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Doing a blood test is like taking a picture that gives us information about what's going on right now through our veins. Something similar to what happens when traffic cameras monitor what happens on the roads. And there's a lot to tell because blood is a multifaceted fluid. On the one hand, it feeds every part of the body: it is as if it 'watered' us, taking nutrients and gases to the last corner. It is also a courier service that transports the hormones that send signals through our body. It acts as heating and is responsible for thermal regulation. And, of course, all the members of the police and defense system that protect us against infections parade through it.

Analysis of the analysis: two distinct blocks.

A standard analysis has two very different sections: on the one hand the blood count, which are the blood cells themselves, and on the other the biochemistry. While the blood count measures red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets, biochemistry tells us how we are doing cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, iron ... And it also gives us clues as to what's going on in our liver and kidney.

Part One: Blood Count

If we look back we will remember that in Once upon a time life represented red blood cells (or red blood cells) as two red dolls, a rounded boy and a younger girl, who carried oxygen bubbles on their backs. Red blood cells have an important function in the body: to transport hemoglobin through the blood and, with it, carry oxygen to every corner of the body.

What can low red blood cells indicate?

If the red blood cells and hemoglobin are at very low values it may mean that there is anemia. People with anemia are usually especially tired because, having fewer red blood cells, oxygen does not reach all areas of the body well and it is as if 'breath' is missing. Important! It must be considered that the 'ideal' values can vary from one person to another. For example, a somewhat low hemoglobin (between 10.5 and 11.8) may be normal in the fertile stage because with menstruation there is usually loss of blood and iron. However, if we obtain this same value after menopause it can be something more worrying, since it could mean that there is blood loss. For these and other reasons it is very important that a health professional reads and interprets the results.

What can high red blood cells indicate?

It can be for different reasons such as smoking, which decreases the oxygen in the blood (and that reduction stimulates the production of red blood cells). Another reason may be respiratory failure. Patients who have little oxygen, for example for chronic bronchitis, also tend to have high red blood cells and sometimes treatment is required to reduce them.

What can high white blood cells indicate?

White blood cells or leukocytes are our police, responsible for defending us from infections. That is why, when we are fighting an infection (or, for example, we have suffered a burn), they increase. The reference values are between 4,000-11,000 mm3. If the leukocytes are slightly elevated (up to 14,000) it may simply be due to the fact that you have suffered an infection (nasopharyngitis, bronchitis ...). Infections stimulate your defenses, so if the values are a little high it may indicate that the leukocytes are 'fit'. In addition, there are different types and we must not only measure how many but which are increased (neutrophils, lymphocytes ...). For example, high neutrophils can be an indication of bacterial infection.

What can low white blood cells indicate?

If the amount is somewhat low, but not too much (between 3,000 and 4,000) it is not worrying either. It may be due to some treatment with drugs such as antibiotics or anti-inflammatories. If the difference is very large and the white blood cells are well above or below normal ... alert! It can be a fat clue that behind it are more serious diseases such as bone marrow disorders.

Can stress affect our white blood cells?

Yes, and it has a very curious explanation that dates back to prehistory. From an evolutionary point of view, stress used to arise mainly in life-and-death situations in which the body had to prepare to quickly heal impending physical damage. That is, a lion appeared and ate you, so as soon as you saw that a tail moved between the bushes your body prepared and threw into the blood defense cells that could heal us from wounds and physical damage ... However, now situations of acute stress are no longer about fleeing from lions but usually occur in circumstances where we feel under pressure. For example, when we get angry or afraid, when we have to speak in public, solve difficult tasks...

The problem is that our body continues with the dynamics of the caves and in the face of the threat continues to release cortisol. This makes us produce basic soldiers to defend ourselves from physical damage. As a result, to 'save' energy, our body slows down the formation of more specialized soldiers against viruses and bacteria. If this happens we can be left unprotected and this is the reason why some people in situations of entrés fall sick, have a urine infection or 'enjoy' a nice herpes.

Part Two: Biochemistry

What are normal blood glucose values?

Glucose is a sugar that is considered the main source of energy for cells. Its levels are maximum in the two hours following food intake and minimum after prolonged fasting. Normal values are 70 to 100 mg/dl fasting or <140 mg/dl after a meal.

What can high glucose indicate?

If the level of this sugar exceeds the values indicated, the person is at risk for diabetes. When do we really talk about diabetes? If on two or more occasions the analysis shows glucose values above 126 mg / dl fasting or more than 200 m / dl after meals.

What are normal cholesterol levels?

Cholesterol is a necessary fat for the body but we could say that when it increases too much 'so much fat hinders' and the risk of coronary heart disease increases due to the probability that the arteries are clogged.

Ideal cholesterol values

Total cholesterol ------------- Less than 200 mg/dl

LDL (bad) ------------------ Less than 130 mg/dl

HDL (good) ---------------- More than 35 mg/dl in men/More than 40 mg/dl in women

Triglycerides ----------------- Less 150 mg/dl

What can high cholesterol levels indicate?

In this case, 'the good' and 'the bad' would have to be analysed separately. The good one acts like a broom and is able to remove bad cholesterol from the tissues. A high level of total cholesterol could be compensated if the good one is also very high.

What about triglycerides?

Triglyceride levels correspond to the fat ingested. Therefore, the values increase if the diet is rich in fat. Triglycerides are also high in people who are overweight or have a high alcohol intake.

What are the values that affect the kidney?

The kidneys are the great forgotten. When reviewing an analysis, the values of glucose, iron or cholesterol usually attract more attention. However, the parameters that affect the kidneys are also key because their health depends on that of other organs as important as the heart.

What can high values indicate?

The most important value is creatinine, a muscle protein that circulates in the blood and is eliminated through urine. If it is elevated it means that the kidneys do not eliminate it well and there may be some degree of kidney failure. It's like you see a murky pool... It means that the treatment plant is not working at full speed. The level of urea is also analyzed: a residue from the breakdown of proteins that, therefore, is directly related to the amount of protein you eat. In short, a high concentration of creatinine or urea indicates that the kidneys are working poorly.

What can happen if the urea is high?

When the kidneys don't work well, the amount of urea filtered is less and more urea remains in the blood. This causes digestive upset (nausea and vomiting). If the levels are very high there may even be alterations in the level of consciousness. Important! When urea levels are elevated it is not always indicative of something bad. Perhaps the hydration is not correct and can be corrected by drinking more fluids.

What about sodium and potassium?

A little bit high sodium may indicate that you need to drink more fluids. Variations in potassium may be caused by taking diuretics. In general, these values can be altered with diet. Excess salt, protein, soda and even water can be counterproductive because we give 'extra work' to the kidneys.

The liver: much more than a purifier

The liver is famous for considering it a 'detox' organ. And although it is true that it has a fundamental role in getting rid of toxins from the body, we must also value its role in the storage of nutrients and the manufacture of substances that help us defend ourselves better against infections.

What can high transaminase levels indicate?

High levels of transaminases (GOT/ALT, GPT/AST and GGT) indicate inflammation of the liver. If they are only a little high, it may be due to the consumption of alcohol or some drugs (statins, antibiotics ...). If the alkaline phosphatase is high it may indicate a bile duct problem and if the bilirubin is elevated it could be due to gallstones.

Important! A healthcare professional should interpret the tests.

Although with this article we have tried to give some clues to solve the hieroglyph that for many is an analytical, the reality is that it is not a document designed for the patient to interpret. It is the health professional who must assess the analytical since not always altered values are synonymous with disease but may be due to a punctual mismatch and lead to confusion that alarms us unnecessarily.

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  • Apothecary Garcia