin



A blood transfusion is definitely not a pleasant thing, but as most procedures go, they aren’t that bad either. Why you are getting a blood transfusion can be a determining factor as to how easily the procedure will go.

I personally just had a blood transfusion because my hemoglobin was at 79 and my iron was at 2. Symptoms I personally felt from the anemia was tiredness, weakness, shaky legs and hands, heavy heart palpitations, a whooshing sound in my head that included my heartbeat and dizziness. I also had started to slur, my tongue felt like it was cut up and my lips had started to crack. I was very pale with deep dark circles under my eyes. These symptoms may not appear in all people, and you may need a blood transfusion for a reason other than severe anemia.

If going to the emergency department for severe anemia, expect that they will want to do blood tests. For those who are severely anemic, this may prove to be a problem. Severe anemia comes with the downfall of often having small, rolling and/or collapsing veins making blood tests a bit of a challenge. If they have to “dig” for the vein, this can be pretty painful and will leave awful bruising. Applying ice immediately to the area that the needle was inserted can significantly reduce bruising and swelling. Another hint I recently got from my doctor was to press down firmly on the area for a full five minutes once the needle has been removed, it may be painful but will reduce the bruising in the long run.

Once the blood tests are collected it takes approximately an hour for the lab to deliver results. From there the doctor will decide how much blood you need, what your blood type is and the match will be made for you. At this point, if it hasn’t already been done, an intravenous needle will be inserted most likely into your hand. The doctor may or may not start you on a saline drip. The previously mentioned issues with needles applies to the IV as well.

It can take several hours for the donor blood to arrive to your room. When it does arrive, two nurses will double check to make sure the blood matches the information on the work-order and your wrist band. This is to ensure you get the right blood.

Once the blood is hooked up to your IV, you are looking at approximately 2 hours per pint. If you have a heart condition this could take much longer. Because the blood is refrigerated, you may get a cool feeling in your hand and arm when it starts. A nurse will keep a close eye on you, especially during the first 15 minutes. He/she will be watching for a fever, a significant change in blood pressure and/or pulse. You will be asked questions about how you are feeling, any itching or shortness of breath amongst other things. The fever is usually tested with a normal thermometer under the tongue, a blood pressure cuff is used to check your blood pressure. The blood pressure cuff is uncomfortable as it squeezes the upper arm and then releases, but is not unbearable. Your pulse is taken by a little clamp loosely attached to your finger, it is not uncomfortable in the least. After the first 15 minutes the nurse will continue checking on you periodically.

If you are getting more than one pint of blood, expect it to take between 10 and 30 minutes between switching the bags. With every new bag of blood, the two nurses will again double check the codes and you will be monitored closely again for the first 15 minutes, then periodically afterward.

When all the pints of blood have been emptied, the tube going from the blood bag to your IV will be flushed with saline, which takes about 30 minutes if you are going through a bag every 2 hours. Once the tube is flushed, the nurse will remove the IV, and this is where you want to press hard on the area for 5 minutes. Now you can go home! You can drive yourself, there should be no after effects unless of course, like me you were severely anemic, at which point the only side effect is that you will feel much better.

I hope this basic rundown of a typical blood transfusion helps you understand what to expect in this situation and that you are now equipped with the knowledge to handle the situation with ease.

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Heart Disease And Blood Tests Could You Be in Danger?

Comments: 0August 13th, 2009 by admin



The blood is your body’s life line. It carries food to every cell in your body and helps to remove wastes from those cells. Blood tests offer many clues about your health and your risk for heart disease.

All too often people don’t have any clue anything is wrong until its too late and heart problems occur. There is a way to know if you’re in a danger zone for heart disease.

And blood tests are the primary way to detect potential problems.

If you have relatives with heart disease or if certain factors increase your chance for heart disease, blood tests should be performed at least annually to determine your heart health.

When your doctor is concerned about heart disease and blood tests results, it means that certain levels of specific components found in the blood are not within normal ranges.

Some of the primary components are discussed here:

Heart Disease And Blood Tests Basics

Cholesterol levels are one key factor that can contribute to cardiovascular health. A lipid panel measures the fats (lipids) in your blood. These levels are a good indication of your risk of having a heart attack or other heart disease.

The panel typically includes:

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol or the bad cholesterol which increase the chance of fatty deposits in your arteries.

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is the good cholesterol which helps clear excess cholesterol from your body. HDL helps keep your blood circulating freely.

Triglycerides help your body store fat and usually reside in the fat tissue.

Levels are normally low in your blood. Higher triglyceride levels increase your risk of heart disease.

Another blood test that can help to determine the possibility of heart disease is the level of homocysteine.

Homocysteine is an amino acid your body uses to make protein and build tissue. Higher than normal levels in the blood may increase your risk of heart disease.

Fibrinogen is a protein in your blood that can be revealed by blood tests. Higher than normal levels of fibrinogen can cause a clot to form in an artery.

Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is another protein found in the blood. BNP is a natural diuretic that helps to eliminate fluid. If heart problems exist the levels of BNP in your bloodstream can be very high.

These are the primary components that are included in blood tests to help diagnose heart disease. Many times these tests are only performed after problems already exist.

Identifying heart disease early is very effective in the management to help promote a healthy heart.

If you have any suspicions at all that you may have heart disease or cardiovascular problems, get your physician to complete blood tests.

Your future could depend on it.

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Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Anemia

Comments: 0June 23rd, 2009 by admin



When you don’t have enough levels of vitamin B12, you develop a vitamin B12 deficiency. This leads to many sign and symptoms, but the most noticeable is anemia, since this vitamin is responsible of producing red blood cells that carry oxygen through the body.

As you can see, it is easy to understand why you develop anemia. And one of the biggest causes that you don’t get enough levels of B12 through food. We must have a diet that brings us all the necessary components to stay healthy. Vegan people are at more risk of having vitamin b12 deficiency and anemia since they don’t get b12 from animal sources.

This anemia can also be caused because of malabsorption by the body. This happens if:
You have perniciuous anemia. A type of condition that destroys the cells in the stomach that are able to absorb B12. You have problems with food digestion (Crohn’s disease, sprue, bacteria in the small intestine, parasites) You have had surgery to remove one part of the stomach. This type of surgery is practiced among other cases, to help obese people lose weight. You have been taking heartburn and ulcer medicine for a long period.
Symptoms of the B12 Deficiency Anemia
Weakness, tiredness, lightheadedness. Pale skin. Bleeding gums, red tongue, sore throat. Stomach sickness and weight loss. Diarrhea and constipation.

A doctor will help you determine if you are developing anemia form a B12 deficiency. This is done thanks to a set of questions about your lifestyle and through blood tests that check the amount of red blood cells.

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