Approximately 40% blood comprises of blood cells - red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. The remaining 60% of the volume of blood plasma. It consists primarily of water, but also contains proteins and chemicals, in particular, hormones, glucose Glucose: The energy source And salts thereof. A blood test has a wide range of applications and is one of the most common types of medical examination.

For example, a blood test can be used to:

• Estimates of the overall health of the patient;
• Confirmation of the presence of bacterial or viral infection;
• Evaluate the functioning of certain organs such as the liver and kidneys.

Using the blood test

• Evaluation of agencies

The blood circulating throughout the body, is very sensitive to any changes or damage to the organs. For example, if a person injured liver, it is released into the blood certain enzymes which can be detected by a blood test.

• Check for infections

Since blood is important in the activity of the immune system to protect the body against infection, changes in the blood can help identify the presence of disease.

For example, where the organism penetrates some viruses, including HIV, the immune system produces special protein - antibody. Thus, a blood test for antibodies allows to confirm (or rule out) the presence of a particular infection.

• The measurement of oxygen and carbon dioxide

Since blood oxygen supplying system of an organism, by a blood test can provide information about the possible respiratory diseases. Determining the level of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood makes it possible to establish to identify any irregularities in the lungs.

• Genetic analysis

Blood tests - a convenient way to obtain a sample of DNA for genetic testing and screening. In particular, blood may be used to detect genetic disorders such as cystic fibrosis Cystic fibrosis: early diagnosis - the key to recovery Various hemoglobinopathies and other diseases.

Types of blood tests

• Complete blood count

This is probably the most commonly used blood test. It is used to evaluate the overall health and detect certain disorders, such as anemia.

For the CBC take a small amount of blood from a vein in the arm. By itself, the CBC is not to diagnose any violation, but it can give the doctor important "clues" about the possible health problems of the patient, through which he will appoint other diagnostic procedures. For example, a low level of red blood cells, detected by blood count, anemia can be caused by a number of other reasons; among them - internal bleeding and poor nutrition.

• Analysis of electrolytes

Electrolytes - are minerals that are present in the body and have a number of important functions, including:

• Facilitating the movement of nutrients to cells and remove waste from the cells;
• Maintaining a healthy balance of fluids in the body;
• Stabilization of the level of acids and alkalis in the body.

By analyzing the measured level of electrolytes three basic electrolytes: sodium, potassium, and chlorine.

Raising or lowering the level of any of the electrolytes can have several possible causes, such as:

• Elevated levels of sodium (hypernatremia) may be due to dehydration, renal disease or chronic diarrhea.
• Reduced sodium levels (hyponatremia) can be when poorly controlled diabetes, liver disease, deficiency of sodium in the diet, as well as pneumonia. Some medications may also reduce the level of sodium in the blood; Among these drugs - carbamazepine (used to treat epilepsy), and sertraline (sometimes sometimes to treat depression).
• Increased levels of potassium (hyperkalemia) is the result of kidney failure Kidney failure - when treatment is vital . ACE inhibitors, a drug used to treat high blood pressure may also increase the level of potassium in the blood.
• Decreased levels of potassium (hypokalemia) occurs in people suffering from extreme sweating or persistent vomiting and / or diarrhea.
• Elevated levels of chlorine (hyperchloremia) is in some kidney diseases, diarrhea or increased activity of the parathyroid gland (the gland located near the thyroid gland The thyroid gland - is responsible for your hormones And help regulate uroveenkaltsiya in the body).
• Reduced chlorine levels (hypochloremia) also happens in some diseases of the kidneys and chronic vomiting.

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate

The analysis time is measured, the erythrocytes takes to settle to the bottom of the tube. The sooner this happens, the greater the likelihood of the body are inflammatory processes.

  Hemoglobin is the main component of red blood cells. The hemoglobin level indicates the blood's ability to transport oxygen. High levels of hemoglobin - is not the same as the high level of red blood cells, because each erythrocyte did not contain the same amount of hemoglobin. Thus, the hemoglobin may be high even if the level of red blood cells remain in the normal range

Reasons for increasing hemoglobin levels

Globin level may rise if the body increases production of red blood cells to compensate for the lack of oxygen to the various tissues of the body, caused by a bad heart or lungs.

The same problem can occur if the kidneys produce too much protein (EPO), which increases the production of red blood cells, or if you are taking drugs that stimulate the production of red blood cells.

In addition, the high hemoglobin observed dysfunction of the bone marrow, as well as during the stay at high altitudes.

The following factors can cause high hemoglobin levels Hemoglobin: worse - low or high? :

• Congenital disorders of structure and / or function of the heart;
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease;
• Dehydration;
• Emphysema;
• Injections of erythropoietin to improve athletic performance;
• Heart failure;
• Kidney cancer;
• Liver cancer;
• Long stay or permanent residence at high altitude, in conditions of reduced oxygen content in the air;
• Other types of heart disease;
• Other diseases of the lungs;
• Smoke (it lowers the level of oxygen in the blood).

In addition, increased levels of hemoglobin can be caused by dehydration, diuretics (diuretics), burns, stress How to beat stress? Create an oasis   and high blood pressure. Polycythemia - a myeloproliferative disorder in which the production of red blood cells and hemoglobin level increase without stimulating hormone erythropoietin. In secondary polycythemia hemoglobin level increased as a result of exposure to the hormone erythropoietin.

Symptoms

High levels of hemoglobin in professional athletes is one of the signs of doping and grounds for disqualification.

Typically, a high level of hemoglobin is detected during a medical examination, which was carried out on any other occasion. Usually the doctor, to get such results, he offers the patient undergo a thorough medical examination.